The Cold War Begins
Which two world powers dominated international politics after WWII?
The United States and the Soviet Union
Who led a campaign to find communists in the U.S. government?
Joseph McCarthy
Why did President Kennedy order a blockade of Cuba in 1962?
To stop Soviet ships from bringing more weapons to Cuba
The Korean War was part of what larger conflict?
The Cold War
Why did the U.S. support South Vietnam?
To prevent the spread of communist influence in Asia
What was the "iron curtain" Churchill referred to in 1946?
An invisible line dividing communist Europe from Western Europe
What did Senator McCarthy claim in the early 1950s?
That some people in the U.S. government were secretly communists
What did Khrushchev do to bring the world to the brink of nuclear war?
Put missiles in Cuba
What was the U.S. goal in Korea in the 1950s?
Containing the spread of communism
What was the U.S. goal during the Vietnam War?
Controlling the spread of communism
Which map illustrates the “iron curtain”?
The map showing Europe divided into US and Soviet areas of influence
What TWO fears did McCarthy use to gain fame and power?
Fear of nuclear war with the Soviet Union AND fear of communist spies in the U.S. government
Why did the Soviet Union choose Cuba for its missiles?
Because it was very close to the United States
Why did the U.S. support South Korea?
To prevent the spread of communist influence in Asia
How did the Vietnam War end for the U.S.?
The U.S. decided to withdraw its troops from South Vietnam
What operation did the U.S. begin in 1948 to help people in Berlin?
The Berlin Airlift
What was the Domino Theory?
The belief that if one country fell to communism, others would follow
What did the U.S. promise in exchange for missile removal from Cuba?
To remove U.S. missiles from Turkey and Italy and not invade Cuba
What was one difference between Eastern and Western Bloc nations?
Western Bloc citizens had more political freedom and economic opportunity
What theory influenced U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
The Domino Theory
What was the purpose of the Berlin Airlift?
To provide necessary supplies and prevent starvation in Berlin
What was one major goal of Nikita Khrushchev as Soviet leader?
Spreading communism around the globe
What correct statement about Khrushchev’s decision to put missiles in Cuba?
It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
Why did the U.S. help South Korea over North Korea?
Containing communism and supporting democracy
What was one reason the U.S. got involved in the Vietnam War?
Preventing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia