Wartime Conferences
Various meetings after WWII that were necessary to decide the fate of Germany and Japan (the axis powers)
The Yalta Conference
A meeting of Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill to discuss post war problems and the Soviet/U.S entry into Japan. It also divided Berlin into 4 zones that would eventually become East & West Germany
(YSRC)
Spheres of Influence
To claim another state by imposing your political beliefs on them so that those ideologies become the most predominant in that society (Stalin trying to force communism on Eastern Europe)
Potsdam
A meeting of the new Big Three (Stalin, Truman and Attlee) to discuss post-war Germany and the conduct of the war with Japan. Stalin (Russia) and Truman (U.S.A) disagreed over the treatment of Germany resulting in the mistrust between the superpowers
The Cold War
The poor relations between the USSR and its allies (Warsaw Pact) and the USA and its allies (NATO) following WWII. The two superpowers never fought each other directly but competed through prestige wars, war of words, etc.
What was the goal of both the USSR and USA during the Cold War?
To annex more land or create spheres of influence
Many criticized these moves as being imperialistic.
What does the term Iron Curtain refer to?
The border between Soviet-dominated (communist) countries in Eastern Europe and democratic countries of Western Europe
Coined by Winston Churchill in 1946, it divided American and Soviet spheres of influence.
What is meant by the term War of Words?
Words and images used to attack the ‘enemy’
This included threats, name-calling, and propaganda to promote ideologies.
What was McCarthyism during the Cold War?
A movement against communism led by Senator Joseph McCarthy
It involved accusations of being pro-communist without evidence, creating a ‘red scare’ in American society.
What are Prestige Wars?
Wars of achievement, not direct fighting (Olympics and the space race)
What is the Truman Doctrine?
Authorized economic and military support to Greece and Turkey in 1947
Aimed to prevent Soviet influence and marked a shift from U.S isolationism to interventionism.
What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?
To provide funds to Western European nations so that communism (Stalinization) could be contained
It imposed free market policies and democracy in return for aid and was a key part of the containment strategy.
What was the WARSAW Pact?
An alliance of Central and Eastern European countries under Soviet influence
Established in 1955 for collective defense, it was the communist equivalent to NATO.
Berlin Blockade/Airlift
When the Soviet attempted to force the West out of Berlin. Stalin did this by blocking any supplies from entering the West, in hopes that this would force them to give up Berlin. In response, the Americans and British airlifted supplies (food, resources, etc.) for 11 months, successfully containing communism yet again
The West airlifted supplies for eleven months, demonstrating the failure of the East-West alliance.
What was the main goal of the Truman Doctrine?
To halt the spread of communism
It was the beginning of the USA’s policy of containment.
What were some of the conditions of the Marshal plan?
The implementation of a free market and democracy
This was part of the strategy to contain communism in Europe.
The Berlin Wall
A wall that was constructed by the government of Soviet-dominated East Berlin to prevent East Berliners from accessing freedom and liberty of West. It was now a physical boundary between ideologies
The Berlin Crisis
Soviet and American tanks were at a standoff at Checkpoint Charlie due to East German officials not allowing U.S. diplomats to access East Berlin. Conflict further escalated when American and Soviet tanks were brought forth in a standoff at the checkpoint (brinkmanship).
Domino Theory
An idea of Truman that stated that communism must be contained at all costs. If communism is not stopped the nations of Southeast Asia would fall like dominos to communism and will become satellite states of the USSR.
Deterrence
The idea that if nations build up military forces and nuclear weapons (arms race) the enemy would be too scared to attack them
Arms Race
The desire of each superpower to build up more nuclear military power than the other. Even though the large amount of weapons is threatening, the fact that both nations have the same means (balance of power) and acts as a deterrence to war.
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)
MAD is a term to describe the destruction of both sides of a war due to nuclear attack. When two enemies both use nuclear weapons on each other both nations would be destroyed. It is an idea that leads to the deterrence of using nuclear weapons
Brinkmanship
A form of conflict in which one side pushes the other to the “brink” of war with the idea that the other side will back down
The Bay of Pigs
A failed attempt of Cuban exiles (backed by the U.S) to overthrow the communist government under Fidel Castro
