Cold war vocabulary - social studies Flashcards
Laissez-Faire
A policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering. A policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering.
Communist
A person who supports or believes in the principles of communism which is a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Democracy
A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Control of an organization or group by the majority of its members.
Truman Doctrine
Was an American foreign policy with the primary goal of containing Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. Under this doctrine, the US helped nations that were threatened by communism.
Reparations
The making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.
Marshall Plan
A plan adopted in 1947 to give food and other aid to European countries to help them recover from the war.
Berlin Wall
Was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. The Wall was built by the German Democratic Republic during the Cold War to prevent its population from escaping Soviet-controlled East Berlin to West Berlin, which was controlled by the major Western Allies.
Containment
Started by President Truman, it was a method of blocking the soviets from spreading communism
Berlin Airlift
The United States and British planes airlifted 1.5 million tons of supplies to the residents of West Berlin after the Soviets blocked all land access to West Berlin in an attempt to control them. After 200,000 flights, flying food and supplies into the city for 11 months. Finally, the Soviets lifted the blockade.
Warsaw Pack
Similar to NATO, it was a military alliance formed by the Soviets and countries of Western Europe.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A military alliance formed by the United States, Canada, and several countries in Western Europe.
Brinkmanship
Going to the brink or edge of war.
Sputnik
The world’s first human-made satellite.
Arms Race
Competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons, especially between the US and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Domino Theory
The theory that a political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries, like a falling domino causing an entire row of upended dominoes to fall.
