Cold War Flashcards
George Kennan
Soviet specialist who sent an 8000 word telegram, known as the Long Telegram, from Moscow to Washington. In the telegram he talked about Russia’s plan to undermine western powers.
Containment
Term describing American foreign policy after receiving the Long Telegram.
Dean Acheson
Created the Domino Theory.
Domino Theory
Theory referring to a chain reaction.
Truman Doctrine
Granted financial aid to Turkey and Greece in the war against communism, seen as the start of the cold war.
Marshall Plan
Plan designed by George C. Marshall that would provide financial aid to European countries if they could agree on how to build a functioning economy.
Berlin Airlift
U.S. planes would fly over Soviet roadblocks to drop food and supplies to people in West Berlin.
NATO
Idea was invented due to EUropean fear of Soviet aggression. It showed US ideals of containment and also provided a guarantee of defense against the USSR for European nations.
NSC-68
Based on the idea that Soviets were trying to rule the world and the US had to stop them. The US pledged to build up both their army and the army of their allies, as well as provide technological information to allies.
Mao Zedong
Leader of China during the Cold War.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Became president in 1952, created the New Look defense budget due to fear of war and depression.
New Look
Lowered defense budget, but focused on nuclear weaponry. Brought the world close to war.
John Foster Dulles
Coined the term Brinksmanship
Brinksmanship
The idea that the US should be able to address the Soviet threat in whatever way they chose.
Bay of Pigs
Location where Cuban exiles who were trained by the US would attack, which was theorized that Cuban citizens would help overthrow Castro. However, after being authorized by JFK, the exiles attacked, but without US air support the exiles failed, which looked bad for the US (The defender of freedom was messing with a country’s government), and it caused the USSR to make a play for Berlin.
