APWH unit 8 Flashcards
Cold War (1945-1991)
- a conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years
- ideological war/war of ideas: capitalism (United States) vs. communism (Soviet Union)
- Proxy wars
- Competing alliances
- waged by political and economic means
Satellite States in Eastern Europe
Countries in Eastern Europe that were independent but became politically and economically influenced/dependent on the Soviet Union. Also known as the Eastern Bloc.
Containment
American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world
Non-Aligned Movement
During the cold war, this movement was led by India and Yugoslavia to stand apart from the U.S.-Soviet rivalry.
Sukarno in Indonesia
Sukarno was the first President of Indonesia. Sukarno was the leader of his country’s struggle for Independence from the Netherlands.Organized and hosted Bandung Conference. Criticized both the US and USSR - Non-Aligned Movement
Korean War (1950-1953)
began as a civil war between North and South Korea (which had been established by the USSR and US respectively), but the conflict soon became international when, under U.S. leadership, the United Nations joined to support South Korea and China entered to aid North Korea. The war left Korea divided along the 38th parallel. The Korean War was an example of the U.S. Cold War policies of containment and militarization, setting the stage for the further enlargement of the U.S. defense perimeter in Asia (Vietnam)
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 NATO
Nuclear Arms Race
the Cold War competition between superpowers to develop more powerful and greater numbers of nuclear weapons
Space Race
A competition of space exploration between the United States and Soviet Union. i.e. Sputnik, moon landing
China and Communism
Happened under the rule of Mao Zedong. This showed that Soviet ideals were spreading across the globe and had to be contained.
Vietnam War
Proxy 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.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
an international crisis in October 1962, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the U.S. and the USSR. When the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island; the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the U.S. demands a week later.
Great Leap Forward
economic and social plan used in China from 1958 to 1961 which aimed to use China’s vast population to rapidly transform the country from an agrarian economy into a modern industrial society.
Holodomor
a man-made famine-genocide in which the USSR starved the people of Ukraine; killed millions
Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
Proxy War - USSR invaded Afghanistan in order to help support the pro-soviet, pro-communist government that was already there
Mujahideen (Muslim Afghan freedom fighters) used weapons provided by U.S. and its allies
One of the causes of USSR collapse
Decolonization
The collapse of colonial empires. Between 1947 and 1962, practically all former colonies in Asia and Africa gained independence.
Indian National Congress (INC)
A movement and political party founded in 1885 to demand greater Indian participation in government.
All Muslim League
An Indian nationalist group of Muslims who wanted an independent India - helped form a separate Pakistan in 1947
Gandhi
This was a leader of the Indian independence movement in mid-20th century known for his nonviolent protests.
Ho Chi Minh
Communist leader of North Vietnam
Mikhail Gorbachev
Head of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. His liberalization effort improved relations with the West, but he lost power after his reforms led to the collapse of Communist governments in eastern Europe.
Glasnost and Perestroika
Two reform movements in Russia. Glasnost allowed free press and assembly and the right to criticize the gov’t. Perestroika opened the economy to capitalist elements and freedom.
Decolonization of Africa
Difficulties included borders drawn by Europeans that included ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences/conflicts, lack of experience governing, and Cold War politics.
Biafra secessionist movement
a movement by Igbo people in Nigeria to secede from the country
Lumumba, Patrice
the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo who was assassinated in 1961 after his government was toppled by a CIA-backed military coup; Joseph Mobutu became military dictator following this
Pinochet, Augusto
military dictator of Chile from 1973 to 1990 who came to power in a coup with the help of the United States; his rule resulted in widespread use of torture and liquidating thousands of opponents of his regime;
Modification of communism
In order to apply communism to their mostly rural nations, Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh altered communist ideas to better rural peasants
Ideology
a system of social or political ideas
Apartheid in South Africa
This was the legal segregation of races in South Africa from the 1940’s-1990. The laws were passed by the whites-only government of the country These laws were removed in 1990 after immense political and economic pressure from Western countries, when activist Nelson Mandela was freed (and later became the first black president of the country).
quell
to subdue, put down forcibly
Suppression
holding back or restraining
