Cold War and Post-War Era

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Soviet Union

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1. Formed under Lenin in 1922,

2. it was a totalitarian communist state in eastern Europe.

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Joseph Stalin

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Russian leader who succeeded Lenin as head of the Communist Party, created a totalitarian state by purging all opposition, ruled from 1928-1953, and used Five-Year Plans to increase industrial production.

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Five Year Plan

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Plans created by Stalin to industrialize the Soviet Union rapidly, prioritizing chemicals and weapons production over consumer goods, leading to significant suffering among Soviet citizens.

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Marshall Plan

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A 1947 American plan to revive war-torn economies of Europe, offering $13 billion in aid to prevent the spread of communism. Aid was offered to the USSR but declined.

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Satellite nations

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Countries that fell under Soviet influence post-WWII, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and East Germany.

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European Economic Community (Common Market)

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An organization promoting economic unity in Europe, formed in 1957, enabling free trade between member nations and a precursor to the European Union.

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United Nations (UN)

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An organization formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security, more effective than the League of Nations but limited by US and Soviet influence.

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Self-determination

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The right of people to choose their own form of government, supported by the US and Britain for Eastern Europe, but heavily influenced by the Soviet Union.

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Iron Curtain

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Winston Churchill's term for the Cold War division between the Soviet-dominated East and the U.S.-dominated West.

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Truman Doctrine

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US policy of providing economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism, supporting the 'domino theory'.