Cold War Conflicts & Political Changes

The division of Germany into two separate states, West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (German Democratic Republic), following World War II.

The period after World War II when global power shifted from the United Kingdom to the United States, due to, in part, the economic and resource recovery of the US.

The US policy of containing the spread of Soviet influence and communism, primarily through financial aid and support for anti-communist governments.

The period after World War II, when economic and social conditions led to the growing appeal of communist ideas, particularly in Eastern Europe.

The idea that the spread of communism to one country would lead to the domino-like spread of communism to neighboring countries.

A $400 million financial aid package provided by the US to Greece and Turkey in 1947 to help them resist communist influence.

A $17 billion economic aid package provided by the US to rebuild Europe after World War II, aimed at promoting capitalism and countering Soviet influence.

The Soviet Union's strategy of using satellite states in Eastern Europe as buffer zones to protect itself from potential western threats.

The US and UK intervened in the Greek Civil War (1946-49) to prevent the spread of communism and secure their interests in the region. This was part of the broader Cold War strategy of containment.

The Western Allies feared the spread of communism in Europe, a concept known as the 'Domino Effect.' They intervened in Greece to prevent the communist-backed EAM/ELAS from taking control.

Turkey, strategically located bordering the Soviet Union, quickly aligned with the West during the Cold War, becoming a key buffer state against Soviet expansion.

The USSR sought control of the Turkish Straits to project its naval power into the Mediterranean Sea. This geopolitical conflict fueled the Cold War tensions.

The US and UK supported the Shah of Iran, a pro-Western ruler, against the Soviet influence. They intervened in 1953 to prevent the Soviets from gaining control.

The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) was a key asset for the UK, supplying oil to the country. The nationalization of AIOC by Iran challenged this control.

The Berlin Blockade (1948-49) was a major Cold War crisis where the Soviet Union cut off access to West Berlin to force its surrender. This was countered by the Berlin Airlift.

A political party in Afghanistan founded in 1965 with a Marxist-Leninist ideology. They aimed for industrialization but failed to achieve it, leading to growing popularity against the King.

A coup led by Daud Khan, a cousin of the King, in 1973. This event ended the monarchy in Afghanistan and brought Daud to power.

A revolution in 1978 that saw widespread rebellions against Daud's rule. Conservative and rural groups, known as Mujahideen, resisted the radical reforms proposed by the government, leading to Daud's overthrow.

A period of high inflation and unemployment combined in the 1970s that significantly impacted the US economy.

A set of economic policies implemented by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s that aimed to reduce government intervention in the market.

A period of political instability and repression in Greece, characterized by a student uprising in 1973, which symbolized resistance against the military regime. This ultimately led to the overthrow of Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos by Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannidis.

A military coup in Portugal in 1974 that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime, leading to the establishment of a democratic government. This coup, known for its limited violence, was driven by internal factors such as the war in Africa and discontent among the population.

A form of economic policy aimed at achieving self-sufficiency by reducing reliance on foreign trade. This policy was implemented in Francoist Spain aiming to create a strong and independent economy.

A military dictatorship established in Spain by General Francisco Franco after the Spanish Civil War. This regime was characterized by centralized power, anti-communism, nationalism, and a strong Catholic influence. It lasted for almost 40 years until Franco's death in 1975.

An economic policy launched in Spain in 1959, aiming to stabilize the economy and foster investment growth. This plan marked a shift towards a more market-oriented economy and helped Spain overcome the economic isolation it faced after World War II.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union in October 1962 over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba. It was the closest the two superpowers came to nuclear war.

The Monroe Doctrine was a US foreign policy doctrine that stated that European powers wouldn't be allowed to intervene in the affairs of the Americas. However, the US reserved the right to intervene in the Americas themselves.

Fidel Castro was a Cuban revolutionary who overthrew the authoritarian Batista regime in 1959, establishing a communist state aligned with the Soviet Union.

The 26th of July Movement was a guerilla campaign launched by Fidel Castro to overthrow the Batista regime in Cuba. It was known for its 'hit and run' tactics.

The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt by the US CIA to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba in April 1961. The operation was poorly planned and the lack of popular support for the invasion resulted in a debacle for the US.

During the Cuban missile crisis, Vasili Arkhipov, a Soviet submarine officer, prevented a nuclear torpedo launch when his submarine was surrounded by US ships. His decision prevented the launch of a nuclear weapon and a potential escalation of the crisis.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by one or more states would result in the complete annihilation of all participants, including the attacker.

The Red Hotline is a direct communications link established between the US and USSR in 1963, aimed at providing a reliable channel for direct communication between leaders during a crisis. It was named for the red phone that was reportedly used to connect the White House and Moscow's Kremlin.

The Vietnam War was a major armed conflict that took place between 1955 and 1975 in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It involved the communist forces of North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and the US-supported forces of South Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who played a key role in the fight against French colonialism and later against the US in the Vietnam War. He was the founder of the Viet Minh, a liberation movement that fought against the Japanese occupation during World War II, and later against the French in the First Indochina War.

The European Economic Community (EEC) established a single market for free movement of agriculture produce to ensure stable and affordable food supply, support and increase farmers' incomes, and promote rural development.

A system of cooperation between sovereign states where decisions are made by agreement among participating governments, without transferring authority to a higher supranational body.

A system where multiple countries delegate authority to a higher institution, making decisions binding on all member states, potentially overriding national sovereignty.

The 1965 Merger Treaty combined three European institutions: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the European Economic Community (EEC). It also established three new institutions: the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, and the European Parliament.

A process of increasing integration and cooperation among existing members through reinforcement of policies to achieve similar levels of human rights.

The expansion of the European Union to include new member states. The period between 1973 and 2013 saw several countries join the EU.

Charles de Gaulle's vision of the European Union as a community of sovereign nation-states, where integration was primarily through cooperation and not a transfer of sovereignty to supranational institutions.

A 1965 crisis caused by Charles de Gaulle's boycott of European Union institutions due to disagreements over EEC policies.

An agreement signed in 1985 that established a borderless zone for travel within participating European countries, allowing citizens to travel freely without passports.

The European Commission president who initiated the Single European Act in 1986, aiming to implement a free trade market with no internal borders, promoting economic integration.