Yalta Conf
The meeting of the "Big Three" (U.S.A., Great Britian, USSR) to discuss what to do with Germany after the war
Cold War
U.S.A. -Vs- U.S.S.R.
Democracy -vs- Communism
The ideological struggle between communism (Soviet Union) and capitalism (United States) for world influence. The Soviet Union and the United States came to the brink of actual war during the Cuban missile cri
Superpowers
U.S.A -Vs- U.S.S.R.
The only two powers left after WWII
Buffer Zone
AN AREA OF LAND THAT SERVES AS A BARRIER.
The Independent European countries along the Soviet Border controlled by the USSR.
Warning zone of future attacks
Domino Theory
the political theory that if one nation comes under Communist control then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control
Containment
The U.S.A.'s policy to stop the spread of communism
Iron Curtain
A term that Winston Churchill coined in a speech refering to the Buffer Zone in Europe
Truman Doctrine
True men eat Greasy Turkey.
American Aide to Greece and Turkey
Marshall Plan
American Aide offered to all European countries including the USSR and Eastern Bloc but was declined by the U.S.S.R and Eastern Bloc
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries
Warsaw Pact
An alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations. This was in response to the NATO
Berlin Airlift
In 1948, Berlin was blocked off by the Soviet Union in order to strangle the Allied forces. In order to combat this, the United States began to airlift supplies into Berlin.
Korean War
The conflict between Communist North Korea and Non-Communist South Korea. The United Nations (led by the United States) helped South Korea.
United Nations
an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security
Sputnik
A Russian artificial satellite -- The first man-made satellite to orbit the earth. It sparked U.S. fears of Soviet dominance in technology and outer space. It led to the creation of NASA and the space race.
Vietnam war
a prolonged war (1954-1975) between the communist armies of North Vietnam who were supported by the Chinese and the non-communist armies of South Vietnam who were supported by the United States
U2 incident
In which the Russians shot down a high altitude US spy plane over the Soviet Union; this incident exposed a secret US tactic for gaining information.
Cuban Missle Crisis
1962 crisis that arose between the United States and the Soviet Union over a Soviet attempt to deploy nuclear missles in Cuba
Tiananmen Square
Site in Beijing where Chinese students and workers gathered to demand greater political openness in 1989. The demonstration was crushed by Chinese military with great loss of life
Gorbechev
contributed to end of cold war and soviet system with the two principals, perestroika and glasnost. also brought down the berlin wall.
Perestroika
a policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev that involved restructuring of the social and economic status quo in communist Russia towards a market based economy and society
Glasnost
Policy of openness initiated by Gorbachev in the 1980s that provided increased opportunities for freedom of speech, association and the press in the Soviet Union.
Solidarity
Polish trade union created in 1980 to protest working conditions and political repression. It began the nationalist opposition to communist rule that led in 1989 to the fall of communism in eastern Europe. (p. 863)
Mao Zedong
Leader of the Chinese Communist Party (1927-1976). He led the Communists on the Long March (1934-1935) and rebuilt the Communist Party and Red Army during the Japanese occupation of China (1937-1945). (789)
Mandate from Heaven
The belfief that an emperor has an allowance from heaven to rule; this is revoked during times of disaster
The Great Leap Forward
economic and social plan used from 1958-1961 led by Mao Zedong in China; aimed to rapidly industrialize China; failed and resulted in famine
Deng Xiaoping
Communist Party leader who forced Chinese economic reforms after the death of Mao Zedong.
Cultural Revolution
Campaign in China ordered by Mao Zedong to purge the Communist Party of his opponents and instill revolutionary values in the younger generation.
Chinese Civil war
War between communist Mao Zedong and nationalist Chaing-Kai Shek. The communists took over and forced the nationalists to retreat to Taiwan
Cambodia & Khmer Rouge
a radical Communist faction that conducted genocide against over a million of its own people in Cambodia
Chinese Cities and Economy
Directly Linked to the rivers of China
India -vs- Pakistan
1947 = independent / west pakistan, India, and east pakistan (Bangladesh) / islamic vs. hindu
Israel -Vs- The Arab World
started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC (consisting of the Arab members of OPEC, plus Egypt and Syria) proclaimed an oil embargo "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israel
Yom kippur War
This was a war fought by Israel and neighboring Arab nations where the Arabs launched a surprise attack during Yom Kippur. U.S. support for Israel during the war led to OPEC boycotting the U.S., creating an energy crisis.