Explore the decades-long ideological struggle between the United States
and the Soviet Union with this essential Cold War flashcard deck. From
the division of Europe after World War 2 to the tense standoff of the
Cuban Missile Crisis and the eventual col...
Explore the decades-long ideological struggle between the United States
and the Soviet Union with this essential Cold War flashcard deck. From
the division of Europe after World War 2 to the tense standoff of the
Cuban Missile Crisis and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union,
this deck covers every major event, policy, and turning point of the
Cold War era.
Topics include the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO, the Berlin
Blockade and Airlift, the Korean War, the Space Race, Sputnik, the Bay
of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the Berlin Wall,
détente, Gorbachev's reforms, and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Perfect for AP US History, AP World History, GCSE, and university
history courses.
Ready to test yourself?
Flip through all 25 cards in interactive study mode.
A period of political and military tension (1947–1991) between the United States (and Western allies) and the Soviet Union (and Eastern bloc), without direct large-scale warfare.
Because there was no direct military conflict between the two superpowers. Instead, they competed through proxy wars, arms races, espionage, and propaganda.
The USA led the capitalist/democratic Western bloc; the Soviet Union led the communist Eastern bloc.
US President Truman's policy pledging American support to countries threatened by communist takeover, beginning with Greece and Turkey.
A US program providing $13 billion in economic aid to rebuild war-devastated Western European countries, also aimed at preventing communist influence.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization — a military alliance formed in 1949 between the USA, Canada, and Western European nations for mutual defense against the Soviet Union.
A military alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states, formed as a response to West Germany joining NATO.
The Soviet Union blocked all land routes into West Berlin. The Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, flying in supplies for 11 months until the blockade ended.
A proxy war where communist North Korea (backed by China and USSR) fought democratic South Korea (backed by the USA and UN). It ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
The competition between the USA and USSR to build more powerful nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, beginning a dangerous nuclear standoff.
The first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. It shocked the West and launched the Space Race between the USA and USSR.
Competition between the USA and USSR to achieve superiority in space exploration. The USSR launched the first satellite (1957) and first human in space (1961); the USA landed on the moon first (1969).
Fidel Castro led a revolution that overthrew US-backed dictator Batista in Cuba, establishing a communist government 90 miles from Florida.
A failed CIA-backed attempt by Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro. Its failure embarrassed President Kennedy and pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union.
The most dangerous moment of the Cold War. The US discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. A 13-day standoff between Kennedy and Khrushchev nearly led to nuclear war.
The USSR agreed to remove missiles from Cuba; the USA secretly agreed to remove missiles from Turkey and pledged not to invade Cuba.
A barrier built by East Germany in 1961 to prevent its citizens from fleeing to West Berlin. It became the symbol of the Iron Curtain until it fell on November 9, 1989.
A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the ideological and physical boundary dividing communist Eastern Europe from the democratic West.
A proxy war (1955–1975) where communist North Vietnam (backed by China and USSR) fought South Vietnam (backed by the USA). The US withdrew in 1973; North Vietnam won in 1975.
The doctrine that if either the US or USSR launched nuclear weapons, both sides would be completely destroyed. This fear prevented direct war between the superpowers.
A relaxation of tensions between the USA and USSR in the 1970s, involving diplomatic negotiations, arms control treaties (SALT I), and increased trade.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to support its communist government. The US funded Afghan rebels (Mujahideen). The USSR's failure contributed to its eventual collapse.
The last Soviet leader, who introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) — reforms that loosened communist control and accelerated the USSR's collapse.
November 9, 1989. East Germany opened its borders, and jubilant crowds demolished the wall — symbolizing the end of the Cold War.
December 25, 1991, when Gorbachev resigned and the USSR officially broke apart into 15 independent republics, ending the Cold War.
