The Nuclear Age
What was the "arms race"
The competition between the US and the Soviet Union to create more nuclear weapons
What is McCarthyism?
McCarthyism was the term describing the widespread accusations of communism in the US without any evidence, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy
What was Containment?
The US policy aimed to stop the spread of communism worldwide
What was the first major military conflict of the Cold War?
The Korean War
What marked the official end of the Cold War?
The dissolve of the Soviet Union in 1991
This idea meant both countries involved had enough nuclear weapons to completely destroy each other
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
How did the Cold War influence American society?
Led to the fear of communism (both inside and outside the US), fear of nuclear attacks, protests against war, distrust in the government, and the push for social changes
What was "Domino Theory"
Said that if one country fell to communism, surrounding countries would quickly do the same.
What is a "proxy war"?
*For double points: What is an example of a proxy war that is going on today?
A smaller war in which more powerful countries support opposite sides to advance their interests.
Examples of proxy wars today: The war in Ukraine, Israel vs. Palestine, Syrian Civil War
The fall of what landmark symbolized the end of division in Europe?
The Berlin Wall
What event in 1962 showed how nuclear weapons could lead to a worldwide conflict?
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Why is there so much uncertainty about the assassination of John F. Kennedy?
How did the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact increase global tensions during the Cold War?
They turned the Cold War into a worldwide conflict and forced countries around the globe to choose between the US and the Soviet Union
List 3 differences between East and West Berlin
East: Communist, command economy, government censorship, shortages of essential goods, lower wages, travel restrictions, worse jobs, limited consumer choice
West: Democracy, capitalism, multiple political parties, freedom of speech, consumer choice, higher pay, better housing and jobs, freedom to travel, no government censorship
Allowed Soviet satellite states to choose how they govern themselves. This led to a shift from communism to democracy. Nicknamed after the song "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.
What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Cold War?
It brought the world as close as it's ever been to nuclear war for 13 days, showed the importance of negotiation to global coexistence, and encouraged the US and the USSR to limit their nuclear arsenals.
List at least 2 reasons for the change in public opinion towards the US government during the Vietnam War?
Media/news coverage of a war for the first time, anti-war protests, the draft, the credibility gap (difference in what the government said and what Americans believed), and American pop culture criticism of the war (music, TV, movies)
What was the name of the US policy that provided economic aid to European countries to prevent the spread of communism?
The Marshall Plan
What was the impact of the Soviet-Afghan War on the Soviet Union?
It weakened the economy, exposed poor leadership, led to protests and unrest in the Soviet Union, and led to a lack of confidence in communism.
How did the Soviet Union contribute to their own collapse?
Poor economy, low productivity, shortages of essential goods for citizens, weak military, inefficient leadership, mistreatment of their own people.
What 4 countries controlled Germany after World War II and during the Cold War?
The United States, The Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France
This group of people (think about specific jobs) were heavily targeted by McCarthyism
Hollywood Screenwriters
This specific event caused the Soviet Union to form the Warsaw Pact
West Germany joining NATO
What was the difference between the Korean War and the Vietnam War in terms of American public opinion?
The Korean War had much more public support, while Americans protested the Vietnam War, and they stopped trusting the government
How did the balance of global power change following the end of the Cold War?
The United States became the only superpower in the world