Untitled Flashcards Set

1. Cold War – A period of geopolitical tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (1945–1991), characterized by ideological conflict, nuclear arms buildup, and proxy wars.

2. United Nations (UN) – An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

3. Soviet Satellite (Buffer) States – Eastern European countries controlled by the Soviet Union after WWII, serving as a buffer zone between the USSR and Western Europe.

4. Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech – A 1946 speech by Winston Churchill warning of Soviet expansionism and the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.

5. Containment/Truman Doctrine – A U.S. foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism by providing economic and military aid to countries resisting Soviet influence.

6. Marshall Plan – A U.S. program providing over $12 billion in economic aid to Western Europe to help rebuild economies and prevent the spread of communism after WWII.

7. Berlin Airlift – A U.S. and British operation (1948–1949) to fly food and supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union blockaded the city.

8. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – A military alliance formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations to counter Soviet threats.

9. Warsaw Pact – A military alliance formed in 1955 between the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states in response to NATO.

10. Arms Race (for Atomic Weapons) – A competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Asian Conflicts & Leaders

11. Chinese Civil War – A conflict (1927–1949) between Chinese Nationalists and Communists, ending in a Communist victory and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

12. Chiang Kai-shek/Nationalists – The leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party who fled to Taiwan after being defeated by the Communists in 1949.

13. Mao Zedong/Communists – The leader of the Chinese Communist Party who established the People's Republic of China in 1949.

14. Korean War – A conflict (1950–1953) between communist North Korea (supported by China and the USSR) and capitalist South Korea (supported by the U.S. and UN), ending in a stalemate and the division of Korea at the 38th parallel.

Cold War Leaders & Policies

15. Dwight D. Eisenhower – U.S. president (1953–1961) who pursued policies of containment, supported the military-industrial complex, and promoted the "New Look" nuclear strategy.

16. John Foster Dulles and "Brinkmanship" – Eisenhower’s Secretary of State who promoted a foreign policy of pushing conflicts to the brink of war to force Soviet concessions.

17. Nikita Khrushchev – Leader of the Soviet Union (1953–1964) known for de-Stalinization, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the space race.

18. Hungarian Revolt (1956) – A failed uprising against Soviet rule in Hungary, brutally suppressed by the Soviet military.

Space Race & Military Technology

19. Sputnik – The first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the space race.

20. National Defense and Education Act – A 1958 U.S. law providing federal funding for education in science, math, and foreign languages in response to the Soviet space race advancements.

21. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) – A U.S. government agency established in 1958 to oversee the space program and compete with the Soviet Union in space exploration.

22. U-2 Incident – A 1960 event in which a U.S. spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, increasing Cold War tensions.

Cuban Relations & Crises

23. Fidel Castro/Communist Takeover of Cuba – The leader of the Cuban Revolution who overthrew the U.S.-backed government in 1959 and established a communist regime aligned with the Soviet Union.

24. Bay of Pigs Invasion – A failed 1961 CIA-backed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba using Cuban exiles.

25. Berlin Wall – A barrier built by East Germany in 1961 to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin, symbolizing the division of the Cold War.

26. Cuban Missile Crisis – A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear missiles placed in Cuba, nearly leading to nuclear war.

27. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty – A 1963 agreement between the U.S., USSR, and other nations banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater to reduce nuclear fallout.