Cold War Basics
The policy of stopping communism from spreading
What is containment?
This country was divided at the 38th parallel
What is Korea?
Leader of the Soviet Union during major reforms in the 1980s
Who is Mikhail Gorbachev?
Why did countries build more weapons during the Cold War?
Because of fear and lack of trust
The year the Berlin Wall fell
What is 1989?
A conflict where powerful countries support different sides but don’t fight directly
What is a proxy war?
The war where the U.S. tried to stop communism in Southeast Asia
What is the Vietnam War?
Leader of Communist China after 1949
Who is Mao Zedong?
Why did the U.S. get involved in wars like Korea and Vietnam?
To contain communism
The year the Soviet Union collapsed
What is 1991?
What is an arms race?
Competition between countries to build more weapons
The wall that symbolized division between communism and democracy in Europe
What is the Berlin Wall?
Policy meaning “openness” in the Soviet Union
What pattern is shown when countries build weapons AND sign treaties?
Competition and cooperation at the same time
One major problem that weakened the Soviet Union
Economic problems / slow growth / high military spending
A period when tensions between the U.S. and USSR relaxed
What is détente?
This country became communist under Mao Zedong
What is China?
Policy meaning “restructuring” of the Soviet economy
What is perestroika?
Why can propaganda be dangerous?
It hides the truth and controls what people believe
What happened to countries in Eastern Europe at the end of the Cold War?
They gained independence / moved away from Soviet control
The idea that if one country becomes communist, others will follow
What is the Domino Theory?
The crisis that brought the U.S. and USSR closest to nuclear war
What is the Cuban Missile Crisis?
This leader expanded Soviet power after WWII and controlled Eastern Europe
Who is Joseph Stalin?
Why do governments try to control media or information?
To maintain power and prevent opposition
What is one major reason the Cold War ended?
Combination of economic problems, reforms, and loss of control