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Iron Curtain
A symbolic and physical division between the communist Eastern Bloc and the capitalist West during the Cold War, first used by Winston Churchill in 1946.
Deterrence / M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction)
A Cold War strategy where both the US and the USSR built large nuclear arsenals, ensuring that any attack would lead to total destruction of both sides, prevent
A US policy introduced in 1947 to stop the spread of communism by providing military and economic aid to countries threatened by Soviet influence, starting with Greece and Turkey.
Truman Doctrine (Containment)
Marshall Plan
A US economic aid program (1948–1952) that provided financial support to rebuild war-torn Europe, strengthen economies, and prevent the spread of communism.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (founded in 1949),a military alliance of Western countries aimed at collective defense against the Soviet Union and its allies.
NATO
COMECON
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (1949–1991), a Soviet-led economic organization that coordinated trade and development among communist countries.
A military alliance created in 1955 by the USSR and its Eastern Bloc allies as a response to NATO, ensuring Soviet control over Eastern Europe.
Warsaw Pact
A Soviet attempt (1948–1949) to cut off West Berlin from Western supplies; it was countered by the US-led Berlin Airlift, which delivered food and fuel by air.
Berlin Blockade
The leader of the Chinese Communist Party who led the revolution, established the People's Republic of China in 1949, and ruled until his death in 1976.
Mao Zedong
Chinese Civil War
A conflict (1927–1949) between the Chinese Nationalists (Kuomintang) and Communists, ending with Mao Zedong's victory and the Nationalists fleeing to Taiwan.
Prague Spring
A brief period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia (1968) under Alexander Dubček, crushed by a Soviet-led invasion to maintain communist control.
Hungarian Revolution
A 1956 uprising against Soviet rule in Hungary, calling for democracy and independence, violently suppressed by Soviet forces.
Salvador Allende
Chile’s socialist president (1970–1973), overthrown in a US- backed military coup led by General Pinochet.
Sandinista Revolution
A 1979 uprising in Nicaragua that overthrew dictator Somoza and brought a socialist government led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).
Iranian Revolution
A 1979 revolution that ousted the pro-Western Shah, leading to an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.
Afghanistan Invasion
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to support a communist government, sparking a long war against US-backed Afghan resistance fighters (Mujahideen).
