The Cold War 1945-1991

A zone between North Korea and South Korea, created at the end of WWII. 38th parallel. The 38th parallel is the line of latitude that divided Korea into North and South after World War II.

A surface-to-air missile designed to counter ballistic missiles anti-ballistic missiles. Anti-ballistic missiles are weapons developed during the Cold War to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles before they reach their targets.

An integration of individual landholdings into state-controlled farms. Collectivization. It was a process where the government combined small farms into large ones to control agricultural production.

A Cold War foreign policy of the US and its allies to prevent the spread of communism. Containment is the strategy to stop the expansion of communism by surrounding it with allied nations.

A sociopolitical movement in China from 1966 until 1976. Cultural Revolution. It was a period when Mao Zedong aimed to enforce communism by removing capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.

An area of land that has no military forces in it. Demilitarized zone. In history, a demilitarized zone is a buffer area between countries where military activity and presence are prohibited to reduce conflict.

The easing of strained relations through verbal communication. Detente. In history, detente refers to the period during the Cold War when the United States and the Soviet Union sought to reduce tensions and improve their relationship through diplomacy.

A climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War -1954. Dien Bien Phu. Dien Bien Phu was a major battle where Vietnamese forces defeated the French, leading to the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.

When a person is treated unfairly or badly because the person is one of a particular group, it's called discrimination. In History, discrimination is when people have been unjustly mistreated because of their race, gender, or beliefs.

If one country in a region came under the influence of communism, the surrounding countries would follow. Domino theory. It was the belief during the Cold War that the spread of communism in one nation would lead to its spread in neighboring countries, like falling dominoes.

An international organization that were governed by the same set of institutions. European Community. The European Community was a group of countries in Europe that worked together for economic and political cooperation before becoming part of the European Union.

A communist revolutionary and President of Cuba 1926 - 2016. Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro was the leader who transformed Cuba into a communist state after leading a revolution.

A political slogan for increased government transparency in the Soviet Union glasnost. Glasnost was a policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s to promote openness and transparency in government activities.

An economic and social campaign led by the Chinese Communist Party. Great Leap Forward. The Great Leap Forward was an initiative in China during the late 1950s aimed at rapidly transforming the country from an agrarian society into an industrialized one, which unfortunately led to widespread famine and economic disruption.

A monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced. Gross domestic product. In simple terms, gross domestic product GDP is a way to measure a country's economic size and how much it's producing.

Avoids confrontation with large units of enemy troops but instead attacks small units and resources. Guerrilla fighter. A guerrilla fighter uses hit-and-run tactics and ambushes to combat a larger, less-mobile enemy force.

Prime Minister and President of North Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh. He was a key revolutionary leader in Vietnam's struggle for independence and the founding leader of communist North Vietnam.

A set of beliefs and values attributed to a person or group of persons. Ideology. In history, an ideology is a collection of ideas that guides how societies are structured and governed.

The 35th president of the US 1961 - 1963. John F Kennedy. He is known for leading the country during the Cuban Missile Crisis and promoting the Space Race.

A name given to members of the Communist Party of Kampuchea which ruled Cambodia. Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge was a brutal regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

The founder of North Korea, which he ruled from 1948 until 1994, was Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung was the leader who established North Korea as a communist state and led it for nearly half a century.

The first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer. He was a key leader in rebuilding West Germany after World War II.

The President of Poland from 1990 to 1995. Lech Walesa. Lech Walesa is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader who played a key role in ending communist rule in Poland.

A Soviet politician who led the Soviet Union as General Secretary. Leonid Brezhnev. He was the leader of the Soviet Union during a period of stagnation and oversaw the Cold War tensions with the West.

The most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and activist who played a key role in advancing civil rights for African Americans through nonviolent protest.

The eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union 1988 - 1991 Mikhail Gorbachev. He was a reformist leader who ended the Cold War and dissolved the USSR.

The guerrilla-type Resistance groups led by the Islamist Afghan fighters, mujahedin. The mujahedin were Afghan fighters who resisted Soviet invasion during the 1980s.

The President of Romania from 1965 until 1989. Nicolae Ceausescu. He was a Communist leader known for his oppressive regime and was overthrown during the Romanian Revolution.

A Soviet statesman who led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. Nikita Khrushchev. He was a leader who de-escalated tensions with the West and initiated reforms in the USSR.

A series of changes to the economy of the Soviet Union. Perestroika. Perestroika was a policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s to reform and revive the Soviet economy by introducing more market-like reforms.

The Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea Cambodia. Pol Pot. Pol Pot was the leader of the Khmer Rouge, responsible for the genocide in Cambodia during the late 1970s.

A large-scale battle between United Nations Command and North Korean forces in 1950. Pusan Perimeter. The Pusan Perimeter was a defensive line where UN forces held off North Korean troops during a crucial early stage of the Korean War.

A general decline in economic activity. Recession. In history, a recession is a period when the economy shrinks, jobs are lost, and businesses make less money.

The 40th president of the United States 1981 - 1989. Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a former actor who became a significant political figure by promoting conservative policies and ending the Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union.

Separation of people into racial or other ethnic groups in daily life. Segregation. Segregation is the enforced separation of different racial groups in a community, often seen in schools, housing, and public spaces, particularly evident in the United States during the 20th century.

A trade union founded in Gdask, Poland. Solidarity. Solidarity was a social movement in the 1980s that played a major role in ending communist rule in Poland.

A population shift from central urban areas into suburbs. Suburbanization. Suburbanization is the process during which people move from cities to live in surrounding residential areas, which grew significantly in the U.S. after World War II.

After WWII, the US and the Soviet Union were capable of casting great influence globally. Superpower. A superpower is a nation with the ability to project its influence and power on a global scale.

The first President of South Korea 1948 - 1960. Syngman Rhee. He was a key figure in establishing South Korea as a separate state after World War II.

One of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched by forces of the Viet Cong, was the Tet Offensive. The Tet Offensive was a major surprise attack against South Vietnam by North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War in 1968.

The last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic. Vaclav Havel. Vaclav Havel was a playwright and dissident who became a symbol of the peaceful transition from communism to democracy in Central Europe.

A mass political organization in South Vietnam that fought against the US. Viet Cong. The Viet Cong were communist fighters who opposed U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

The state protects and promotes the economic and well-being of the citizens. Welfare state. A welfare state is a government system that provides social services like healthcare and financial aid to support its citizens, especially during tough times.