Cold War Concepts

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Cold War

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A war of words or a non-shooting conflict between the Soviet Union and their allies and the United States and their allies. A nearly 50 year period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

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Superpower

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A country with the ability to influence events or project power on a global scale due to a huge economy, large population, strong military, and large quantities of weapons of mass destruction.

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Iron Curtain

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Refers to the imaginary line dividing Europe between Soviet influence and Western influence, and symbolizes efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas.

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Containment

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A US foreign policy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

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NATO

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance of 32 countries in Europe and North America, formed in 1949 to provide collective security. Its primary goal is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

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Warsaw Pact

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A military alliance formed by the Soviet Union and its communist allies in Central and Eastern Europe in response to NATO’s expansion into Western Europe.

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Truman Doctrine

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The Truman Doctrine was a US foreign policy established in 1947, promising support to democratic nations threatened by communism.

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Marshall Plan

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The Marshall Plan was a U.S. initiative, officially the European Recovery Program, that provided economic aid to Western Europe following World War II. This program aimed to rebuild war-torn economies, prevent the spread of communism, and promote economic cooperation among European nations.

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Berlin Wall

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The Berlin Wall was a concrete barrier constructed by East Germany in 1961, dividing East and West Berlin, and later, East and West Germany.

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Domino Theory

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Concept suggesting that if one nation falls to communism, neighboring nations will also succumb to communism, like a chain reaction of falling dominoes.