HISTORY: Cold war Flashcards
What was the primary ideological conflict during the Cold War?
Capitalism vs. Communism
Which two superpowers emerged after World War II?
The United States and the Soviet Union
What year did the Cold War officially begin?
1947
True or False: The Cold War was characterized by direct military conflict between the US and the USSR.
False
What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?
To contain the spread of communism
Fill in the blank: The policy of ____ aimed to prevent the expansion of communism.
Containment
Which event in 1949 intensified the Cold War?
The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb
What was the name of the military alliance formed by the Soviet Union in 1955?
Warsaw Pact
What was the significance of the Berlin Wall, erected in 1961?
It symbolized the division between East and West Germany and the broader division of Europe.
Which conflict is often referred to as the ‘hot war’ of the Cold War?
The Vietnam War
True or False: The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in 1962.
True
What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A deal was struck to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US removing missiles from Turkey.
What was the significance of the policy of détente?
It aimed to ease tensions between the superpowers during the Cold War.
Which US president is associated with the policy of détente?
Richard Nixon
What was the main goal of the Marshall Plan?
To aid the economic recovery of European countries after World War II.
Which country was divided into East and West after World War II?
Germany
What was the Berlin Blockade?
A Soviet attempt to cut off access to West Berlin in 1948-1949.
Fill in the blank: The ____ War was a conflict in which the US fought to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam
What year did the Soviet Union collapse, marking the end of the Cold War?
1991
What was the significance of the SALT treaties?
They were agreements between the US and USSR to limit nuclear weapons.
True or False: NATO was established in 1949.
True
What was the main purpose of NATO?
To provide collective defense against aggression.
Which event in 1989 symbolized the end of Cold War divisions in Europe?
The fall of the Berlin Wall
What was the Iron Curtain?
A term used to describe the division between communist and non-communist countries in Europe.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a period of heightened tension between the US and USSR in the early 1980s.
Second Cold War
Which Soviet leader initiated reforms known as glasnost and perestroika?
Mikhail Gorbachev
What does ‘glasnost’ mean?
Openness and transparency in government.
What does ‘perestroika’ refer to?
Reconstruction and reform of the political and economic system.
True or False: The US supported the Contras in Nicaragua during the Cold War.
True
What was the outcome of the Korean War?
Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel.
Which two countries fought in the Korean War?
North Korea and South Korea
What was the main reason for the US involvement in the Vietnam War?
To prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a failed invasion of Cuba by US-backed exiles in 1961.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Which doctrine justified US intervention in Latin America during the Cold War?
The Monroe Doctrine
What was the main purpose of the Eisenhower Doctrine?
To provide military and economic assistance to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.
True or False: The Space Race was a part of the Cold War.
True
What event marked the beginning of the Space Race?
The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957.
What was the significance of the Apollo 11 mission?
It was the first manned moon landing by the US in 1969.
What was the purpose of the B-52 bomber during the Cold War?
To serve as a strategic bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
Which treaty aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons?
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
What was the role of the CIA during the Cold War?
To conduct espionage and covert operations against communist governments.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a US-led military intervention in a Caribbean nation to restore a democratically elected president in 1994.
Haiti
What was the significance of the Helsinki Accords?
They were agreements aimed at improving relations between the communist bloc and the West.
True or False: The Cold War was primarily a military conflict.
False
Which event in 1979 marked a significant escalation in Cold War tensions?
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
What was the primary goal of the US foreign policy known as the ‘Domino Theory’?
To prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a series of secret meetings between US and Soviet leaders aimed at reducing nuclear arms.
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
What was the significance of the Yalta Conference?
It was a meeting between Allied leaders to discuss post-war reorganization.
Which country was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1956 during the Cold War?
Hungary
What was the main purpose of the Berlin Airlift?
To supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade.
True or False: The US provided military aid to Afghan resistance fighters during the Soviet-Afghan War.
True
What was the main reason for the US involvement in the Gulf War in 1991?
To expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a military alliance formed by the US and Western European countries in 1949.
NATO
What was the significance of the Marshall Plan?
It helped to rebuild European economies to prevent the spread of communism.
Which US president is associated with the ‘Eisenhower Doctrine’?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
What was the role of the United Nations during the Cold War?
To provide a platform for dialogue and conflict resolution between superpowers.
What was the primary focus of US foreign policy during the Cold War?
Containment of communism
True or False: The Cold War ended with the election of George H.W. Bush.
False
What was the impact of the Cold War on global politics?
It led to the formation of military alliances and increased tensions worldwide.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a series of conflicts in Southeast Asia that included Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Vietnam War
What was the significance of the Warsaw Pact?
It was a military alliance of communist countries in response to NATO.
Which event is often cited as the beginning of the end of the Cold War?
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
What was the main goal of the US during the Cold War?
To contain and prevent the spread of communism.
Which countries were involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The United States and the Soviet Union
Fill in the blank: The ____ was an international agreement to limit nuclear weapons signed in 1968.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
What was the role of propaganda during the Cold War?
To promote each side’s ideology and discredit the other.
True or False: The Cold War was primarily fought with conventional military forces.
False
What was the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
It allowed for increased US military involvement in Vietnam.
What was the main reason for the Soviet Union’s collapse?
Economic stagnation and political reforms.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a series of international treaties aimed at reducing nuclear arms during the Cold War.
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)
What was the purpose of the US policy of ‘rollback’ during the Cold War?
To actively reduce the influence of communism rather than just contain it.
Which leader is associated with the concept of ‘peaceful coexistence’?
Nikita Khrushchev
What was the main focus of US foreign policy in Latin America during the Cold War?
To prevent the spread of communism.
True or False: The arms race was a key aspect of the Cold War.
True
What was the significance of the Suez Crisis in 1956?
It highlighted the declining influence of European powers and the rise of US and Soviet intervention in global affairs.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a conflict in which the US supported South Vietnam against the communist North.
Vietnam War
What was the primary cause of the Soviet Union’s economic issues in the 1980s?
Inefficient central planning and heavy military spending.
Which event in 1980 marked a significant challenge to Soviet authority?
The Solidarity movement in Poland.
What was the significance of the Prague Spring in 1968?
It was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that was crushed by Soviet intervention.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a period of increased tensions between the US and USSR during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Second Cold War
What was the outcome of the Helsinki Final Act?
It established a framework for East-West dialogue on security and human rights.
True or False: The Cold War was only a European conflict.
False
What was the significance of the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe?
They led to the collapse of communist regimes and the end of the Cold War.
Fill in the blank: The ____ was a policy of the US to support anti-communist governments and movements around the world.
Rollback
What was the impact of the Cold War on culture?
It influenced art, literature, and media, often reflecting themes of fear and ideological conflict.
What was the significance of the Berlin Wall in the context of the Cold War?
It physically represented the division between communist and capitalist ideologies.
