Cold War Key Terms

Cold War Key Terms

• Cold War: The period of intense tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union without direct military conflict. Driven by ideological differences (capitalism vs. communism).
• Soviet Union (USSR): A large communist country, the U.S.'s main rival during the Cold War, encompassing various regions.
• Marshall Plan (1948): U.S. program providing financial aid to rebuild Western European countries after WWII to prevent communist influence and strengthen alliances.
• Capitalism: An economic system where individuals own businesses, pursue profit, and compete.
• Communism: A system where the government controls all means of production and distribution, aiming for equality.
• Fascism: An authoritarian system with a single leader controlling all aspects of life, typically characterized by suppression of dissent and individual freedoms. Example: Nazi Germany.
• Nationalists: People who prioritize their nation's interests and independence.
• Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): The concept that possessing sufficient nuclear weapons by both sides discourages nuclear war by threatening mutually assured destruction.
• Containment: Policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism, particularly in Europe and Asia.
• COMECON: The Soviet Union's economic alliance for communist countries, serving as a response to the Marshall Plan.
• NATO (1949): Military alliance of Western nations, led by the U.S., committed to mutual defense and countering communism.
• Warsaw Pact (1955): Soviet Union's military alliance for communist countries (eastern Europe), countering NATO.
• Eisenhower (Ike): U.S. President during the 1950s who warned about the potential dangers of the military-industrial complex.
• Khrushchev (Niki): Soviet leader after Stalin, leading during the Cuban Missile Crisis and promoting communist expansion.
• Western Nations: Capitalist and democratic countries allied with the U.S. (e.g., U.S., Canada, Western Europe).
• Eastern Europe: European countries influenced and/or controlled by the Soviet Union, mostly communist.
• Iron Curtain: Symbolic division between communist East and capitalist West Europe.
• Satellite Nations: Eastern European countries independent in name but largely controlled by the Soviet Union.
• Berlin Airlift (1948-1949): U.S. airlift of supplies to West Berlin in response to a Soviet blockade, demonstrating U.S. determination against communism.
• Korean War (1950-1953): Conflict between North and South Korea (North backed by USSR and China; South backed by the U.S.) that exemplified Cold War proxy war.
• MacArthur’s Firing: The dismissal of General MacArthur from the Korean War due to disagreements with President Truman on military strategy.
• Mao: Chinese communist leader.
• CIA and KGB: U.S. and Soviet intelligence agencies involved in covert operations and espionage.
• Proxy War: Conflict where major powers support but do not directly fight each other.
• Military-Industrial Complex: The close relationship between the military and defense industries, potentially influenced by profit-based motives.
• Brinksmanship: A strategy that pushes a dangerous situation to the brink of war to force the other side to back down.
• Red Scare: Fear that communists had infiltrated American society and government.
• U-2 Incident (1960): Downing of a U.S. spy plane over the Soviet Union that worsened Cold War tensions.
• Suez Crisis (1956): Conflict over control of the Suez Canal involving Egypt, Britain, France, and Israel—highlighted superpower rivalry.
• New Look: Eisenhower's military strategy emphasizing nuclear weapons over a large conventional army.
• Joseph McCarthy: U.S. senator who falsely accused many of communism, creating political panic.
• Third World: Countries outside the Western and Soviet blocs, often underdeveloped.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Crisis caused by Soviet missiles in Cuba, nearly leading to nuclear war between the U.S. and the USSR.
• Bay of Pigs (1961): Failed U.S. attempt to overthrow Castro's Cuban government.
• Covert Operations: Secret actions to influence another country.