Cold War Basics
What was the Cold War?
A period of tension and competition without direct fighting
Which system uses private businesses and competition?
Capitalism/Market
What is a proxy war?
A conflict where larger countries support different sides
Who was the communist leader of North Vietnam?
Ho Chi Minh
What divided Eastern and Western Europe?
Why was it called the “Cold” War?
The U.S. and Soviet Union never fought directly
Which system is controlled by the government?
Communism / Command economy
Name two Cold War proxy wars.
Korean War / Vietnam War
What was the Domino Theory?
If one country becomes communist, others will follow
What divided Eastern and Western Europe?
Eastern Europe
Which two countries were the main superpowers?
United States and Soviet Union
What is one major problem with a command economy?
Shortages / inefficiency / lack of choice
What event started the Korean War?
North Korea invaded South Korea
What type of warfare did the Viet Cong use?
Guerrilla warfare
What was the Berlin Wall built to do?
Keep people from leaving East Germany
What were the main areas of competition during the Cold War? (Name at least 2)
Military, politics, space, technology, influence
How does competition improve an economy?
Encourages better quality, lower prices, innovation
Why is the Korean War not officially over?
It ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty
The Tet Offensive shocked Americans during the Vietnam War. What holiday is "Tet" in Vietnam?
New Years
Why did the Berlin Wall fall in 1989?
Weakened Soviet control, political and economic changes
Why did the Cold War last so long without direct fighting between the US and Soviet Union? (Hint: Why were they so afraid to fight each other)
Fear of nuclear war / Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
Why did the Soviet economy struggle compared to market economies?
Poor planning, lack of competition, shortages, inefficiency
How were the Korean War and Vietnam War similar?
Both were proxy wars, involved U.S. vs communism, divided countries
Why did many Americans protest the Vietnam War?
High casualties, unclear goals, media coverage of war
Why was the Berlin Wall a powerful symbol of the Cold War?
Why was the Berlin Wall a powerful symbol of the Cold War?