People
Communist leader of China
Mao Zedong
American policy to keep communism contained within its existing borders.
Containment
US aid program to help Western Europe rebuild after World War II
Marshall Plan
Small country controlled by a more powerful neighbor
Satellite state
Race in which countries compete to build more powerful weapons.
Arms Race
US Government official accused of being a communist spy and convicted of perjury
Alger Hiss
operation in which the US and Britain broke the Soviet blockade of West Berlin
Berlin Airlift
North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance to counter Soviet expansion
NATO
War fought to achieve only specific goals
Limited War
Policy in which the US and the Soviet Union hoped to deter nuclear war by building up enough weapons to destroy each other.
mutually assured destruction
US Senator who falsely accused Americans of having communist ties
Joseph McCarthy
Struggle in which the US and Soviet Union became rivals but never fought directly in military conflict.
Cold War
Rival military alliance formed by the Soviet Union and its satellite states
Warsaw Pact
Defensive alliance aimed at preventing the spread of cummunism in Southeast Asia
SEATO
Belief that only by going to the brink of war could the US prevent war.
Brinkmanship
American couple executed for passing atomic secrets to Soviet agents.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Imaginary barrier separating Soviet-controlled countries and the free world
iron curtain
President Truman's policy to aid nations struggling against communism
Truman Doctrine
American intelligence gathering organization
CIA
American reaction to the fear that communists were working to destroy American life.
Red Scare
Built support by promising food to the starving population. He also took control of the mainland.
Mao Zedong
Dividing line between North Korea and South Korea
38th parallel
President Eisenhower's policy that stated the US would use force to help nations threatened by communism
Eisenhower Doctrine
American organization that coordinates the space related efforts of scientists and the military
NASA
Crisis in which Britain and France attempted to seize control of the Suez canal from Egypt
Suez Crisis