Origins of the Cold War (1945-1960)

Question 1

satellite countries

Answer 1

Eastern European countries that came under the control of the Soviet Union after WWII. The Soviets argued that they had liberated these countries from the Nazis so they had the right to continue influence over development there

Question 2

Iron Curtain

Answer 2

term coined by Churchill in a March 1946 speech in Missouri. Churchill forcefully proclaimed that the Soviets were establishing an iron curtain between the free countries of Western Europe and the Communist-controlled countries of Eastern Europe.

Question 3

Containment Policy

Answer 3

policy devised by American diplomat Kennan. he believed that the U>S. needed to implement long-term military, economic, and diplomatic strategies to “contain” the spread of communism. These ideas became U.S. government policy in the late 1940s.

Question 4

Truman Doctrine

Answer 4

articulated in 1947, this policy stated that the U.S. would support any democratic nation that resisted communism.

Question 5

Marshall Plan

Answer 5

American plan that spent $12 billion for the rebuilding of Western Europe after WWII. This plan helped produce an economic revival and helped stave off the growth of Communist influence.

Question 6

Berlin Airlift

Answer 6

American effort that flew in supplies to West Berlin after the Soviet Union and the East German governments blocked the roads to the city beginning in June 1948 American airplanes flew in supplies for 15 months, causing the Soviets to call off the blockade.

Question 7

NATO

Answer 7

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance between U.S. and Western European countries that was formed in April 1949

Question 8

Warsaw Pact

Answer 8

military pact formed in 1955 between the Soviets and their Eastern European satellite countries

Question 9

HUAC

Answer 9

House Un-American Activities Committee; in 1947 this committee began to investigate the entertainment industry for Communist influences.

Question 10

Blacklist

Answer 10

list created by HUAC and various private agencies indicating individuals in the entertainment industry who might be Communists or who might have been influenced by Communists in the past. Many individuals on this list couldn’t find work in the industry until the 1960s

Question 11

McCarthyism

Answer 11

term used to describe the accusations by Senator McCarthy and his supporters in the early 1950s that certain people in government, academia, and the arts were secret Communists. McCarthy’s changes were largely unsubstantiated.

Question 12

Domino theory

Answer 12

theory that if a country in a region fell under Communist rule, then other countries in the region would follow; this theory would be used to justify American involvement in Vietnam

Question 13

Sputnik

Answer 13

first artificial satellite, launched in 1957 by the Soviets; this shocked the U.S. scientific community that they launched a satellite first.

Question 14

Potsdam Conference

Answer 14

July 1945 conference between President Truman, Stalin, and Clement Atlee (U.K.). Truman took a much tougher stance toward Stalin than FDR and little agreement took place during the conference. Truman expressed reservations about the future role of the Soviets in Eastern Europe at this conference.

Question 15

hydrogen bomb

Answer 15

atomic weapons much more powerful than those used in WWII. these were developed and tested by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R in the 1950s, dramatically increasing the threat of nuclear war.

Question 16

Loyalty Review Board

Answer 16

Established in 1947 to control possible Communist influence in the American government. These boards were created to investigate potential “security risks” working in the government and to decide if those “risks” should lose their jobs. Many employees lost their jobs for seemingly no reason due to political opinions or sexual orientation.

Question 17

McCarran Internal Security Act

Answer 17

1950 Congressional act stated that all members of the Communist party had to register with the office of the Attorney General and it was a crime to conspire/foster communism in the U.S.

Question 18

McCarran-Walter Act

Answer 18

Bill that limited immigration from everywhere except Northern/Western Europe and stated that immigration officials could turn any immigrant away that they thought might threaten national security.

Question 19

38th Parallel

Answer 19

dividing line between Soviet-supported North Korea and U.S.-backed South Korea both before and as a result of the Korean War. American forces have been stationed on the Southern border since 1953 when the war ended.

Question 20

Korean War

Answer 20

1950-1953 war where American and UN forces fought to stop Communist aggression against South Korea. U.S. entry into this war was consistent with the U.S. cold war policy of containment. Negotiated settlement divided Korea along the 38th parallel.

Question 21

Army-McCarthy Hearings

Answer 21

1954 hearings on charges that Senator McCarthy was unfairly tarnishing the army with charges of Communist infiltration into the armed forces. These hearings were the beginning of the end for McCarthy.

Question 22

massive retaliation

Answer 22

foreign policy officials in the Eisenhower administration believed the best way to stop communism was to convince the Communists that every time they advanced, there would be retaliation. This policy explains the desire to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Question 23

Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Answer 23

1954 Victory over Vietnamese forces over the French, causing the French to leave the area. Geneva Peace Accords followed this battle.

Question 24

Geneva Accords

Answer 24

After the French were defeated in Vietnam, a series of 1954 agreements created a North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel, additionally, reunification elections were promised in two years. To prevent the growth of communism, the U.S. installed a government in South Vietnam to ensure that the unification elections never happened.

Question 25

Eisenhower Doctrine

Answer 25

policy established in 1957 that promised military and economic aid to “friendly” nations in the Middle East; this was to prevent further communist infiltration in the region. The policy was utilized when the U.S. gave large amounts of aid to King Hussein of Jordan to put down rebellion.

Question 26

Rio Pact

Answer 26

1947 treaty signed by the U.S. and Latin American countries stating that the region would work on economic and defense matters by creating the Organization of American States.

Question 27

U-2 spy plane

Answer 27

American aircraft shot down over the U.S.S.R. in May 1960. President Eisenhower initially refused to acknowledge that it was a spy flight, but the Soviets produced the pilot, Francis Gary Powers who admitted the purpose. This created an increase in cold war tensions during the end of Eisenhower’s presidency.