study for 7.3 Flashcards
What major event marked the beginning of the Cold War?
The end of World War II and the differing ideologies of the United States and Soviet Union.
What was the purpose of NATO?
To provide collective security against the threat of Soviet expansion.
What is decolonization?
The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers after World War II.
Which country was the first to grant independence to its colonies in the 20th century?
India in 1947
What was the significance of the Berlin Wall?
It symbolized the division between East and West during the Cold War.
What was the main outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
It brought the U.S. and Soviet Union close to nuclear war but ultimately led to a thaw in tensions.
Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
Various leaders, including Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, and Mikhail Gorbachev.
What is the concept of “containment”?
A U.S. strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.
What role did the United Nations play post-World War II?
It aimed to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts.
What was apartheid?
A system of institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa.
Who was Nelson Mandela?
An anti-apartheid revolutionary who became the first black president of South Africa.
What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?
To help rebuild European economies after World War II.
What is the significance of the Great Leap Forward?
A failed economic campaign in China aimed at rapid industrialization.
What event is known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre?
The Chinese government’s violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in 1989.
What was the Yalta Conference?
A meeting of Allied leaders to discuss post-war Europe and the reorganization of nations.
What are the main ideologies that clashed during the Cold War?
Capitalism (United States) vs. Communism (Soviet Union).
What was the Non-Aligned Movement?
A group of states that did not formally align with either the U.S. or the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
What was the outcome of the Vietnam War?
The fall of Saigon and the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.
Describe the significance of the Korean War.
it marked the first military conflict of the Cold War and established the division of Korea.
What led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991?
Economic troubles, political reforms, and growing nationalist movements in the republics.
What was the significance of the Suez Crisis?
It highlighted the decline of British and French influence and the rise of U.S. and Soviet interests in the Middle East.
Who were the “domino theory” proponents?
U.S. officials who believed that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.
