All Flashcards
What was the Berlin Blockade?
Stalin blockaded all land access to West Berlin. Truman responded with the Berlin Airlift, a massive operation to supply West Berlin by air.
What was the Berlin Airlift?
A massive operation by the U.S. and its allies to supply West Berlin by air during the Berlin Blockade.
What was the Chinese Civil War?
A war between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists (supported by the U.S.) and Mao Tse-tung’s Communists. The Communists won in 1949, establishing the People's Republic of China.
What was the Korean War?
The North (Communist) invaded the South in 1950. The U.S. intervened under the UN banner. The war ended in 1953 with an armistice, leaving Korea divided at the 38th parallel.
What was the U-2 Incident?
A U.S. spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, exposing U.S. espionage and ending the 'spirit of Geneva'.
What was the Bay of Pigs Invasion?
A failed attempt by Cuban exiles, trained by the CIA, to overthrow Castro in 1961. It damaged Kennedy's reputation.
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
In 1962, the Soviets began a massive arms buildup in Cuba, including nuclear missiles. The U.S. imposed a naval quarantine, and Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles.
What was the Geneva Summit?
A summit in 1955 leading to a brief thaw in the Cold War, known as the 'spirit of Geneva'.
What was the SALT I treaty?
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks led to the SALT I treaty in 1972, limiting antiballistic missiles and freezing the number of ballistic missiles.
What was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 ended détente, and the Cold War resumed.
What were the causes and effects of the Soviet atomic program?
Cause: FDR and Churchill kept the atomic bomb a secret from Stalin. Effect: Stalin started the Soviet atomic program in 1943, fueling early Cold War tensions.
What were the causes and effects of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe?
Cause: USSR maintained forces in Central and Eastern Europe. Effect: Communist dictators loyal to Moscow were installed, creating Soviet satellite states.
What were the causes and effects of the Truman Doctrine?
Cause: Communist uprising in Greece and Soviet demands in Turkey. Effect: The U.S. provided $400 million in aid to support “free people” against “totalitarian” regimes.
What were the causes and effects of the Marshall Plan?
Cause: The U.S. wanted to prevent the spread of communism. Effect: The U.S. provided $17 billion to rebuild Europe, fostering economic recovery and increasing U.S. exports.
What were the causes and effects of the Berlin Blockade?
Cause: Stalin wanted to force the Western powers out of Berlin. Effect: Truman responded with the Berlin Airlift, demonstrating U.S. resolve and forcing Stalin to lift the blockade.
What were the causes and effects of the Chinese Civil War?
Cause: Conflict between Communists and Nationalists for control of China. Effect: The Communists won, establishing the People's Republic of China and leading the Nationalists to flee to Taiwan.
What were the causes and effects of the Korean War?
Cause: North Korea invaded South Korea. Effect: The U.S. intervened under the UN banner, leading to a stalemate and the continued division of Korea at the 38th parallel.
What were the causes and effects of the U-2 Incident?
Cause: The U.S. was conducting espionage over the Soviet Union. Effect: The 'spirit of Geneva' ended, and Khrushchev denounced the U.S.
What were the causes and effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Cause: The Soviets began a massive arms buildup in Cuba, including nuclear missiles. Effect: The world came close to nuclear war. Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba and to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.
What were the causes and effects of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
Cause: The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Effect: Détente ended, the Cold War resumed, and the U.S. responded with the Carter Doctrine.
Who was Winston Churchill?
He declared that an 'iron curtain' had descended across Europe, dividing the democratic West from the communist East.
Who was Harry Truman?
U.S. President who adopted the containment policy and the Truman Doctrine to stop Soviet expansion.
Who was Joseph Stalin?
Leader of the Soviet Union during the early Cold War period. He initiated the Berlin Blockade and supported communist movements worldwide.
Who was Dwight Eisenhower?
U.S. President who implemented the policy of massive retaliation and proposed the 'atoms for peace' plan.
Who was Mao Tse-tung?
Leader of the Communist forces in the Chinese Civil War who established the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Who was Chiang Kai-shek?
Leader of the Nationalist forces in the Chinese Civil War. He fled to Formosa (Taiwan) after the Communist victory.
Who was Kim Il Sung?
Communist leader of North Korea who initiated the Korean War by invading South Korea in 1950.
Who was Fidel Castro?
He overthrew the Cuban dictator in 1959 and established a Communist state. The U.S. cut off trade, and Castro turned to the Soviets for support.
Who was John F. Kennedy?
U.S. President during the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He declared 'Ich bin ein Berliner'.
Who was Richard Nixon?
U.S. President who pursued détente, visited China in 1972, and signed the SALT I treaty.