Midterm 1 Flashcards
SLAY (21 cards)
Red Scare
Unreasonable fear of communism in the US
McCarthyism
The prosecution of anyone associated with communism in the US. Even if it was just accusations with no evidence. People’s jobs would be lost and lives ruined.
Joseph McCarthy
A US senator during the 50’s. Known for starting the communism witch hunt.
Iron Curtain
An ideological border between east and west Europe. The west being controlled by capitalist values and the east being controlled by the USSR’s communist values.
Term coined by Winston Churchill
Marshall Plan
A plan in 1947 proposed by George Marshall to send aid to devastated countries in Europe. Countries had to publicly declare their financial needs. Eastern Bloc countries told by USSR not to accept aid.
Truman Doctrine
Financial and military assistance strategically sent to countries where communism had an influence in order to keep it capitalist/democratic. E.g. Turkey/Greece
Nuremberg Trials
Trials for Nazis between 1945-46 for crimes against humanity.
MAD
Mutually Assured Destruction. The idea that when one side nukes, the other will retaliate, effectively destroying each other.
Arms Race
The race between the US and the USSR to build up their nuclear arsenal
Space Race
Race between the US and the USSR to build a rocket strong enough to reach outer space and the moon.
Joseph Stalin
Soviet leader during WWII and until his death in 1949 age 70.
East and West Germany
Two German states divided after WWII. West Germany occupied by US, UK, France until all 3 unified. East Germany controlled by USSR and continued to be operated on east side of Iron Curtain until German unification with West in 1989.
Nikita Khrushchev
Became leader of USSR in 1955. Similar values to Stalin, but slightly less brutal. Eased on Stalin terror tactics.
Had stronger relations with US, visited.
Tried to end corruption and privileges of communist elites, which led to his fall in 1964 when they turned on him.
Fidel Castro
Leader of Cuban Revolution in 1959 and consequently became their leader after and installed a communist state with soviet support.
Sputnik
Russian satellite launched in 1957, first one to make it out of the atmosphere
Cuban Missile Crisis
Following the Cuban revolution, Khrushchev set up missiles on the island. Caused massive panic for US. JFK puts up a naval blockade instead of invading. Eventually came to agreement to remove missiles if missiles in Turkey are removed as well as a promise not to invade Cuba
John F. Kennedy
President of the US from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
Vietnam War
A war between the communist north of Vietnam vs the capitalist south. USSR funded and supported the north while US the south. War went on for years, after fierce anti-war sentiment on US homeland, the US pulled out and the VietCong ultimately won. Vietnam would become a communist state.
Ho Chi Minh
Communist leader of Vietnam Communist Party and the country.
Proxy War
Wars that were not directly fought between the US and USSR, but funded by either side. E.g. Korean War, Vietnam War
Mao Zedong
Leader of Communist China. Indirectly killed millions of Chinese from failed policies, like the Great Leap Forward.
