Cold War Key Concepts

Front

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Back

A military alliance formed by Western Europe and the United States; Heightened Cold War tensions by contributing to the Iron Curtain

Front

Warsaw Pact

Back

The Communist Equivalent to NATO; Alliance between Eastern European Communist countries and the Soviet Union

Front

The Vietnam War

Back

A proxy war of the Cold War where the United States provided support to democratic South Vietnam in an effort to prevent the spread of Communism from North Vietnam; The war was a divisive issue among American citizens

Front

Kent State

Back

An example of student demonstrations swaying Public Opinion of the Vietnam War; This specific demonstration resulted in the death of 4 students by the National Guard

Front

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

Back

Military strategy intending to prevent Nuclear War by ensuring the use of Nuclear Weapons would result in the destruction of both the attacker and defender

Front

38th Parallel

Back

Imaginary line dividing Communist Korea from Democratic South Korea

Front

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)

Back

Passed to allow the President to mobilize military troops without congressional approval; Implemented at the onset of the Vietnam War

Front

Containment

Back

Core of early Cold War Policies with the intent of containing the spread of communism

Front

Berlin Airlift

Back

After the Soviet Union implemented a blockade around West Berlin, the U.N. orchestrated the Berlin Airlift to drop necessary supplies in West Berlin

Front

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Back

Planned by Eisenhower but implemented by Kennedy; Utilization of Cuban Nationals to invade Bay of Pigs Cuba in an attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro