Untitled Flashcards Set

1. Containment

• Definition: A U.S. policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism to new countries.
  
  

• Significance: First introduced by President Truman after WWII, this strategy led to U.S. involvement in wars and conflicts like Korea, Vietnam, and support for anti-communist governments worldwide.
  
  

2. Iron Curtain

• Definition: A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the political and military barrier between the Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the democratic Western Europe.
  
  

• Significance: Symbolized the deep division in Europe and the world, with the East under communist influence and the West promoting capitalism and democracy.
  
  

3. McCarthyism

• Definition: The practice of accusing people of being communists without solid evidence, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy.
  
  

• Significance: Created a climate of fear and paranoia in the U.S. during the early 1950s; led to blacklisting, ruined careers, and a restriction on free speech.
  
  

4. Red Scare

• Definition: A period of intense fear of communism and communist infiltration in the U.S., especially after WWII.
  
  

• Significance: Fueled McCarthyism, government investigations, and the suppression of dissent during the Cold War.
  
  

5. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

• Definition: A military alliance formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations to defend against the Soviet threat.
  
  

• Significance: Marked a key part of Cold War alliances. If one member was attacked, others would defend it — countered later by the Warsaw Pact.
  
  

6. Marshall Plan

• Definition: U.S. program that gave over $12 billion in aid to rebuild Western European economies after WWII.
  
  

• Significance: Aimed to stop the spread of communism by promoting economic recovery and political stability in democratic nations.
  
  

7. HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

• Definition: A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated alleged disloyalty and communist activity.
  
  

• Significance: Targeted Hollywood actors, directors, and writers. Some were jailed or blacklisted, even without proof.
  
  

8. Satellite State

• Definition: A country that appears independent but is actually controlled politically and economically by another nation, especially the USSR.
  
  

• Significance: Examples include Poland, Hungary, and East Germany — used by the Soviets to expand communist influence.
  
  

9. Truman Doctrine

• Definition: 1947 U.S. policy to provide military and economic aid to countries resisting communism, especially Greece and Turkey.
  
  

• Significance: Marked the start of active U.S. involvement in global anti-communist efforts and containment policy.
  
  

10. Korean War

• Definition: A war from 1950–1953 between communist North Korea (supported by China and the USSR) and capitalist South Korea (supported by the U.S. and UN).
  
  

• Significance: First major military conflict of the Cold War. Ended in a stalemate, dividing Korea at the 38th parallel — still divided today.
  
  

11. Espionage

• Definition: The act of spying or using spies to gather secret information.
  
  

• Significance: Central to Cold War tension. Agencies like the CIA (U.S.) and KGB (Soviet Union) constantly worked to uncover the other's plans, increasing distrust.
  
  

12. Totalitarianism

• Definition: A government system where one party or leader has total control over all aspects of life — political, economic, and social.
  
  

• Significance: Soviet-style communism was often totalitarian, suppressing dissent and controlling media, education, and public life.
  
  

13. Ideology

• Definition: A system of beliefs or ideas.
  
  

• Significance: The Cold War was a battle between two ideologies: capitalism and democracy (U.S. and allies) vs. communism and totalitarianism (USSR and allies).
  
  

14. Berlin Airlift

• Definition: A year-long operation (1948–1949) in which U.S. and British planes delivered food and supplies to West Berlin after the Soviets blocked land access.
  
  

• Significance: A successful Western response to Soviet aggression and a key Cold War victory showing U.S. commitment to defending democracy.
  
  

15. Communism

• Definition: A political and economic system where the government owns everything and wealth is shared equally (in theory).
  
  

• Significance: The USSR’s guiding ideology; considered a threat to capitalist democracies, leading to Cold War rivalry with the U.S.
  
  

16. Proxy War

• Definition: A war where major powers support different sides but don’t fight each other directly.
  
  

• Significance: Let the U.S. and USSR compete for influence without direct conflict. Examples: Vietnam War, Korean War, Soviet-Afghan War.
  
  

17. Nuclear Proliferation

• Definition: The spread of nuclear weapons to more countries.
  
  

• Significance: Increased global tension and fear of nuclear war; led to arms control talks like SALT and START.
  
  

18. Détente

• Definition: A period of relaxed tensions between the U.S. and USSR during the 1970s.
  
  

• Significance: Led to arms control agreements and improved diplomatic relations, though tensions returned in the 1980s.
  
  

19. U-2 Incident

• Definition: In 1960, a U.S. spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union; the pilot (Gary Powers) was captured.
  
  

• Significance: Exposed U.S. spying and worsened U.S.–Soviet relations just before a planned peace summit.
  
  

20. Civil Defense

• Definition: Government programs to prepare civilians for possible nuclear attacks (like drills, bomb shelters, and educational films).
  
  

• Significance: Reflected public fear during the Cold War and the belief that a nuclear war was possible at any time.