Cold War Vocab Flashcards
(20 cards)
Arms race
A race/competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to gain military power by gathering more weapons and technologies.
Baby boom
The significant increase in birth rates in the U.S. between the years 1946 and 1964.
Berlin Airlift
An event that occurred during the early cold war where the U.S. and Great Britain used military aircraft to deliver supplies to West Berlin after the Soviet Union blockaded land routes into the city.
Cold War
A period of conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union between the years 1947 and 1991. ( Communism=soviet union, capitalism= united states)
Containment
The U.S. foreign policy strategy that aimed at the prevention of the expansion of the Soviet influence spread of communism.
Cuban Missile Crisis
A tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when the Soviets secretly placed nuclear aimed missiles In Cuba. (Trying to stop U.S. nuclear power, and Cuba was very close to the U.S.)
detente
A policy and period of improved relations and reduced tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the late 1960’s and 1970’s.
Domino theory
The idea that if one nation falls to communism, neighboring countries will succumb to those conditions like a row of dominos. (U.S. made this theory)
HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)
A legislative sub organization formed to investigate the United States government responded by creating HUAC, which was charged with identifying Communist threats to the United States.
Iron curtain
A metaphor/symbol made by Winston Churchill in his 1946 speech that explained the division between Western Europe and the Communist Eastern Europe.
The curtain is the barrier to represent the division, the iron is to represent how strong the division is.
Korean War
A period of tension during the cold war that involved North Korea, the Soviet Union, and China fighting against South Korea
Marshall Plan
A plan initiated by the U.S. launched in 1948 to aid the economic recovery of western Europe after WWII.
Massive retaliation
A U.S. military strategy, emphasizing that a state commits itself to retaliate with much greater force when attacked.
McCarthyism
The practice of publicly accusing individuals of political disloyalty often with insufficient evidence to suppress opposition and spread fear of communist influence.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization
A military alliance formed in 1949 by Western countries to defend each other against potential Soviet aggression.
Space race
A competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to achieve superiority in space exploration.
suburbs
Outlying residential areas are often characterized by single homes, large yards, and a strong sense of community.
Truman Doctrine
A U.S. policy that states the U.S. would provide military and economic aid to countries threatened by communism.
Vietnam Conflict
A conflict between North and South Vietnam, a U.S. attempt to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, hoping other countries would follow.
Warsaw Pact
A military alliance formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and seven Eastern European communist countries to serve as a collective defense against attacks (Treaty of friendship)
