Unit 9 Flashcards
What years did World War II last?
1939 to 1945
Which two military alliances were involved in World War II?
- Allies
- Axis
When did Germany surrender in World War II?
May 7, 1945
What significant event occurred on August 6 and 9, 1945?
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
How many people were estimated to have died as a result of the atomic bombings?
200,000 people
When did Japan announce its surrender in World War II?
August 15, 1945
What was the purpose of the United Nations, established in 1945?
To promote international cooperation and prevent future wars
What marked the beginning of decolonization after World War II?
Many countries in Asia and Africa gained independence
What was the Cold War?
A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States
What significant document was adopted by the United Nations in 1948?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
What was the Marshall Plan?
An economic aid program to rebuild Europe after World War II
What did the Treaty of Rome establish in 1957?
The European Economic Community
Who was Winston Churchill?
Prime Minister of the UK during WWII and early Cold War
What did Joseph Stalin oversee during his leadership?
Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe and development of nuclear weapons
What was Nikita Khrushchev known for?
His role in the Cuban Missile Crisis and de-Stalinization
Who was the first Chancellor of West Germany?
Konrad Adenauer
What was a significant event that characterized the Cold War?
The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)
What was the outcome of the Korean War?
A stalemate with the border remaining largely unchanged
What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962?
A standoff that nearly led to nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union
What event symbolized the end of the Cold War in Europe?
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
What was the Soviet-Afghan War?
A conflict where the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support a communist government
What is the Arab-Israeli Conflict?
A long-standing conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors beginning in 1948
What factors contributed to the rise of the West?
- Technological innovation
- Colonialism
- Capitalism
What was the Iron Curtain?
A metaphorical division between the Soviet bloc and the West