Untitled Flashcards Set

United Nations & Cold War Overview

  • United Nations (UN): Founded in 1945, aims to promote global peace and security; has 193 member states.

  • UN Security Council: 5 permanent members-USSR, Britain, USA, France, China.

Ideological Conflict

  • Soviet/Eastern Bloc (Iron Curtain): Sought to spread worldwide Communism.

  • US/Western Democracies: Sought to contain Communism, hoping for its collapse.

  • Result: Led to the Cold War (1947–1991).

Cold War Methods

  • Espionage: KGB (Soviet) vs. CIA (US)

  • Arms Race: Nuclear escalation

  • Proxy Wars: Competing for influence in the developing world

  • Bi-Polarization: NATO (Western alliance) vs. Warsaw Pact (Eastern alliance)

Key Events and Doctrines

Truman Doctrine (1947)

  • US gave $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to resist Communist pressure.

  • US pledged to support "free peoples" resisting armed minorities or outside pressures.

Marshall Plan

  • "European Recovery Program" led by George Marshall.

  • $12.5 billion in US aid to Western Europe to rebuild economies.

Arms Race

  • Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb in 1949-now two nuclear powers.

Military Alliances

NATO (1949+)

Warsaw Pact

US, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal

USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania

Greece, Turkey (1952); West Germany (1955); Spain (1983); Finland & Sweden (2020s)

China: Revolution & Reform

Mao Zedong

  • Took power in 1949, reunified China.

  • Rapid industrialization, land redistribution, improved women’s rights.

  • Great Leap Forward: Attempted rapid industrialization; failed due to unrealistic quotas, poor harvests, famine (up to 20 million deaths).

  • Cultural Revolution: Targeted intellectuals to preserve Communism; caused societal setbacks.

Deng Xiaoping

  • Criticized Mao; punished during Cultural Revolution.

  • Opened China to global trade, sent students abroad.

  • Tiananmen Square crackdown.

  • Hong Kong returned to China (1997).

  • 21st-century China: strong leadership, major economic growth.

India: Independence & Democracy

  • Gained independence in 1947; became and remained democratic.

  • Jawaharlal Nehru: First Prime Minister.

  • Indira Gandhi: PM (1966–77, 1980–84); Green Revolution increased agriculture, but issues with poverty, overpopulation, sectarian conflict.

  • Declared national emergency (1975–77); democracy suspended, forced sterilization.

  • Assassinated in 1984; her son also assassinated.

  • Ongoing issues: sectarian conflict, overpopulation.

Middle East: Islamic Values & Revolution

  • Revival of Islamic values; push for Sharia law.

  • Both peaceful and violent protests; rise of "Jihad" as a defense of Islam.

Iranian Revolution (1979)

  • Overthrew US-backed leader; established Islamic Republic.

  • Iran-Iraq War (1980): Led by Saddam Hussein; 1 million dead.

  • Gulf War: Iraq invaded Kuwait; US-led coalition defeated Iraq.

  • Iran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–13); expanded nuclear program, increased tension with West.

Africa: Independence & Challenges

  • Civil wars erupted post-independence due to colonial borders.

  • Organization of African Unity (1963): Aimed to prevent conflict, enforce colonial borders, stop foreign intervention.

  • Issues: One-party states, famines, poverty, poor infrastructure.

Latin America: Colonial Legacy & US Influence

  • Most countries independent by early 20th century, but still affected by Spanish/Portuguese colonialism and US interference.

  • Mexico: PEMEX (state oil company, 1938) spurred growth; now has multi-party elections.

  • Argentina: Economy based on cattle/agriculture; Juan and Evita Perón popular, but military dictators dominated later.

Social Issues

  • Women’s suffrage granted after WWI (except Latin America).

  • Wealth inequality persists; the US often supports wealthy elites.

Dependency Theory

  • Developed nations profit at the expense of developing nations.

  • Developing countries remain dependent on exports; need to focus on domestic growth.

Quick Reference: Key Terms

  • Iron Curtain: Division between Communist East and Capitalist West.

  • Proxy Wars: Indirect conflicts in third world countries.

  • NATO/Warsaw Pact: Rival military alliances.

  • Great Leap Forward: Failed Chinese industrialization plan.

  • Cultural Revolution: Chinese campaign to enforce Communism.

  • Green Revolution: Boosted India’s agriculture.

  • Dependency Theory: Economic dependence of developing nations on developed ones.