United Nations
Created in 1944 and headquartered in New York. Its purpose is to preserve peace and security and promote international cooperation
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Statement upholding the dignity and rights of all human beings
Nuremburg Trials
Against Germans leaders for crimes against humanity
Cold War
Period following WW2-political, economic, and military rivalry between USA and USSR- Started Feb 1945 at the Yalta Conference
Soviet satellite nations/the Communist bloc
Soviet authorities installed pro-soviet communist gov’ts over most Eastern Europe creating a buffer zone for USSR
Iron Curtain
Winston Churchill called the line separating the democratic West from the Communist East
Berlin Airlift
Planes with supplies for West Berlin
Berlin Wall
Soviets would not allow ground transport into West Berlin
Marshall Plan
USA poured billions of dollars into West Germany and Western European nations through a huge aid package
Truman Doctrine
US sent aid to countries to combat communism-Greece and Turkey got aid
Containment
Block further Soviet expansion
NATO
Military alliance between USA, Canada, and some western European countries
Warsaw Pact
Soviet military alliance
Nikita Khrushchev
Soviet leader
Fidel Castro
Led Communist revolution in Cuba
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A failed landing operation in 1961 by Cuban exiles who opposed Fidel Castro (backed by USA)
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviet set up missile sites in Cuba “hottest period of Cold War”
brinkmanship
The practice of trying to achieve an advantageous outcome by pushing dangerous events to the brink of active conflict
Theory of deterrence
Controlling actions through fear of retribution
Massive retaliation
Nuclear strategy in which a state commits itself to retaliate w/ greater force
Detente
Relaxation in international affairs during the Cold War
S.A.L.T. I and II (Talks/Treaties)- dates and what they wanted to accomplish
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks-Gradual reduction in weapons which led to a less tense relationship between the 2 superpowers Nixon v Brezhner
Glasnost
Openness-(Soviet policy of open discussion of political and social issues)
perestroika
Economic restructuring incorporates some features of a market economy.
“Star Wars”/Strategic Defense Initiative
Made Soviets think they were developing a laser to take down missiles-never happened
“Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall”
Ronald Reagan speech
Margaret Thatcher/ “Iron Lady”
Close ally w Ronald Reagan’ First woman to serve as the British Prime Minister (1979-1990); Went to war w Argentina when they invaded the British territory-Falkland Islands
Mikhail Gorbachev
Resigns and the US ceased to exist; Introduces changes in the soviet union
Boris Yeltsin
President of Russia 1991-1999
Domino theory
If one country falls to communism, the next will too
INF Treaty
Called to an end to short and medium range missiles