Download THE COLD WAR

THE COLD WAR
Harry S. Truman
IMPORTANT TERMS AND
EVENTS
Josef Stalin
Nikita Khrushchev
Winston Churchill
United Nations - (1945) evolved out of war-time conferences between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. An
international organization which helped war torn regions of the world, and preserves peace and security.
Truman Doctrine - a historic declaration by President Truman in 1947. The US policy of supporting
governments against insurrection incited from outside their national boundaries. Intended for Greece and
Turkey, it led to the formation of NATO and was later extended globally
Berlin Blockade - (1948) Most serious clash between Soviets and Americans occurred in Berlin. Stalin
viewed Allied occupation of Germany as a huge problem, especially since the Allies had hinted they would pull
out when the war ended. Soviets imposed a blockade on all road and rail traffic into Berlin, in hopes of
pushing the West out of Berlin. The risk of Third World War was real...the Americans could not leave with the
threat of all of Germany falling into Soviet hands. The US airlifted in supplies, and Stalin eventually conceded
defeat and lifted the blockade.
NATO - (1949) formation of Western European military alliance supported by US, brought on by the
Czechoslovakian situation and Berlin Blockade. Signatories included 10 European nations, Canada and the
US. Specifically designed to warn the Soviets that committed to preventing further Soviet expansion
Marshall Plan - Named after the American statesman who came up with it, American economic aid offered
after the Second World War for the reconstruction of those nations of Europe that had fought against Nazi
Germany during the war. It was felt that Western Europe’s best defence against Soviet infiltration or invasion
was a boosted post-war economy.
The Korean War (1950-53) - A war between North and South Korea, with the Americans supporting South Korea
against communist forces in the North. The North invaded the South by crossing the 38th parallel, a split made
after WWII. Americans felt that since they had occupied South Korea after the war, they were obliged to support
the South. The U.S. pushed a resolution through the UN Security Council naming North Korea as the aggressors
and requesting UN assistance. Three years later, the outcome was much the same as at the start: North Korea
remained communist and South Korean remained democratic, with the political boundary virtually unchanged.
SEATO - (1954) brought together European and Asian nations in a mutual defence package.
Warsaw Pact - a defensive military treaty obligating the signatories to come to the aid of any member that fell
victim to attack by an aggressor nation, (signed by Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic
Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union in May of 1955) A response to the formation of NATO
by the Allies.
Hungarian Revolt (1956) - Hungarian leader, Imre Nagy, proclaimed that free elections would be held
soon. Moscow promised to support this, and eventually withdraw their troops. As troops withdrew, Nagy
announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. This worried the Soviets, as it could set a precedent
which would topple their regime. They moved in and crushed the rebellion.
Bay of Pigs (1961) - CIA led raids (with Cuban emigres) on Cuba culminating with the landing at the Bay of Pigs,
hoping to gain control of the whole island. A complete failure, and embarrassment for John F. Kennedy.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) – Khruschev’s installation of missiles in Cuba to gain an advantage in the East/West
balance of power. Tried to install them without US knowledge, but the sites were discovered, and the Soviet
Union and US were on the brink of nuclear war for 3 days. Direct negotiation between Soviets and U.S. eventually
solved the crisis.
Detente - a lessening of tension; an attempt on the part of nations to work together toward peaceful co-existence.
Domino Theory - the fear that if South Vietnam fell to the communists, all other states in Asia would follow suit.
Vietnam War - American involvement from 1965-1975. Communist support in the North and Western support in the South. The US
public denounced their government’s involvement in this war, and eventually, the U.S. was forced to pull out due to lack of support
from home and the inability to defeat the Vietcong, who were adept at fighting in jungle conditions. After the defeat of South Vietnam
in 1975, Vietnam was re-united under a communist government.
Brezhnev Doctrine - after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, 1969 the Brezhnev Doctrine proclaimed the right of the
Soviet Union to determine when intervention might be necessary to preserve socialism and protect against counter-revolution within
the Eastern bloc. Red Army was permanently stationed in Czechoslovakia.
Chile - In 1973, the government was overthrown by the military in a coup d’état. The coup occurred two months after a first failed
attempt. President Allende was killed during the coup. General Pinochet assumed power after deposing President Allende,
establishing a military dictatorship that ruled until 1990. Sources suggest that the Soviet Union was sympathetic to Allende, but did
not assist him because they believed he was "weak" for refusing to use force against the opposition. While U.S. government hostility
to the Allende government is unquestioned, the CIA. role in the coup itself remains a highly controversial matter. Claims of their direct
involvement in the actual coup are not proven.
SALT 1 & 2 - the limitation of strategic weaponry between the United States and the Soviet Union. (Signed on May 26th, 1972) This
was a contract for five years. It was to control weapons technology. (Pg. 202-203)
Afghanistan (1979-1989) - The Soviet war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet-Afghan War or just the Soviet Invasion of
Afghanistan, was a nine-year conflict involving Soviet forces supporting the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)
government against the mujahideen resistance. The latter group found support from a variety of sources including the United States,
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other Muslim countries in the context of the Cold War. This conflict was concurrent to the 1979 Iranian
Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War.
Iran-Contra Affair – The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal in the United States which came to light in November
1986, during the Reagan administration, in which senior US figures agreed to facilitate the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of
an arms embargo, to secure the release of hostages and to fund Nicaraguan Contras. This was done because the US saw
the Nicaraguan government as communist and a threat to democracy in South America. This move was illegal, a scandal
ensued, and a hearing was held, in which several key players were dismissed. George Bush later pardoned those who took
part in the scandal. Reagan and the U.S.’ image was tarnished as a result of the affair.
Containment - A policy to limit the expansion of rival spheres of interest by economic, political, and military means on a
global scale.
Collective Security - A system in which the collective power of several industrial nations is used to maintain international
peace and security.
Brinkmanship - The strategy of taking a nation to the brink of war in pursuit of foreign policy goals. It is a policy of
threatening large scale or total war to force an opponent to back down in a confrontation. Diplomatic tool used by both US
and Soviet Union as they took their countries to the brink of war without actually fighting one.
Strategic Defence Initiative - (SDI) The Star Wars Project - a strategy of creating an impenetrable missile defence shield of
North America. The shield would hit and destroy incoming enemy missiles. Proposed by Reagan in 1984-85...costly and
impractical.
Was contrary to aims of SALT 1.
START - Strategic Arms Reductions Talks proposed by Reagan to replace SALT.
Mutually Assured Destruction - (MAD) the reality that losses in nuclear war would guarantee unacceptable destruction of
victor and loser alike.