Cold War Vocab

an economic system where the government owns all the land, businesses, and factories. The government limits the freedoms of the people and makes all decisions.

• capitalism

• communist

• superpower

• Iron Curtain

an economic system where the economy is run by citizens who own private businesses and property. The people have certain freedoms that the government protects.

• capitalism

• communist

• blockade

• Cold War

A conflict without actual war between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945-1991; a contest to be the most powerful country in the world.

• Iron Curtain

• Berlin Wall

• Cold War

• Cuban Missile Crisis

A wall built between East and West Germany during the Cold War; became a symbol of larger Cold War tensions.

• blockade

• Iron Curtain

• Cold War

• Berlin Wall

A competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War to explore outer space.

• space race

• arms race

• blockade

• capitalism

an act of war where one side uses ships to stop people or supplies from entering or leaving the other.

• blockade

• space race

• superpower

• arms race

A country with a stronger economy and military than any other country in the world.

• communist

• Iron Curtain

• arms race

• superpower

the guarded border between the countries of the Soviet bloc, the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union, and the rest of Europe

• blockade

• Iron Curtain

• Cold War

• Berlin Wall

A situation during the Cold War in which the Soviet Union tried to put nuclear weapons on Cuba but the US prevented them from reaching the island. The situation almost led to war, but the Soviet Union eventually backed down.

• arms race

• superpower

• space race

• Cuban Missile Crisis

a competition between nations to build more powerful bombs and weapons.

• arms race

• Cold War

• space race

• Berlin Wall