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Post WWII: The World from 1945 to Today 1. What was the Cold War really about? Was it a war in the traditional sense? The cold war was a war of ideologies between Western democracies and Eastern communist countries over communism versus capitalism. It wasn’t a war in the traditional sense because it wasn’t primarily fought on battlefields. There were threats of violence, but neither side really wanted to attack because no one wanted another world war. 2. What was the arms race? Who was involved? The arms race was a period when the U.S. and the Soviet Union built up their armies and weapons just in case a war was declared. There was particular interest in developing news way of weapon delivery. This led to the Space Race. 3. What was the Space Race? Who was involved? Space exploration served as another dramatic arena for Cold War competition. On October 4, 1957, a Soviet R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile launched Sputnik (Russian for “traveler”), the world’s first artificial satellite and the first man-made object to be placed into the Earth’s orbit. Sputnik’s launch came as a surprise, and not a pleasant one, to most Americans. In the United States, space was seen as the next frontier, a logical extension of the grand American tradition of exploration, and it was crucial not to lose too much ground to the Soviets. In addition, this demonstration of the overwhelming power of the R-7 missile–seemingly capable of delivering a nuclear warhead into U.S. air space–made gathering intelligence about Soviet military activities particularly urgent. By landing on the moon, the United States effectively “won” the space race that had begun with Sputnik’s launch in 1957. For their part, the Soviets made four failed attempts to launch a lunar landing craft between 1969 and 1972, including a spectacular launch-pad explosion in July 1969. From beginning to end, the American public’s attention was captivated by the space race, and the various developments by the Soviet and U.S. space programs were heavily covered in the national media. This frenzy of interest was further encouraged by the new medium of television. Astronauts came to be seen as the ultimate American heroes, and earthbound men and women seemed to enjoy living vicariously through them. Soviets, in turn, were pictured as the ultimate villains, with their massive, relentless efforts to surpass America and prove the power of the communist system 4. What was the iron curtain? The Iron Curtain was a term coined by Winston Churchill to describe how communist countries in eastern Europe were isolates from the West. Information and people were not allowed to flow into or out of the areas controlled by communism. Name_______________________________ 5. What was the Berlin Wall? The Berlin Wall was a wall separating the East(Communist) half of Berlin, and the West(Democratic) side of Berlin. The wall was erected to keep people from escaping the terrible living conditions in the East, to the freedom of the west. The Wall became THE major symbol of the Cold War. 6. What was the Berlin Airlift and who was involved? In response to the Soviet blockade of land routes into West Berlin, the United States begins a massive airlift of food, water, and medicine to the citizens of the besieged city. For nearly a year, supplies from American planes sustained the over 2 million people in West Berlin. The Soviets persisted with the blockade until May 1949. By then, however, it was apparent to everyone concerned that the blockade had been a diplomatic fiasco for the Russians. Around the world, the Soviets were portrayed as international bullies, holding men, women, and children hostage in West Berlin and threatening them with starvation. The unbelievably successful American airlift also backfired against the Russians by highlighting the technological superiority of the United States. By the time the Soviets ended the blockade, West Germany had become a separate and independent nation and the Russian failure was complete. 7. Why did the U.S. become involved in the conflicts between North and South Korea and North and South Vietnam? The U.S. became involved in both conflicts because they were afraid that if communists took over noncommunist countries, other Asian countries might also become communist. The United States wanted to stop the spread of Communism in as many locations as possible. They saw communism as a direct threat to democracy and their way of life. 8. Describe the term Globalization. What are some of the advantages to being global? Globalization is the process of making something worldwide, or global. The term globalization refers to the integration of economics. Cultures, and government policies around the world. Trade between countries, the sharing of cultures, travel, and intergovernmental politics are all aspects of globalization. There are many advantages to being so connected: Organization from different countries can work together to solve major issues like poverty, climate change, and terrorism Post WWII: The World from 1945 to Today 9. Describe the Following World Organizations: a. OPEC – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. An inter-governmental organization of 13 oil producing countries. Its mission is to ensure the stabilization of the oil markets. b. WTO – World Trade Organization. The only global international organization with rules of trade between nations. The goal of the WTO is help producers of goods and services sell their goods; help exporters and importers conduct their business; and to promote free and predictable trade between the 157 participating nations. The WTO administers trade agreements and negotiations, helps with disputes and policies, and provides assistance to developing nations trying to enter the global economy. c. UN – United Nation. The UN replaced the failed League of Nations. Its primary purpose is to help prevent any further world war by focusing on peace and international security. Meeting between the 193 member countries are held in New York. d. WHO – World Health Organization. The WHO oversees healthcare situations for the United Nations. It provides leadership for global health issues, technical assistance for developing countries, sets the standards for global health, and monitors trends in the health of humans. e. EU – European Union. The EU is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 countries in Europe. This organization was developed after WWII and promotes human rights. The EU created a common currency to be used among its member nations called the Euro and allowed Europeans to travel freely through the member countries. f. NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A military alliance that seeks peace and security. there are 28 member nations in Europe and North America. NATO can send troops to handle crisis situations around the world to try to keep peace between nations. g. NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement. An agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States signed in 1994 that allowed for free trade between those neighboring nations. It created the largest area of free trade in the world. h. G20 – Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors (including the EU). They act as a forum for leaders to handle international financial matters. The G20 summit (meeting) is held yearly in different locations around the world. 10. Name_______________________________ What is a non-governmental organization (NGO). Give some examples. A term used to describe organizations created by people who are not involved in government. There are approximately 40,000 NGOs that focus on human rights, environmental protects and awareness, and development. Usually these organizations go into a country and does “charity” work without any financial support for any government. Example include Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, Greenpeace. 11. What exactly happened on September 11, 2001? On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the Unites States. They hijacked four airplanes in mid-flight. The terrorists flew two of the planes into two skyscrapers at the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact caused the buildings to catch fire and collapse. Another plane destroyed part of the Pentagon (the U.S. military headquarters) in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Officials believe that the terrorists on that plane intended to destroy either the White House or the U.S. Capitol. Passengers on the plane fought the terrorists and prevented them from reaching their goal. In all, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks. 12. How did the events of 9/11 changed the world? Following 9/11, the U.S. government took many steps to try to make the country safer. It tightened security at airports and in public buildings. A new cabinet-level department—the Department of Homeland Security— was created. It works to protect the United States from terrorism.