Cold War Study guide Answers – Flashcards

refers to the period following WWII until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.This was a period when much of the world was divided by the communist/non-communist battle for military and political superiority. While the USA and the USSR were unquestionably the world's two superpowers, they avoided direct military conflict. Instead, they sought to bring other countries into their fold.

An organization of nations that was formed in 1945 to promote peace, security, and international cooperation. The organization is located in New York City.

This plan was developed by the USA and gave billions of dollars in order to assure the success of Western European countries after WWII. In return the USA received military and political allies, markets for American goods, and military bases near the USSR.

Europe's Iron Curtain refers to the imaginary curtain that divided eastern and western European countries after WWII. This division separated communist from non-communist countries and brought those counties in Eastern Europe under the control of the USSR.

The military alliance between the USA and Western European countries. This alliance assured military assistance to countries threatened by the USSR and allowed American military bases to be located nearer the USSR.

The military alliance between the USSR and countries in Eastern Europe.

A fortified wall surrounding West Berlin, Germany, built in 1961 to prevent East German citizens from traveling to the West. Its demolition in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War. This wall was both a deterrent to individuals trying to escape and a symbol of repression to the free world.

As friction grew between the USSR and Western powers, the USSR blockaded West Berlin in 1948 and refused to allow the ground delivery of goods. Britain and the USA responded by flying millions of tons of needed goods to West Berlin during the following twelve months. The USSR then ended the blockade.

The competition between countries (specifically, between the USA and USSR during the Cold War) for superiority in the number and power of weapons held.

By the 1960s the United States and the Soviet Union each possessed enough nuclear weaponry and the delivery systems necessary to destroy the other. Knowing that direct conflict would likely result in nuclear holocaust, the USA and USSR avoided direct military conflict during the Cold War.

Many scientists and military leaders believed that control of space would be very important. Consequently, the USA and USSR invested billions of dollars in developing satellites, space stations, rockets, etc. This investment led to great scientific advances, but also caused friction and insecurities.

Khrushchev became leader of the USSR when Stalin died. He told Soviet citizens about shortcomings of Stalin's leadership, spearheaded the Space Race, increased military power, and dealt with the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

President of the USA from 1960-63, Kennedy dealt with Khrushchev and the USSR during a tense period of the Cold War that included the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1962 the USA discovered that the USSR had placed nuclear missiles on the island country of Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida. President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade and promised to stop, search, or sink any ship bound for Cuba. Khrushchev informed Kennedy that such a blockade was illegal and that Soviet ships headed for Cuba would continue on their way and would not allow Americans to search them.

Gorbachov was leader of the USSR during the late 1980s and early 1990s. During this period the USSR was in deep financial trouble from military spending and ineffective domestic policies. Gorbachov attempted economic reforms that would bring aspects of capitalism to the Soviet economy and opened talks with the USA that would bring an end to the military spending associated with the Cold War. By the mid-1990s the USSR had, essentially, gone bankrupt, Eastern European countries were demanding independence, and the Soviet economy and government collapsed.

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to independence for countries of Eastern Europe that had been under Soviet control/influence since WWII. During the last 10 years most of these countries have moved towards democracy and capitalism and have established much closer ties to Western Europe and the United States. Additionally, former republics of the Soviet Union have become independent countries, with Russia the largest, Germany has been reunited as a single country, and Yugoslavia has divided into a number of small countries.