Cold War Definitions Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the United Nations?

A type of economic plan

A military alliance

A political party

An international organization formed after WWII (correct)

What does the term 'Iron Curtain' refer to?

A political barrier that isolated Eastern Europe after WWII

What is Containment?

American policy of resisting further expansion of communism

What was the Truman Doctrine?

1947 policy providing aid to countries threatened by communism Signup and view all the answers

What was the Marshall Plan?

A program of economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Cold War' refer to?

A conflict between the US and the Soviet Union without direct confrontation Signup and view all the answers

What is NATO?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Signup and view all the answers

What was the Warsaw Pact?

An alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations Signup and view all the answers

What is brinkmanship?

A policy of risking war to protect national interests Signup and view all the answers

What happened at the Yalta Conference?

A meeting to plan post-war arrangements Signup and view all the answers

Who were 'The Big Three'?

Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin Signup and view all the answers

What was the Berlin Airlift?

An airlift supplying food and fuel to West Berlin Signup and view all the answers

Who was Mao Zedong?

Leader of the Communist Party in China Signup and view all the answers

Who was Jiang Jieshi?

Leader of the Guomindang in China Signup and view all the answers

What was the Long March?

A 6,000-mile flight of Chinese Communists Signup and view all the answers

What is a commune?

A community where land is held in common Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Red Guards?

The youths who led Mao's Cultural Revolution Signup and view all the answers

What was the Great Leap Forward?

China's second five-year plan for economic development Signup and view all the answers

What was the goal of the Cultural Revolution?

To purge opponents and instill revolutionary values Signup and view all the answers

What happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989?

Chinese students and workers demanded political openness Signup and view all the answers

What is the People's Republic of China?

The largest country in East Asia, ruled by the Communist Party Signup and view all the answers

What is the Republic of China?

The Nationalist government set up on Taiwan Signup and view all the answers

What was the Korean War?

The conflict between Communist North Korea and Non-Communist South Korea Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

United Nations

Formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

Iron Curtain

A political barrier that restricted travel and communication between Eastern Europe and the West post-WWII.

Containment

U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism globally.

Truman Doctrine

Introduced in 1947, it provided economic and military support to countries threatened by communism, especially Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative (1948-1952) for European economic reconstruction post-WWII, offering substantial financial aid.

Cold War

A prolonged geopolitical tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, characterized by indirect conflict and military threats without direct warfare.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a military alliance formed to provide collective defense against aggressors, involving U.S., Canada, and several Western European nations.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance established by the Soviet Union with Eastern European nations in response to NATO.

Brinkmanship

A term coined in 1956 by Secretary of State John Dulles, referring to the policy of risking escalation to the brink of war to protect national interests.

Yalta Conference

A 1945 meeting of FDR, Churchill, and Stalin to discuss post-war plans and the reorganization of Europe after WWII.

The Big Three

Refers to Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, who coordinated military strategies against Germany and Japan during WWII and later discussed post-war Europe.

Berlin Airlift

A 1948 operation that provided essential supplies to West Berlin's residents when the Soviet Union blocked ground access.

Mao Zedong

(1893-1976) Leader of the Chinese Communist Party who established the People's Republic of China in 1949 after defeating the Nationalists.

Jiang Jieshi

(1887-1975) Leader of the Nationalist Party (Guomindang) in China, he was opposed to communism and fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war to Mao.

Long March

A strategic retreat of approximately 6,000 miles (9,600 km) taken by Chinese Communists in 1934 to escape the Nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-shek.

Commune

A collective community where land and resources are jointly owned and members collaborate in living and working together.

Red Guards

Youth groups mobilized by Mao during the Cultural Revolution, known for their radical actions and enforcement of Maoist ideology.

Great Leap Forward

A 1958 initiative by Mao aimed at rapid economic development and socialist transformation that resulted in widespread famine and the starvation of over 20 million people.

Cultural Revolution

A political campaign initiated by Mao to eliminate opposition within the Communist Party and instill revolutionary ideals among the youth.

Tiananmen Square

The site in Beijing where protests in 1989 for political reform occurred, which were violently suppressed by the military.

People's Republic of China

Established by Mao Zedong in 1949, it is ruled by the Communist Party of China and operates under a socialist republic model.

Republic of China

The Nationalist government established by the U.S. after WWII, located on Taiwan.

Korean War

A conflict (1950-1953) between communist North Korea and non-communist South Korea, with military involvement from the United Nations led by the United States.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key terms and definitions from the Cold War era. This quiz features essential concepts like the Iron Curtain, Containment, and the United Nations. Perfect for history enthusiasts looking to reinforce their understanding of post-WWII geopolitics.