Cold War Study Guide Test

Glasnost

"openness"; Gorbachev promoted more transparency and allowed more freedom of speech.

How did the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies respond to the formation of NATO?

1. By forming the Warsaw Pact 2. By developing an international network of spies

What were the approximate years of the Cold War?

1945-1991

The Nationalists in Taiwan (ROC) and the Communists in mainland China (PRC)

After imperial China fell, what 2 different groups ruled China?

Taiwan

After the Chinese Civil War, nationalists fled here and established their own Republic of China (ROC)

Both nations at the beginning were split into North and South. The US got involved in both conflicts to contain communism.

In what ways were the wars in Korea and Vietnam similar?

What were the results of the war in Korea? Vietnam?

Korea ended in a cease-fire and is still divided on the 38th parallel. Vietnam fell to the communists shortly after the US left.

Nikita Khruschev

Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of the communists in Vietnam who eventually conquered all of Vietnam.

mutually assured destruction.

M.A.D

Richard Nixon

President of the US at the end of the Vietnam War and responsible for detente.

John F. Kennedy

President of the US during the Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuban Missile Crisis

Satellite footage revealed that the Soviets were putting missiles in Cuba, a huge threat due to its proximity (closeness) to the US border. President JFK decided to form a naval blockade. It is the closest the US and USSR came to actual nuclear war.

38th parallel

The division line between North and South Korea. The Korean War ended in a stalemate and the nations are still divided across this line.

Ronald Reagan

US President towards the end of the Cold War who encouraged Gorbachev to "Tear down this wall"

As a result of the Vietnam War, North Vietnam and South Vietnam...

Were reunited

Korean War

When communist forces posed a threat, the US and the UN came to support the democratic South Koreans. This war ended in a cease-fire, dividing Korea at the 38th parallel to this day.

Who supported theWho supported the North Koreans? North Koreans?

Who supported the North Koreans?

Detente

a relax in tensions between the US and USSR in the latter half of the Cold War following Vietnam. It was President Richard Nixon who implemented this.

Containment Policy

aka Truman Doctrine; policy established by President Truman that the US would support countries rejecting communism and attempt to stop communism from spreading. This got the US involved in conflict such as Vietnam and Korea.

Margaret Thatcher

conservative prime minister of England known as "the Iron Lady" known for her conservative policy and active stand against the USSR

"Duck & Cover"

drills done by people to protect themselves from a nuclear explosion. Promoted by characters like Bert the Turtle

Perestroika

economic restructuring of the Soviet Union promoted by Gorbachev.

The Iron Curtain was the...

ideological line between the democratic West and Communist East.

Tiananmen Square

incident where student protesters peacefully protested for more freedoms and were met with extreme force (i.e. tanks)

Mikhail Gorbachev

last leader of the Soviet Union and responsible for its collapse. His policies of glasnost and perestroika lightened some of the previous harsh policies.

Deng Xiaoping

leader of China responsible for economic restructuring. Resigned due to Tiananmen Square.

Mao Zedong

leader of the communists during the Chinese Civil War and People's Republic of China.

Chiang Kai Shek

leader of the nationalists in China.

Yalta Conference

meeting of the Allies during WWII that determined what they would do with post-war Europe. It was determined that Germany and Berlin would be split in 4 by the Allies.

Warsaw Pact

military alliance comprised of the Soviet Union and its satellite nations.

NATO

military alliance formed by the US and its allies during the Cold War

Truman Doctrine

policy of containment that says the US will support any countries that reject communism in an attempt to keep communism from spreading.

Berlin Wall

wall dividing East and West Berlin constructed by Stalin in 1961. Those trying to flee East Germany were shot. This served as a symbol of the division between the communist east and democratic west. The wall was torn down on Nov. 9, 1989.