07 The Cold War in a Divided World Free Online FlashCards

What was the Cold War, and when did it conventionally last?

The Cold War was a prolonged struggle for power and influence between the United States, the Soviet Union, and their allies, conventionally dated from the mid-1940s to 1991.

What ideological and security concerns fueled the Cold War?

The United States generally promoted capitalism and electoral democracy; the Soviet Union promoted communism, one-party rule, and state ownership. Each side also sought security and influence and feared the other’s military power.

What did containment aim to do, and how did the U.S. support it?

Containment aimed to prevent the spread of Soviet influence. The Truman Doctrine offered aid to countries resisting communist pressure, while the Marshall Plan funded European recovery.

How did the Western allies respond to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin?

The Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin in 1948–1949. A U.S.-led airlift supplied the city.

When were NATO and the Warsaw Pact formed?

The United States and its Western allies formed NATO in 1949. The Soviet Union and its allies formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955.

What is nuclear deterrence, and what effect did it have?

Deterrence is the threat of nuclear retaliation. It helped discourage direct war between the superpowers, but made crises dangerous.

Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis dangerous?

In October 1962, Soviet nuclear missiles deployed in Cuba brought the United States and Soviet Union close to nuclear conflict before they reached a settlement.

What is a proxy conflict?

A proxy conflict is a war fought by local forces in which superpowers support opposing sides rather than fighting each other directly.

What was the outcome of the 1953 Korean War armistice?

The 1953 armistice stopped the fighting but did not reunify Korea; North and South Korea remained divided.

How did the Vietnam War end?

The United States withdrew its forces under a 1973 peace agreement. North Vietnam took Saigon in 1975, ending the war and reunifying Vietnam under communist rule.

How did local agency shape Cold War conflicts?

Cold War conflicts were not simply directed by Washington or Moscow: local leaders pursued their own goals. In Afghanistan, the United States and others supported resistance fighters against Soviet forces.

What was the purpose of the Non-Aligned Movement?

Founded in 1961, the Non-Aligned Movement gave states a forum to assert independence and oppose colonialism while navigating pressure from the superpower blocs.