The Grander Review! IB History, 2013-2014 EARLY COLD WAR (1940 s) Atomic Bomb The Atomic bomb was developed by the Americans under the title Manhattan Project. The United States was also the first and only country to use the bombs in battle; they were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Hydrogen Bomb The Hydrogen bomb was first developed by the USSR in 1949. It is significantly more powerful than a fission (atomic) nuclear weapon. Specific Nuclear Tests The USSR s first nuclear weapons testing was at Semipalatinsk on August 29 th, 1949. Tsar Bomba was a bomb tested by the Soviet Union in 1961, it was the largest nuclear ever done with it equating to roughly 50 megatons of TNT. The largest nuclear test done by the United States was Castle Bravo, with a TNT equivalent of about 15 megatons. It was tested on an island, which after the test, was left looking completely different with a giant crater taking out at least half of the island surface. United Nations The United Nations was created after the Second World War to prevent war of the same caliber. It replaced the ineffective League of Nations, with a goal specifically to avoid its flaws. Security Council The Security Council s purpose to preserve peace among member states in the United Nations. The states in the Security Council have significant power, and the ability to make binding decisions in terms of peace resolutions. Containment Containment was a policy by the United States to prevent the spread of communism throughout the world. Similar to the Truman Doctrine, it is the idea that the United States will step in whenever communism threatens democracy. Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain or the eastern bloc was a division between east and west Europe due to an ideological separation of communist and democratic countries.
Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine was the start of the Containment policy set forth by President Truman of the United States. It was the idea that the United States would give military aid to countries under threat of communisim. Marshall Plan The Marshall Plan was an initiative set forth by the United States to economically and financially aid Europe after World War Two. Comintern - Comintern was a communist organization that contained all international branches of socialism. Its aim was to overthrow, at all costs, the bourgeoisie states of the world. It was dissolved by Stalin in 1936 with his policy of communism in one country. Berlin Blockade The Berlin Blockade was a result of the USSR and USA s refusal to unite Berlin on a basis of either of the other s countries policies. The USSR blocked all transportation to West Berlin, which was now separate from East Berlin. Berlin Airlift The Berlin Airlift was the United States response to the USSR s Berlin Blockade. The United States flew supplies and food over socialist controlled Germany to the citizens of West Berlin. Deutsche Mark The Deutsche Mark was the currency created in West Germany after World War Two. NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance created to unite countries agai nst the threat of communism. The Warsaw Pact was an alliance created by socialist states to counter NA TO. Soviet Satellites Soviet Satellite states are "separate" socialist countries which have close ties with the Soviet Union, and are often really under the control of the USSR. Josef Tito - Josef Tito was the General Secretary of Yugoslavia, he was known for his disputes with Stalin and his willingness to disobey the USSR. Four Policemen - The "Four Policeman" was a phrase made by FDR about the four founders of the UN; Great Britain, America, USSR, and China. Each were the "policeman" who had more control in the UN and power over their spheres of influence.
Churchill s percentage plan - The "percentage plan" was a proposed agreement at the fourth Moscow conference between Churchill and Stalin which would divide certain parts of Europe into different spheres of influence Declaration on Liberated Europe - Was a document written by "the big three" which stated that the countries, after World War Two, would help any liberated or former axis state in need. Atlantic Charter - This was document drawn up by Churchill and FDR that set up goals for a post-war world. Cairo Conference - Chiang Kai-Shek, FDR, and Churchill met in Cairo to discuss their position against Japan and make post-war decision for all of Asia. Stalin was not present because the USSR was not at war with Japan. Casablanca Conference - This is the conference at which Churchill and FDR decided on the doctrine of "unconditional surrender" for the axis powers. Yalta Conference - This is the conference where the "big three" decided that Germany, post-war, would be divided into four occupation zones. Poland was decided to be given to the communists aswell, wi th a "promise" of free elections by Stalin. Potsdam Conference - The Potsdam Conference was held to decide on how punish the now defeated Nazi Germany. This conference was held by Stalin, Truman (FDR had died), and Attlee who had replace d Churchill mid conference when he was declared the new Prime Minister. Some points that were agree upon were: denazification, demilitarization, democratization. Tehran Conference - The Tehran Conference which was between the "big three". The main result of this conference was the decision to open up a second front against Germany. Long Telegram and George Kennan - Kennan wrote the "Long Telegram" to explain why the soviets were not interested in the new World Bank. Kennan said that communism is "undoubtedly [the]" greatest task our diplomacy has ever faced and probably greatest it will ever have to face
Czechoslovakia, 1948 - In 1948, with Soviet backing, the Communist Part of Czechoslovakia took control of the country and declared it a socialist state. Jan Masaryk - Masaryk was the President of Czechoslovakia until the Communist coup. It is thought that he murdered, but some claim it was a suicide. NSC-68 - This top secret document which outlined the policy of containment that the US would use for decades to come. It was approved by Truman in 1950. Federal Republic of Germany - The Federal Republic of Germany (also known as West Germany) was a democratic state that was born out of the spilt occupation of Nazi Germany after World War Two. German Democratic Republic - The German Democratic Republic was similarly born out of the split occupation of Germany, however it was communist and considered a Satellite State of the USSR. The Grander Review! IB History, 2013-2014 LATER COLD WAR (1950 s and 1960 s) Nikita Khrushchev known for his secret speech that denounced Stalin s bad leadership. His leadership began the period of no bloodshed during the process of being ousted by the party since he himself was ousted quietly after the Cuban Missile Crisis which was a significant diplomatic loss for him publicly. Sputnik - launched into space on October 4, 1957. It was the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. It was a significant achievement for the Soviet Union and caused a big blow to the west. Wladyslaw Gomulka - Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers Party who personally helped with the takeover of Poland. He was a ruthless leader who permitted no exception to those who opposed communism, however at the end of his career he began to be opposed to the forced collectivization. Imre Nagy - The leader of the Hungarians during the Hungarian Uprising. He was the Prime Minister of Hungary and had more liberal policies that relaxed many of the USSR policies such as collectivization. On November 1st, 1956 he announced that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact and become a neutral nation. On June 17th, 1958 he was tried and executed being buried in a remote place in order to have no celebration for him. Hungarian Uprising - On October 23rd, 1956 gathered at Budapest were students and workers willing to fight for their 16 Points. In their 16 Points were personal rights and freedom from the USSR.
Nonaligned states - These are countries who wanted nothing to do with either superpowers. They did not join any alliances such as the Warsaw Pact or Nato. They avoided having any involvement in the Cold War for fear of destruction of their country. Khrushchev s ultimatum - a speech in which Khrushchev ordered Britain, France, and the USA to leave West Berlin. Since West Berlin was in East Germany, it was hard for the western nations to get to West Berlin and because of that Khrushchev took his chance to take over. In the end he surrounded West Berlin leading the western nations to start the airlifts. Eisenhower Doctrine - During January 1957 the doctrine was announced by Eisenhower and was approved by Congress on March of the same year. The doctrine states that a country could request American assistance in either economic means or military aid in the course of facing armed aggression from another state. missile gap - It is what the US felt was the difference between the USSR and the US production and advancement in nuclear technology. They felt that the USSR was further advance in missile technology, and it caused fear and tension in the US leading for more missile production and research. Bay of Pigs - A secret invasion with the purpose of removing Castro from power. It ended as a huge diplomatic loss for the US strengthening Castro s rule. It is one of the significant losses the US suffered during the Cold War. Berlin Wall, 1961 - A wall that was put up in one night in order to divide East and West Berlin. Later it becomes a symbol of separation between communism and capitalism. Cuban Missile Crisis - A significant confrontation between the US and the USSR that could ve lead to WW3. USSR was trying to place missiles in Cuba however the US gained evidence against USSR and made a deal with them. Publicly this was known as a victory for the US however in reality it was a basic truce or deal. It was a confrontation between President John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev. Prague Spring - The short liberalization of Czechoslovakia. Political victims were freed from the prisons, and they even drafted a new Constitution. Their leader was Alexander Dubcek. In the end the Soviet Union sent their army in and crushed the new government and reinstated Communism. Alexander Dubcek - Leader of Prague Spring who was known for his saying Socialism with a face in which he offered programs that were often less harsh than the Soviet Union. He allowed Czechoslovakia to have freedom of speech and democracy. Brezhnev Doctrine - A justification for the Soviet Union to crush rising governments and rebellions in the satellite states. Basically stating that the satellite states do not know better therefore it is up to the Soviet Union to crush them and govern them. Matyas Rakosi - A Hungarian hardliner communist who was a close friend of Joseph Stalin. He ruled Hungary with an iron fist and often used the secret police to scout out people. He was not well liked in Hungary due to his aggressive nature. When Stalin died, Rakosi was quickly replaced by Imre Nagy. Radio Free Europe - A broadcaster funded by the US with the purpose of informing and spreading news to Eastern Europe who could be under the control of the Soviet Union.
Willy Brandt - Mayor of West Berlin during the building of the Berlin Wall. He later becomes chancellor of West Germany. He employs Ostpolitik diplomacy and is very popular in West Germany. He later on tries to improve ties with East Germany and Eastern Europe. Konrad Adenauer - West Germany s first chancellor who played a huge role in rebuilding West Germany after WW2. He is very popular with the German people, however he is not a fan of East Germany and avoids relations with it. He makes policies with the US as well as the USSR. Stasi - The secret police of East Germany. They were in charge of surveillance of the German citizens and they were responsible for catching former German officials that had escaped the nation. Christian Democratic Union - The main political party in West Germany started by Konrad Adenauer. It was weak at first however gained strength by slowly combining with other political parties that existed. Ostpolitik - A policy employed by West Germany that recognized the existence of the Eastern European states and the Soviet Union. It was a detente with the Soviet Union empire in order for trade and better relations. The Basic Law - The constitution for Germany. Its purpose was to ensure that a potential dictatorship would never arise again. Democracy, republic, social responsibility, and federalism were a significant part of the constitution. Human rights made up the core. Apparatchik - A term for officials or anyone who works for the Communist government in Soviet Russia. In other words an agent for the Russian government. Leonid Brezhnev - One of Russia s dictators who put Soviet Union into worse states than it already was. He came after Khrushchev and was a huge supporter of the Stalin Era. He is a hardliner communist, but as a ruler he failed miserably as he ignored the internal problems of Russia and rather worried more about foreign diplomacies. Walter Ulbricht - Chairman of the council in East Germany. He was a communist hardliner who crushed all oppositions against the Stalin regime after Stalin s death. He does not accept West Germany s government. MAD - Short for Mutually Assured Destruction a policy both nation employed against one another. It drove both the US and the USSR to constantly create missiles and nuclear weapons to counter each other but also created a sense of security for both nations. torches Triangle Diplomacy - It was a diplomacy between the USSR, the US, and China in order to keep peace within the world. The US were getting along with China and therefore not wanting to lose out the USSR did the same hence more treaties, trade, and talks between these three nations. Nixon Doctrine - A doctrine where the US states that their allies are in charge of their own nation s defense and that only in need will the US provide assistance other than that the US will not overtake the problem at hand.
Henry Wallace - A vice president during the Cold War time period. He was greatly disliked by his party the Democrats. He was marked as a communist sympathizer since he greatly disapproved of the foreign policy at the time. Ping-pong diplomacy - An attempt for the US and China to improve their relations in where China sent an invitation to America s ping-pong team to play against China in a match. The Chinese players held back and played a marvelous game with the US team. This helped begin US relations with China. Senator Henry Jackson - A hard line Senator against the Soviet Union and communism. He greatly agreed with Reagan s foreign policies and greatly criticized Jimmy Carter for not being aggressive enough in dealing with the Soviet Union. Virgin Lands Campaign - Khrushchev s plan in order to alleviate food shortages within the Soviet Union. It was due to his obsession with corn that he made his people plant and grow only corn and set a quota that they must meet. This ended in a total catastrophe bringing more hunger to the people and lands being overcropped. U-2 Crisis - Soviet Union had shot a US spy plane down and confronted the US about it. The US denied anything to do with the incident, however the pilots were brought forward. The US could no longer deny anything. This was a major diplomatic loss for the US. Laika - A Soviet dog sent into space. He was the first animal to orbit the earth and came back alive. This was a major achievement for the Soviet Union since they proved that they were above the west in achieving this goal first.