Cold War and Dictatorships Flashcards
Krushchev
Soviet leader who initiated de-Stalinization and faced the Cuban Missile Crisis
Stalin
Leader of the Soviet Union, known for totalitarian rule and the spread of communist influence
Brezhnev
Soviet leader known for economic stagnation and the Brezhnev Doctrine, asserting Soviet control over satellite states. (SALT)
What does SALT stand for
State and Local Tax
Gorbachev
Last leader of the Soviet Union. Known for reforms like Glasnost and Perestroika, leading to the USSR’s collapse
Truman
US president that implemented the Truman Doctrine and oversaw the start of the Cold War
Eisenhower
US president promoting Cold War containment through deterrence and covert operations
Kennedy
US president known for the Cuban Missile Crisis, space race and civil rights initiative
Nixon
US president who opened relations with China and pursued dentente witht the Soviet Union
Reagan
US president who escalated Cold War tensions with a strong anti-soviet stance and increased military spending
McCarthy
US senator infamous for leading anti-communist witch hunts during the Red Scare of the 1950s
Who was the US president when Khrushchev was in power
End of Truman
All of Eisenhower
Beginning of Kennedy
Who was the US president when Brezhnev was in power
Rest of Kennedy
All of Nixon
Start of Reagan
Who was the US president when Gorbachev was in power
Rest of Reagan
Who was the US president when Stalin was in power
Roosevelt
Expansionism
The policy of extending a nation’s influence or territory, often through military or ideological means.
Containment
U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism globally during the Cold War.
Deterrence
The strategy of building military power to discourage enemy aggression, especially with nuclear weapons
Brinkmanship
A Cold War tactic of pushing dangerous conflicts to the edge of war to achieve political goals.
Détente
A period of eased tensions and improved relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s
Nonalignment
The stance of nations refusing to side with either the U.S. or USSR during the Cold War
Liberation movements
Struggles for independence or political freedom, often in colonial or oppressed regions
Demilitarized
An area where military forces and installations are prohibited, like the Korean DMZ
Armistice
An agreement to stop fighting temporarily, often preceding a peace treaty, such as in the Korean War
Covert
Secretive operations or actions, often used for espionage or political intervention during the Cold War
Sphere of influence
A region dominated by one superpower’s political, economic, or military control
Domino Theory
The belief that if one nation falls to communism, neighboring countries would follow
Truman Doctorine
U.S. policy to provide aid to countries resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey
Marshall Plan
U.S. program providing economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to counter communism
Brezhnev Doctrine
Soviet policy asserting the right to intervene in socialist countries to maintain communist rule
Isolationist/Interventionist
Approaches to foreign policy, with isolationism avoiding involvement and interventionism engaging actively in global affairs
Berlin Airlift/Berlin Wall
The Airlift supplied West Berlin during the Soviet blockade; the Wall symbolized Cold War division
NATO
Western Military alliance
NORAD
Defends North America
Warsaw Pact
A Soviet bloc alliance
Nuclear Treaties
Agreements like the NPT and SALT to limit or reduce nuclear weapons during the Cold War
Hungarian Revolution
A 1956 uprising against Soviet control in Hungary, crushed by Soviet forces
Prague Spring
A 1968 reform movement in Czechoslovakia for liberalization, ended by a Soviet-led invasion
Solidarity Movement
A Polish labor union that sparked resistance to Soviet rule, leading to democratic reforms
Ping-pong diplomacy in China
The use of table tennis matches in the 1970s to thaw relations between the U.S. and China
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 1962 Cold War standoff over Soviet missiles in Cuba, nearly leading to nuclear war.
Citizen Advocacy
The act of supporting or representing the interests of individuals or communities, often in political or social matters
Citizenship
The legal status of being a recognized member of a state, with associated rights and duties.
Civil Rights
The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality, such as freedom of speech and voting rights.
Civility
Behavior that is polite, respectful, and considerate in social interactions
Common Good
The benefit or interests of all members of a society, often used in the context of public policy
Dissent
The expression or holding of opinions contrary to those officially or commonly held
Global Consciousness
Awareness of global issues and a sense of responsibility toward the broader world community
Identity
The characteristics, values, or experiences that define an individual or group
Ideology
A system of ideas or beliefs that forms the basis of political theory or policy
Illiberalism
A political system that restricts or undermines civil liberties and democratic practices
Individualism
The belief in the importance of individual rights and freedoms over collective or state control
Liberalism
A political ideology advocating for individual freedoms, democracy, and limited government intervention in the economy
Norms
Established standards of behaviour or customs in a society
Perspective
A particular attitude or viewpoint on a subject, influenced by personal or cultural factors
Progressivism
A political philosophy advocating for social reform and improvements in areas such as justice, equality, and environmentalism
Self-Interest
The pursuit of personal benefits or gains, often used in economics to describe individuals acting to maximize their own welfare
Humanitarian Crises
Events or conditions that threaten the health, safety, or well-being of a population, such as famine, war, or disease
Civil Rights Movements
Social movements aimed at gaining or protecting rights for marginalized or oppressed groups, particularly in the U.S. during the 1950s-1960s
Anti-War Movements
Social and political movements that oppose military conflict, often focused on preventing war or ending ongoing conflicts
McCarthyism
The practice of making unfounded accusations of subversion or treason, especially related to communism, during the Cold War in the U.S
Pro-Democracy Movements
Efforts to establish or restore democratic systems of government, particularly in authoritarian regimes
“Great Man” Theory
The belief that history is shaped by the actions of influential, heroic individuals rather than broader social forces
Anti-Semite
A person who holds prejudiced or discriminatory views against Jewish people
Autocracy
A system of government in which supreme power is concentrated in the hands of one person, such as a dictator
Communism
A political and economic system where all property is owned by the community, and the state controls all means of production
Conservatism
A political philosophy advocating for gradual change, tradition, and the preservation of established institutions, as articulated by Edmund Burke
Coup d’état
A sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government, typically carried out by a small group of insiders
Crisis Theory
The idea that social, political, or economic crises lead to significant societal or political changes
Facism
An authoritarian, nationalist ideology that emphasizes strong centralized control, often marked by dictatorial leadership and suppression of opposition
Glasnost
A policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union to increase transparency and freedom of expression, allowing for greater public discourse
Junta
A military or political group that takes control of a government, typically after a coup
Marxism
A theory of history and politics developed by Karl Marx, advocating for a classless society through the overthrow of capitalism and establishment of socialism
Nazi Germany
The period of German history under Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship, marked by extreme nationalism, militarism, and the Holocaust
Oligarchy
A political system where power rests in the hands of a small, privileged group, often based on wealth, family, or corporate control
Perestroika
A series of political and economic reforms introduced by Gorbachev in the Soviet Union in the 1980s to restructure the economy and political system
Totalitarianism
A political system where the state seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, often under a single, central leader
USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, a communist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, dominated by the Soviet Union and its leaders like Lenin, Stalin, and Gorbachev
John Locke
Advocated for natural rights, government by consent, and the idea of the social contract as the foundation of political legitimacy
Thomas Hobbes
Emphasized the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid chaos, describing life in the state of nature as “nasty, brutish, and short”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Proposed the concept of the “general will” and believed in direct democracy to achieve collective freedom
John Staurt Mill
Championed individual liberty, free speech, and utilitarianism, balancing personal freedoms with societal well-being
Edmund Burke
Advocated for conservatism, emphasizing tradition, gradual change, and the importance of inherited wisdom in governance
Adam Smith
Laid the foundation of modern economics with his ideas on free markets, the division of labour, and the “invisible hand”
Montesqueiu
Introduced the theory of the separation of powers to prevent tyranny and ensure liberty in governance
Karl Marx
Critiqued capitalism and proposed communism as a classless society achieved through proletarian revolution
Gandhi
Wanted indian independence from the britain
Made the British mad because of disobedience
Passive Resistance
Ex. Collect salt
Eventually the British agreed to leave
Rosa Parks
Sat on a front seat on a bus and then people would not sit on that bus. Protest against the suppression of minorities.
Martin Luther King
Visionary leader of the Civil Rights Movement, he championed nonviolent resistance to achieve racial equality and justice in the United States.
Black Panther Movement
Put their efforts to void racism and promote freedom for minorities
Malcolm X
A powerful advocate for Black empowerment and self-determination, he emphasized the importance of racial pride and addressing systemic injustice “by any means necessary
Hippie Movements
Against the government (Unauthorized protests - illegal). Mainly because of the Vietnam War
Land Claim Protests
Indigenous who were protesting over the aboriginal lands
