Origins of the Cold War Flashcards
What challenges faced many countries after World War II?
- World War II resulted in catastrophic death tolls for most warring nations– the Soviet Union experienced more deaths than any other country.
- Soldier and civilian death tolls were high in many parts of the world.
- Europe, Asia, and the Soviet Union saw horrific physical destruction.
What factors contributed to American optimism after World War II?
- The US was influential in the Allied victory- resulting in high levels of patriotism.
- The economy had recovered significantly- Great Depression finally ended.
What new opportunities were available for American veterans after World War II?
American veterans were able to access GI Bill benefits after World War II.
What was the GI Bill?
Federal government legislation passed near the end of WWII, that allowed veterans to receive college tuition benefits and low-interest home loans.
How did the American economy perform during the decade following World War II?
- After a brief period of adjustment, the American economy soared after World War II– due to high demand for American goods from overseas.
- High employment, growing wages, new consumer products, and access to credit cards all helped the economy grow.
What factors resulted in the expansion of American suburbs after WWII?
- Thriving economy.
- Highway construction made it easier for people to live in suburbs.
- Access to low-interest loans via the GI Bill.
- Use of assembly line to construct homes kept costs low– ex. Levittowns.
What was the Federal Highway Act?
- Signed by President Eisenhower after World War II, it enabled the construction of the US’ first interstate highways.
- Encouraged rapid growth of suburbs.
What is suburbanization?
- The rapid growth of communities outside of large urban areas.
- Characterized by good schools, new homes, safe neighborhoods.
Why did some regions in the United States experienced population and economic growth after World War II, while others did not?
- Wartime growth in the South and West encouraged many Americans to move to cities like Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Atlanta.
- Nice weather, low taxes, and new communities all attracted people to the South and West– away from declining old industrial communities in the Midwest.
What is the Sun Belt?
- Nickname given to the postwar growth region of the American West and South.
- Strong economy and good weather led many to move to these areas.
What is the Rust Belt?
- Nickname given to the postwar decline region of the American Midwest.
- Slow growth within the economy in these areas led many to leave– leading to further decline in cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland.
What factors caused the baby boom after World War II?
- Delay in marriages during WWII– led to increased marriage rates after the war.
- Thriving economy allowed families to have more children.
- Postwar optimism and hope for a better future, return to traditional family values.
What impact did the baby boom have on American society after World War II?
- From 1946 to 1964 the US experienced an increase in the birth rate– allowing the overall population to grow.
- America became much younger, and the economy reflected that, as baby boomers became teenagers popular culture reflected their interests.
- Difficult period for many American women who felt overwhelmed by domestic expectations.
Why was there a surge of mass popular culture after World War II?
- Availability of new technologies– Hi-Fi Record Players and Television.
- Popularity of Rock and Roll music– including artists such as Elvis.
- Strong economy and young population.
What important advancements in science and technology impacted American society after World War II?
- Credit cards
- Hydrogen Bombs
- Polio Vaccine
- Hi-Fi Record Players
- Man-Made Satellites
- Television
Who was Jonas Salk?
- American scientist credited with developing the Polio vaccine after World War II. Effectively eradicating the illness in the US by 1979.
What was Sputnik?
- Soviet satellite launched into space before successfully orbiting Earth in 1957.
- Prompted the start of the “Space Race”
What is NASA?
- American government agency created to further the United States’ goals in the Space Race in 1958.
What is the Hydrogen Bomb?
- Nuclear weapon develop by the US (1952) and USSR (1953) during the early nuclear arms race.
- Significantly more powerful than the atomic bombs developed and used by the US during World War II.
What positive impacts did advancements in science and technology have after World War II?
- Increased opportunities for entertainment– TV and record players.
- Access to credit cards allowed for easier spending and the growth of the economy.
- The polio vaccine saved lives, prevented paralysis, and paved the way for future medical advancements.
What negative impacts did advancements in science and technology have after World War II?
- The credit card led to decreased savings and increased debt.
- Competition to build more and more powerful nuclear weapons created rampant fear around the world about the potential for nuclear war.
- The first space-based satellite made many Americans fearful the Soviets would launch a nuclear attack against the US.
Why did an attitude of conformity emerged during the decade following World War II?
- Americans wanted to return to traditional ways of life after the horrors of WWII.
- Fear of nuclear attack and distrust of technology.
- Television and advertising depicted what a typical and ideal American society looked like– expecting people to fit into that standard.
How did the attitude of conformity impact different populations of Americans during the decade following World War II?
- Certain groups, mostly women and racial minorities, feeling under-represented and unappreciated in American society.
- Many women, racial minorities, and young people challenged the standards Americans were expected to live by.
- Contributed to a foundation for future change– Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Liberation Movement.
What was the Beat Generation?
- Literary movement that challenged conformist standard after World War II.
- Popular with American teenagers during the 1950s.
What were Green Books?
- Guidebooks that listed Black-friendly businesses and communities while traveling the United States.
Who was Betty Friedan?
- American author who wrote “The Feminine Mystique,” describing the frustrations and limitations experienced by women after WWII.
- Helped spark the Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1960s.
What was the Cold War?
- Ideological and cultural battle between the United States and Soviet Union.
- Started with the end of WWII in 1945, continuing into the early 1990s.
What factors caused a rivalry to emerge between the US and the Soviet Union after World War II?
- Ideological differences: Soviet communism vs. American capitalism and democracy.
- Competing postwar goals: Soviet desire to spread communism vs. US desire to contain communism.
What is containment?
- American foreign policy goal during the Cold War– focused on stopping the spread of communism.
How did the United States seek to further its international goals after World War II?
- The United States’ commitment to containment was primarily achieved by giving money to war torn areas after World War II– hoping to prevent the economic conditions associated with communism.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
- President Truman’s commitment to financially support free nations in their fight against communism. Provided $400 million to fight Communist revolutionaries in Greece and Turkey.
- Example of American containment policies during the early Cold War.
What was the Marshall Plan?
- The United States’ program that contributed $10 billion to rebuild Western Europe after World War II, hoping to prevent communism from spreading in these areas.
- Example of American containment policies during the early Cold War.
What were satellite states?
- Nations where Joseph Stalin sought to establish a communist-friendly buffer zone after World War II.
- Mostly established in Eastern Europe.
What is NATO?
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- Organization formed in 1949, among western non-Communist nations, to counteract Stalin’s efforts to spread communism after WWII.
What was the significance of the “iron curtain” during the Cold War?
- The imaginary line that divided non-Communist western Europe from Communist eastern Europe during the Cold War.
- Term coined by Winston Churchill.
How and why was Germany divided after World War II?
- How: Germany was divided into four Allied occupation zones run by the US, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union after WWII.
- Why: To allow for the restructuring of Germany after the dismantling of the Nazi government at the end of WWII.
How did the division of Germany after World War II contributed to Cold War tensions?
- While the three western Allies governed their zones cooperatively– Stalin’s eastern zone focused on the destruction of Germany and establishment of communism.
What was the Berlin Blockade?
- In 1948, Stalin grew angry at the western Allies efforts to unify West Germany and establish a common currency.
- Therefore he established a blockade, blocking all roads and rails into the western occupation zones of Berlin (resting within the Soviet zone).
- Prevented food, medicine, and other resources from reaching West Berlin.
What was the Berlin Airlift?
- In response to the Berlin Blockade, the western Allies flew airplanes over West Berlin to deliver much needed supplies to residents of the city.
- After 15 months Stalin ended his blockade, a victory for the Airlift.
- Led to the creation of West Germany in 1949.
Where did communism spread during the period following World War II?
- Eastern Europe
- East Germany
- China
- North Korea
- North Vietnam
Who was Mao Zedong?
- Chinese revolutionary leader that established China as a Communist nation at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
How and why Korea was divided after World War II?
- How: Korea was divided along the 38th parallel at the end of WWII. North Korea was made Communist; South Korea was made non-Communist.
- Why: Korea had been under Japanese control and the Allies didn’t believe Korea was prepared to self-govern.
How did the division of Korea after World War II contribute to Cold War tensions?
- Neither North or South Korea was pleased with the 38th parallel– making border skirmishes common.
- In June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea starting the Korean War.
Why did the United States intervene in Korea during the early Cold War?
- After North Korea invaded South Korea, it appeared that South Korea would fall to communism.
- The US intervened in the Korean War to contain communism to North Korea.
How and why was Vietnam divided after World War II?
- How: Vietnam was divided along the 17th Parallel at the Geneva Conference in 1954. North Vietnam was Communist and South Vietnam was non-Communist.
- Why: After facing Japanese occupation during WWII, Vietnam attempted a revolutionary movement to overthrow their French imperialists. After France failed to end this revolution, the Geneva Conference was held, and Vietnam was divided.
Why did the US intervene in Vietnam during the early Cold War?
- The US began sending military advisors to Vietnam during the 1950s in hopes of containing communism to North Vietnam.
What is the domino theory?
- Common concern during the early Cold War that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would fall to communism as well.
- Caused the US to intervene in many Cold War conflicts- particularly Korea and Vietnam.
How did the nuclear arms race intensify during the early Cold War?
- Both the US and the Soviet Union worked to develop as many nuclear weapons as possible.
- Both the US and the Soviet Union worked to develop more powerful and advanced technologies with their nuclear weapons.
What is an ICBM?
- An intercontinental ballistic missile.
- During the nuclear arms race, the US and Soviet Union wanted to develop ICBMs to be able to target one another from greater distances.
How did fears associated with the nuclear arms race impact American society after World War II?
- Americans lived in constant fear that the Soviet Union might attack the US.
- People built bunkers in the homes and businesses; children practiced duck and cover drills at school.
- People became increasingly fearful of anything associated with the Soviet Union– such as communism.
What caused the Second Red Scare to emerge after World War II?
- Intense fear of communism and the Soviet Union after WWII– especially amid the ongoing nuclear arms race.
- Many worried that communist spies were living among the American public- putting everyone at risk.
How did the US government respond to concerns of communist spies operating within the US government and American society during the Second Red Scare?
- Investigations were completed to ensure that the government and public were secure.
- Organizations were created to organize these investigations.
Who was Alger Hiss?
- US State Department employee convicted on charges of espionage after acting as a Soviet spy.
Who were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
- Married couple convicted and sentenced to death for providing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union during the nuclear arms race.
- Julius had worked on the Manhattan Project.
What were Loyalty Review Boards?
- Government committees created to investigate government employees- and their potential ties to Soviet Communism.
What was the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC)?
- Congressional committee created to investigate Communist threats in all aspects of American society.
Who were the Hollywood Ten?
- A group of Hollywood contributors that were blacklisted (banned) from working in the movie industry, after HUAC investigations connected them to the Communist Party.
How did the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy demonstrate the extreme nature of the Second Red Scare after World War II?
- Unlike the very real connections between some convicted spies and the Soviet Union, McCarthy made false claims against hundreds of Americans during the Second Red Scare.
- McCarthy’s claims were often made with little to no evidence– ruining many people’s lives along the way.
What is McCarthyism?
- The people of mass hysteria surrounding Communist allegations during the height of the Second Red Scare.
- Caused by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
