Glossary Flashcards
Allies
During World War One, from 1917, the Allies were Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan and the USA. In World War Two the Allies initially included France, Poland and the UK but they were joined by USSR and USA. France was defeated in 1940 and further nations joined the group. However, Italy and Japan were enemies.
Arms race
A competition between America and then the USSR to build more destructive and a higher number of nuclear weapons.
Arsenal
A collection of military equipment or weapons.
Atomic bomb
A powerful and destructive bomb that gets its power from the energy released when atoms are split.
Berlin Blockade
One of the first Cold War crises when the Soviet Union blocked the Allies access to West Berlin in 1948. It ended in 1949 after daily western airlifts of supplies to their zones made continuing the Blockade pointless.
Buffer zone
An area giving someone protection against a threat, e.g. the USSR wanted a buffer zone around them after being invaded by Germany in both World Wars.
Capitalism
An economic system based on privately owned, as opposed to state-controlled, businesses and the creation of profit.
Communism
A classless society where all property is owned publicly.
Communist
Supporters of the communist movement or party.
Containment
An American policy to try and stop communism from spreading, to restrict it from spreading to other countries.
De-stalinisation
Reforms initiated by Krushchev after Stalin’s death to denounce his influence and make Soviet society less repressive.
Democratic
A system of government that allows people to have a vote.
Dictatorship
A country ruled by someone who has complete authority.
Eastern Bloc
The communist countries of eastern and central Europe that were dominated by and allied with the Soviet Union after World War Two.
Espionage
The act of spying or using spies to gather information.
