Cold War Vocabulary

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Cold War

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The power struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II

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Democracy

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A political system in which the people elect their government officials

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Totalitarianism

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A political system in which the government has total control over the lives of individual citizens.

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Communism

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An economic system where government controls and owns everything

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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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Domino Theory

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The theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control

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NATO

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An alliance created in 1949 that promised member nations would defend each other against any communist threat

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38th Parallel

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The boundary between North and South Korea

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Arms Race

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Cold war competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union for the best armed forces and weapons