Global 10R
Muscat/Herskovits
Cold War Vocabulary
Arms Race: Competition to develop nuclear weapons
Bay of Pigs: An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, which was sponsored by the
United States. Its purpose was to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Berlin Airlift: A re-supply operation to the city of Berlin that lasted 11 months during
1948-49 when the Soviet Union attempted to close off the city.
Berlin Wall : A wall built in 1961 dividing Soviet controlled East Berlin from the
democratic West Berlin. It was destroyed when communism ended in 1990.
Castro, Fidel : (1926?- ) Leader of the Cuban Revolution and communist dictator of
Cuba. He is responsible for making Cuba a socialist country which has often been at odds
with the United States. Notably, the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Cold War : A period of tension between the US and USSR after WW II. Non shooting
conflict between the Soviet Union and their allies and the United States and their allies.
Numerous secondary conflicts arise due to the Cold War.
Containment : A cold war policy that called for containing communism to areas already
under its influence—a policy that attempted to stop the spread of communism. This
policy was proposed by U.S. President Harry Truman.
Cuban Missile Crisis : (1962) Crises that developed as a result of Cuban dictator Fidel
Castro’s decision to allow the Soviet Union to base nuclear missiles in Cuba. Upon
discovery, the United States confronted the Soviet Union and demanded the missiles be
removed. For nearly two weeks, nuclear war was imminent and the world was on the
brink of nuclear war. Fortunately, diplomacy succeeded and crisis was averted.
Domino theory : The idea that countries bordering communist countries were in more
danger of falling to communism unless the United States and other western nations
worked to prevent it.
Espionage: The practice of spying to learn secrets of other nations.
Iron Curtain : A term popularized by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to
describe the Soviet Union’s policy of isolation during the Cold War. The Iron Curtain
isolated Eastern Europe from the rest of the world. Its most poignant symbol was the
Berlin Wall.
Peace Corps: American volunteers help needy people in undeveloped countries.
Korean War : A war between North Korean, which was supported by both the Soviet
Union and communist China, and South Korea, which was supported by the United
States and the United Nations. The war occurred between 1950 and 1953 and ended in an
armistice and original borders.
Marshall Plan : Economic aid from the United States used to rebuild Europe and lessen
the appeal of the Soviets after World War II. Named after United States Secretary of
State George Marshall.
NATO : North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an international defense alliance between
the United States, Great Britain, and others formed in 1949 as a response to the spread of
communism.
Nonaligned nation: A country that remained neutral during the Cold War.
Propaganda: Ideas spread to promote a country’s own politics or criticize opponent.
Radio Free Europe: Messages transmitted by the Free World to those people behind the
iron curtain.
Satellite state: Country under the domination of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Formed in 1922
from most of the former Russian Empire. The Soviet Union was controlled by the
Communist Party headquarter in Moscow, Russia. The Soviet Union was a world
superpower along with the United States, and was one of the two major antagonists
during the Cold War.
Space Race : Term given to the competition between the United States and the Soviet
Union during the Cold War to advance their space programs. It began with Sputnik I.
Sputnik : Soviet satellite put into orbit around Earth in 1957. It was the first man made
satellite put into orbit.
Superpower : Term given to the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold
War. A country that dominates global politics.
Truman Doctrine : A policy if the Truman presidency that called for supporting any
nation resisting communism. American aid to Greece and Turkey to help resist
communism.
Viet Cong : The name of the Vietnamese communist who fought against South Vietnam
and the United States during the Vietnam War.
Vietnam Conflict/War : A war in the country of Vietnam, first between the French and
Vietnamese, as France was attempting to hold onto its colony. The second war was
between the United States and the communist forces of North Vietnam, as the U.S. was
attempting to keep South Vietnam free from communism. American involvement ended
here in the 1970’s unsuccessfully. The North Vietnamese eventually won, forcing the
United States to withdraw.
Warsaw Pact : An international defense alliance between the Soviet Union and many of
its Eastern European satellite states as a response to NATO. Formed in 1955.