Cold War
Definition
The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and its allies (the West) and the Soviet Union and its satellite states (the East) from 1947 to 1991. It was characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.
Analogy
Think of the Cold War as a high-stakes chess game where both players are trying to outmaneuver each other without actually taking any pieces. Both sides make threatening moves but never directly attack each other, creating an atmosphere of constant tension.
Related terms
Containment: This is a strategy used by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism. It's like putting up barriers around your garden to keep pests out.
Iron Curtain: A term popularized by Winston Churchill describing the ideological divide between Western Europe (democratic capitalism) and Eastern Europe (communist socialism). Imagine it as an invisible wall separating two different worlds.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): An intergovernmental military alliance formed in response to potential aggression from the Soviet Union. Picture it as a group of friends banding together for protection against a common bully.
"Cold War" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (20+)
How did the Cold War impact Europe in terms of political ideologies?
What characterized the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union?
Who were some of the notable figures during the Cold War period?
Which two ideologies divided the world during the Cold War?
How did the Cold War impact Europe's political and economic landscape?
How did the decline of religion impact European society during the Cold War?
Which event marked the beginning of the Cold War in Europe?
How did the Cold War impact Europe's political and economic landscape?
Which country was divided into two separate nations during the Cold War?
How did the division of Europe during the Cold War impact the political and economic development of Western and Eastern Europe?
What were some key factors that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in Europe?
What impact did the Marshall Plan have on the division of Europe during the Cold War?
How did the Marshall Plan strengthen ties in the Western world during the Cold War?
How did the Marshall Plan contribute to the division of Europe during the Cold War?
How was the Cold War primarily fought between the United States and Soviet Union?
What military alliances influenced European nations to pick sides during the Cold War?
How does the Congress System established after the Napoleonic Wars mirror the later formation of NATO during the Cold War?
What was the main reason for the Cold war?
Which war was influenced primarily by nationalist tensions in Yugoslavia following the end of Cold War?
What can be considered an effect of the Cold War on Eastern European countries?
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