The Cold War Unit Study Guide

Cold War Unit Test on March 22, 2013

Cold War- The conflict that developed between the Soviet Union and the United States following World War II. Fighting and weapons were rarely used.

Background and Causes (pg.385-389)

After World War II the Soviet Union did not trust the United States because the U.S. kept nuclear research and information about the atomic bomb a secret. The Soviet Unions goal was to spread communism- the political and economic system in which the government owns and controls businesses and property. The goal of the United States was to contain the spread of communism. The policy of the United States throughout the Cold War period was known as the containment policy. Propaganda- the systematic spread of information or beliefs that influence the public opinion Marshall Plan-provided food and aid to devastated and war ravaged countries in Europe

after World War II. Iron Curtain- The imaginary line of secrecy and mistrust that separated the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries from the Western European countries. Key Organizations and Alliances (pg.388)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)- military alliance formed between the countries of Western Europe. These countries promised to help each other if the Soviet Union ever attacked any of them. Warsaw Pact- the alliance formed by the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe. This alliance was formed in response to the NATO alliance. United Nations (U.N)-Organization formed after World War II consisting representatives from over 50 countries. The goal of the United Nations is to promote global peace and help prevent future wars like World War II.

Red Scare and McCarthyism (pg. 409)

Communism and those who supported its ideals were increasingly feared by many Americans. This Red Scare was fueled by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, who announced that hundreds of communists were working in the United States government with the intent of overturning the government. This scare also became known as McCarthyism. No secret agents were ever uncovered by McCarthys accusations and investigations.

Korean Conflict (pg.406-408)

After World War II the country of North Korea was split into two parts.

The 38th parallel was the name given to the imaginary line that divided North Korea from South Korea. The United States controlled South Korea and the Soviet Union controlled North Korea. The Korean War started when North Koreas communist government invaded South Korea with the intention of reuniting the peninsula under one communist government. The war ended in a stalemate and the country remained divided. South Korea remained a democratic nation. North Korea remained a communist nation.

Berlin Wall (pg.

The Berlin Wall was built by the Soviets to separate the communist and democratic portions of Berlin, Germany. People who lived in East Berlin were forbidden to cross to the western side of the wall. The Berlin Wall became a symbol of the differences between the Soviet Union and the western democracies. The Berlin Wall was finally torn down in 1989, signifying the collapse of the communist control of Eastern Europe and an end of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Space Race( pg.428-430)

Competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to reach and explore outer space. The space race was started when the Soviet Union successfully launched an unmanned satellite, Sputnik. The United states accomplished the goal of goal of landing a man on the moon in 1969. Although the Soviet Union was first to launch a satellite, the United States was first to put a man (Neil Armstrong) on the moon.

Arms Race and the Cuban Missile Crisis( pg. 410-411)

Arms Race-the competition between the Soviet Union and the United States to build the most powerful weapons. Cuban Missile Crisis- The Soviet Union began shipping nuclear missiles to Cuba, a communist country 90 miles off the coast of Florida. From this location, the Soviet Union could easily launch nuclear weapons toward targets in the United States. President Kennedy responded by setting up a naval blockade of Cuba preventing the Soviet Union from bringing weapons to the island. Soviet Union ships retreated and turned back around. The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the United States and the Soviet Union ever came to a nuclear war.

Vietnam War( pg.430-435)

The Vietnam War shares many similarities with the Korean Conflict. The United States was trying to contain the spread of communism. Soviet Union helped North Vietnam- communist. United States helped fight in South Vietnam democratic . After many years of fighting and several rounds of peace talks, a cease-fire agreement was signed and United States withdrew from Vietnam. The United States faced a difficult challenge fighting Vietnam in a jungle-like environment. Television helped public sentiment grow against Americans fighting in Vietnam.