Redefining Democracy in the Era of Cold War and Liberal Ascendancy (1945-1980) Flashcards
(271 cards)
Beginning of Tensions between USSR and US
Started after the Russian Revolution, when America opposed the Bolsheviks.
Truman Doctrine
Declared that the goal of the US would be to contain the Soviet Union (1947).
Sources of Soviet Conduct
Outlined how to contain communism.
X Article
Alternate name for Sources of Soviet Conduct, since actual author was not known at the time.
George Kennan
Author of the X Article.
Marshall Plan
Allocated 13B for Europe to rebuild. It stabilized capitalist economies. Its goal was to make the West seem better than Soviet-style communism.
Berlin Blockade
USSR blocked food and other supplies from entering West Berlin in 1948.
Berlin Airlift
Supplied West Germany with flights during the Berlin Blockade. It prevented the USSR from taking over the city, and the city was formally divided, with West Berlin becoming part of West Germany.
NSC-68
Called for a more aggressive defense policy for the US in 1950. It called for the US to assume a leadership position within non-communist countries. It largely shaped US foreign policy during the Cold War through the 1960’s.
Paul Nitze
Author of NSC-68. Argued for the US to roll back communism, rather than simply contain it.
There is no substitute for victory
General MacArthur’s belief that communism in China could be rolled back.
Firing of General MacArthur
Truman was convinced that a major escalation of war after WWII would be a disaster, while MacArthur continually pushed for the invasion of China. He was fired for insubordination.
New Look
Policy of President Eisenhower. It emphasized the development of nuclear weapons to deter potential threats from the USSR. This was followed by a shift away from maintaining costly ground forces.
Bigger Bang for the Buck
Used to describe the New Look policy.
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles
Highlighted the New Look strategy of “massive retaliation”.
Brinksmanship
The idea that the USSR had to be aware that the US was willing to “go to the brink” of war with its nuclear arsenal.
Sputnik
Identify:
- American Policymaker Reaction
1957 launching of an unmanned Soviet satellite. It marked the beginning of the space race.
Government officials believed the same type of rocket that launched the satellite could also be used to deliver atomic weapons to any location on Earth.
Cuban Missile Crisis
U2 Spy plane discovered that Cuba was preparing to install nuclear missiles. JFK demanded Khrushchev to stop the operation, but Khrushchev refused. The world stood at the brink of nuclear war until a deal was reached where the USSR abandoned their nuclear project in Cuba if the US honored the sovereignty of Cuba and remove its missiles from Turkey.
Kitchen Debate
Nixon’s meeting with Khrushchev where they toured an American model-home display at an international exhibition in Moscow while they debated the merits of capitalism and communism.
Partial Test Ban Treaty
Banned aboveground nuclear testing. It reflected JFK’s policy of attempting to ease tensions between the USSR and the US.
Castle Bravo Test
Hydrogen bomb test by the US at Bikini Atoll that led to radiation sickness over a wide area.
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
Part of Nixon’s detente strategy. It led to two arms-control agreements.
Significance of Nixon’s Visit to the PRC
Important step in normalizing relationship with the PRC.
Taft-Hartley Act
- Passed over Truman’s veto, and was designed to monitor and restrict organized labor. It made it more difficult to strike.