Cold War Key Concepts

Cold War Key Concepts

• Capitalism: An economic system where individuals and companies own the means of production for profit.
• Communism: An economic and political system with a one-party government and state control of property.
• Containment: A U.S. policy to stop the spread of Soviet influence, primarily during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
• Satellite Nations: Countries politically and economically controlled by another nation.
• Iron Curtain: A metaphorical line dividing communist Eastern Europe from Western Europe, coined by Winston Churchill.
• Truman Doctrine: A U.S. policy providing financial and military aid to nations threatened by communist expansion.
• Marshall Plan: A U.S. program offering economic aid to rebuild European nations after World War II.
• Berlin Airlift: A 327-day operation aiding West Berlin by air when the Soviets blockaded the city.
• NATO: A military alliance (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) formed in 1949 by the U.S. and 11 other non-communist countries.
• Warsaw Pact: A Soviet-led military alliance in Eastern Europe established in 1955.
• McCarthyism: Accusations made by Senator Joseph McCarthy and others against individuals suspected of being communist, often without evidence.
• Red Scare: The promotion of fear of communism, both domestically and internationally.
• 38th Parallel: The latitude line separating North and South Korea.
• Korean War: A war (1950-1953) between North and South Korea, with U.S. involvement on the side of South Korea.
• China's Role: China under Mao Zedong became communist in 1949 and supported North Korea in the Korean War.
• Hollywood 10: Film industry individuals who refused to cooperate with HUAC investigations on communist influence.

Cold War Leaders and Events

• John F. Kennedy (JFK): 35th U.S. President during the Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, and Berlin Wall construction.
• Fidel Castro: Communist dictator of Cuba from 1959.
• Bay of Pigs: A failed CIA attempt to overthrow Castro in 1961.
• Cuban Missile Crisis: A 13-day standoff in 1962 over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.
• Berlin Wall: A barrier separating East and West Berlin built by East Germany from 1961-1989.
• Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader following World War II, died in 1953.
• Harry Truman: 33rd U.S. President, overseeing the Korean War and decisions regarding General Douglas MacArthur.
• Mao Zedong: Communist leader of China, holding power from 1949.
• Ethel and Julius Rosenberg: Executed in 1953 for espionage, accused of transmitting Atomic Bomb secrets to the Soviets.
• Blacklist: A list of individuals from the film industry who were not allowed to work due to alleged communist ties.
• HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee): A congressional committee investigating communist influence both in and outside the government.
• U2 Incident: Downed U.S. spy plane and capture of its pilot in 1960 by the Soviet Union
• Potsdam Conference: A 1945 Allied meeting near Berlin to discuss post-war Europe.
• Sputnik: The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.
• Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet leader from 1955-1964, responsible for placing missiles in Cuba.
• Domino Theory: The belief that the fall of one nation to communism would lead to the fall of neighboring nations.
• MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction): The concept that nuclear weapons make large-scale war unwinnable for any party.
• Deterrence: Using military strength to stop an attack.
• Brinksmanship: A policy of pushing a crisis to the edge of war to achieve a desired outcome.
• Space Race: The competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in space exploration.