The Origins of the Cold War Flashcards
Harry S. Truman
Former US Senator, Vice President and eventually President of the United States of America from the years 1945 to 1953. He was a Democrat who came to be president unexpectedly after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. During his presidency, Truman would denounce the Soviet Union which had a heavy impact on the rising tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. From these tensions, the two nations would eventually go to war with each other with what we now know to be the Cold War.
Joseph W. Stalin
Former Soviet Union leader from the years 1922 through 1953. Stalin was a prominent member of the Communist party and was an extremely paranoid individual which would have a heavy effect on the beginnings of the Cold War.
Woodrow Wilson
Former president of the United States, Wilson’s support for national self-determination influenced his successor’s, most notably, Harry S. Truman as shown through his actions leading up to the start of the Cold War.
George F. Cannon
The most famous advisor of President Truman who, along with his fellow advisors, encouraged the president to take a strong stance against the actions of the Soviet Union. Cannon was a high level diplomat in Moscow at the U.S. Embassy and is most remembered for sending the Long Telegram.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from the years 1940 to 1945 and 1951 to 1955, Churchill’s most impactful role to the start of the Cold War would be his well known “Iron Curtain” speech in March of 1946. Churchill also partly oversaw Britain’s support towards the United States as opposed to the Soviet Union at the time of the Cold War.
Capitalism
An industrial economy that is most often controlled by the middle class and follows the free market principles in which prices are regulated through supply and demand, free trade, and exchange of goods. A primary example of a Capitalist system would be that of the United States.
Communism
A system that is heavily centered around the control of government. The state owns factories and resources rather than individuals and there is central planning of the economy. It also runs on an Egalitarian system. A primary example of a Communist system would be that of the Soviet Union.
Egalitarian System
A system in which the working class is suppose to be rewarded for their labor and protected from exploitation.
national self determination
The belief that a country’s character affects the state of international affairs and therefore all countries should be democrats like that of the United States.
anti-Hitler alliance
An alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union during World War II in which both countries put their differences aside to fight against a much larger threat: Nazi Fascism.
Satellite States
Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria; the states that border the Soviet Union that would be converted to Communism by the Soviet Union. These nations acted as a buffer zone for the Soviet Union that would protect them from attacks.
Long Telegram
Telegram sent by George F. Cannon in which he wrote a broad interpretation of Soviet policy and argued that the Soviet Union sought out world domination and only understood force.
policy of containment
Policy pushed for by George F. Cannon in which any Soviet pressure should be met with immediate force.
Iron Curtain Speech
Famous speech by former British Prime Minister Churchill in which he described the separation of western and eastern Europe. Most noticeably, he used the phrase “iron curtain” to describe that separation hence the name of his speech.
the Truman Doctrine
Famous doctrine crafted by former U.S. President Harry S. Truman in which he appealed for public support for his policies to stop the Soviet Union.
