The Cold War Flashcards
(26 cards)
The Cold War
Geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and its allies (Communist bloc) and the United States and its allies (Western bloc) from 1947 to 1991.
Denazification
Post-World War II process in Germany to remove Nazi ideology and influence from society and government.
Iron Curtain
Term coined by Winston Churchill describing the division of Europe into Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and Western Europe after World War II.
Truman Doctrine
U.S. policy announced in 1947 to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism, aimed at containing Soviet influence.
Avro Arrow
Canadian supersonic interceptor aircraft project canceled in 1959, symbolizing Canada’s shift away from independent military projects towards reliance on U.S. defense.
Marshall Plan
U.S. initiative in 1948 to aid Western European countries with economic recovery and prevent the spread of communism after World War II.
NORAD
North American Aerospace Defense Command, a joint U.S.-Canada military organization for aerospace warning and defense.
Berlin Blockade
Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948-1949 in an attempt to starve out Allied forces and control the city.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, formed in 1949 as a military alliance of Western countries against the Soviet Union and its allies.
Korean War
Conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United Nations and primarily the United States).
Space Race / NASA / Sputnik
Competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to achieve space exploration milestones, including the creation of NASA (U.S.) and the launch of Sputnik (USSR).
Chinese Revolution
Communist takeover of China in 1949, leading to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
Igor Gouzenko
Soviet intelligence officer who defected to Canada in 1945, revealing Soviet espionage activities and contributing to Cold War tensions.
Hydrogen Bombs
Nuclear weapons with significantly higher destructive power than atomic bombs, developed during the Cold War arms race.
Cuban Revolution
1959 revolution in Cuba led by Fidel Castro, resulting in the establishment of a communist government and strained U.S.-Cuba relations.
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Berlin Wall
Barrier constructed by East Germany in 1961 to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin; symbol of Cold War division.
MAD Theory
Mutually Assured Destruction theory, which posited that the possession of nuclear weapons by both superpowers would deter nuclear war due to the threat of annihilation.
Doomsday Clock
Symbolic representation of the likelihood of a global catastrophe (nuclear war or environmental disaster), maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Suez Crisis
1956 conflict involving Egypt, Israel, France, and the United Kingdom over control of the Suez Canal, highlighting Cold War tensions and decolonization.
DEW Line
Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the Arctic designed to detect incoming Soviet bombers during the Cold War.
Domino Theory
U.S. foreign policy belief during the Cold War that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall like dominos.
Vietnam War
Conflict from 1955 to 1975 between North Vietnam (supported by the Soviet Union and China) and South Vietnam (supported by the United States and allies).
Détente
Period of easing Cold War tensions in the 1970s, marked by diplomatic efforts to reduce hostility between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
