Early Cold War Vocabulary

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Cold War

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the power struggle between the Soviet Union and the U.S. after World War Two

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Joseph Stalin

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communist dictator of the Soviet Union during and after WW2

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Harry Truman

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President of the U.S. during the early Cold War period; containment policy

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Democracy

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a political system in which the people elect their government officials

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Capitalism

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Economic system in which private citizens can own property/ business, make their own economic choices

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Communism

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An economic system based on the holding of all property in common; the government controls all economic decisions and distribution of property

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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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Containment Policy

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US policy intended to stop the spread of Communism and prevent a domino effect around the world

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Truman Doctrine

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US policy of providing military & economic aid to stop spread of communism; started with Turkey & Greece and expanded to any country fighting communism

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Marshall Plan

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A United States program of economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe after World War II; only to countries who remained non-communist