Cold War - Vocabulary

Cold War

Ohio Content Standard #23

Cold War

• The tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR was described as the Cold War (1945-1990).

• No real war, but some hotspots emerged

• Both sides were involved in trying to stop the spread or increase the spread of communism

Communism

• The main concern of the cold war was the spread of communism

• Communism is an economic and political system in which the government has most control

• The Soviet Union was a communist country

• The United States felt communism was a threat to democracy & capitalism

Capitalism

• In a capitalist country, private individuals own businesses and factories

• The United States has a capitalist economic system

• The Soviet Union felt this was a threat to their economic system

Domino Theory

• The USA was very worried that the USSR’s influence over these countries was making the USSR and communism more powerful.

• The USA did not want communism to spread any further – they were worried about the domino effect

• This is when one country becomes communist, then another, then another etc, like dominos falling.

Containment

• To prevent war, the United States felt the best way to stop the spread of communism was to contain communism

• The theory is that once resources are used up, these economic systems would not be able to survive

• They decide to supply aid and support to countries surrounding the Soviet Union to prevent them from falling to communism

Marshall Plan

• The Marshall Plan was an American initiative passed in 1948 for foreign aid to Western Europe. "

• The United States transferred over $12 billion in economic recovery programs to Western European economies after the end of World War II

• This money acted as a "vitamin", to stop the spread of communism

Truman Doctrine

• This was a policy under President Truman

• It sent money and aid directly to Greece & Turkey

• These were already "sick" with communism and had many Soviet supporters

• Dr. Truman sent the "Medicine" (money) to help heal the countries and prevent them from falling to communism

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• Established after WWII in 1949 as an alliance against the spread of communism

• The alliance included nations on or around the Atlantic Ocean

• Major members include the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France and Italy

Red Scare

• Intensive fear in the United States that communist and anarchist groups would overthrow the American government

• Many believed that communist spies were operating within the United States

McCarthyism

• Senator Joseph McCarthy threatened to expose Communists in the United States

• Claimed to have a list of 205 communist members in the American government- he never shared it with anyone

• After hundreds of hearings no one was every accused

• Now believed that the list never existed

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

• Created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and rebel activities on the part of private citizens, public employees and organizations suspected of having Communist ties

• Created a blacklist of suspected communists in the media, labor unions, universities and the military

• Being on this blacklist caused individuals to be fired or harassed

Multiple Choice

What two countries were involved in the Cold War?

• United States & Germany

• United States & Great Britain

• United States & France

• United States & the Soviet Union

Multiple Choice

Which country supported communism?

• The United States

• The Soviet Union

Multiple Choice

In a capitalist economy, who owns businesses?

• The government

• Private individuals

Multiple Choice

Under the domino theory, what was the United States afraid of when one country feel to communism?

• Others would try and destroy them

• Other countries around them would become communist

Multiple Choice

What did the United states want to do to communism?

• Make sure it spread throughout Europe

• Prevent it from spreading to countries around the Soviet Union

Multiple Choice

Under the Marshall Plan, who did the United States send money to?

• The Soviet Union

• Countries in Western Europe

Multiple Choice

What countries received economic aid under the Truman Doctrine?

• All of the countries in Western Europe

• Greece & Turkey

Multiple Choice

NATO was created after what war?

• The Cold War

• World War II

Multiple Choice

The red scare believed that communist spies were located where?

• In the British government

• In the American government

Multiple Choice

Who was Joseph McCarthy

• The President of the United States

• A U.S. Senator from Wisconsin

Multiple Choice

What did HUAC do to suspected communists?

• Put their names on a blacklist

• Imprisoned them for war crimes