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Gulag
It was the Soviet Union's forced labor camps. It held a wide range of people varing from petty criminals to political prisoners. It was one of the major reason of political repression. -
NAFTA
NAFTA stands for North American Free Trade Agreement. It's whole purpose was to get rid of trade barriers and investments between the US, Canada, and Mexico. It got ride of half of Mexico and 1/3 of the US tariffs on exports between the two. -
Containment
It was a US policy that wanted to prevent the spread of communism. Originally, Western leaders wanted to isolate the Bolshevik government following the 1917 communism revolution in Russia. -
(First) Taiwan Strait Crisis
It's a short conflict that took place between PRC and ROC. PRC took hold of Yijangshan Islands forcing ROC to abandon the Tachen Islands. American news only focused on the Quemoy and Matsu Island which were requent artillery duels. -
Eastern Bloc Emigration and Defection
It was a point of controversy during the Cold War. After WWII, emigration restrictions were put into effect by the Easter Bloc. Legal emigration were only possible to reunite families or for members of small ethnic groups to return to their homelands. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was physical coundary that divided Europe isto seperate areas from the end of World War II until the end of the Cold War. It was the Soviet's way of trying to block itself and central European allies from Westerners. The people on the East side however were connected by the Soviet. States on either side had to start developing their own international economic and military alliances. -
Greek Civil War
Fought between the Greeks and Democratic Army of Greece. It was a struggle between leftists and rightists that targeted the German-Italian occupation. Dekemvriana erupted in Athems after government soldiers opened fire on peaceful demonstrations. -
Truman Doctrine
It was a international policy that was set by Truman to help people who were resisting being controled by other countries. It also stated that they (US) would help Greece and Turkey with both economic and military aid to protect them from Soviet Russia. This was considered the start of the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan
It was a large scale resue plan that helped aid European countries. It help rebuild their economies after the end of World War II to prevent communism. The operation lasted four years and its goal was to rebuild the war-devastated regions along with modernizing Europe. -
Apartheid
It was a rocial segregation forced upon by the National Party who ruled from 1948 to 1994. Majority of blacks living in South Africa were curtailed while the white were maintained. This started developing after World War II by the Afrikaner National Party and was practiced mainly in Southern West Africa. -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was the first crises of the Cold War. What it did was it blocked the Western Allies' railway, roads, and canal access to different parts of Berlin. The Soviets wanted Westerners to let the Soviet supply Berlin with food, fuel, and aid. This was give the Soviet practical control over Berlin. -
Berlin Airlift
It started off by Westerners who wanted to bring supplies over to West Berlin. US Air Forces, Royal Air Force, Royal Austrailian Air Forces, Royal Canadian Air Forces, Royal New Zealand, and South African Air Forces flew over 200,000 flights in a single year which provided 4,700 tons of necessitites. By April of 1949, it delievered more cargo than a train has ever brought to West Berlin. It was so successful that it embarrassed the Soviets who didn't think it would made a difference. -
Korean War
The Korean War was between Northern and Southern Korea. It started because of the failure to hold free elections so the North established a communism while the South was a right-wing government. The division was by victorious Allies at the end of the Pacific War. After Japan surrender, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38th parallel with US occupying the south and Soviets occupying the north. Rumors of reunification continued months preceding the war yet tension continued. -
ANZUS Treaty
It's also known as the Australian, New Zealand, and Unites States Security Treaty. It helped bind Australia with New Zealand military wise and Australian with US to co-operate on defense matters. -
Mutual Security Act
An act that authorized $7.5 billion for foreign, military, economic, and technical aid to American allies and was signed off by President Harry S. Truman. This act was mostl used in Western Europe. It helped abolish Economic Cooperation Administration. -
Treaty of Taipei
It's also known as the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty. It's a treaty signed by Japan and the Republic of China. It was necessary being that neither ROC or PRC was invited to sign the Treaty of San Francisco. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was planned by mainly Fidel Castro's 26th July Movement which included some of his closest men. Their plan was to overthrow Fulgencio Bastista's regime which they felt didn't serve it's purpose. -
SEATO
SEATO stands for the South East Asia Treaty Organization which was an international organization for defense in Southeast Asia. It was orginally created to block communism advancements in Southeat Asia. It didn't last long though because of internal conflict. It's HQ was located in Bangkok, Thailand. -
Baghdad Pact
The Baghdad Pact was a military agreement orginally signed by Iraq and Turkey. It was later signed by Iran, Pakistan, and then the United Kingdom. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was initiated by the Soviet Union. It was a treaty between eight communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. It was also the Soviet's military reaction to intergration of West Germany into NATO. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a military conflict that took place in Vietnam, Laos, and Combodia that continued until the fall of Saigon. It was fought against anti-communist forces. North Vietnam was involved in conventional war which committed large units into battle. Both the US and South Vietnam relied on air and firepower to carry out search and destroy operations. -
De-Stalinization
After World War II, they started the process of eliminating cults who followed Stalin and the Gulag labor-camp system made by ruler Joseph Stalin. It's considered the significant turning point of modern Russia. -
Pathet Lao
It was a communist group that was founded in Laos and was associated with North Vietnam's People's Army, Viet Minh, Viet Cong, and Khmer Rouge. The political wing of the group served in many coalition governments. They also battled the Royal Lao Government during the Loatian Civil War. -
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
The Hungarian Revolution began as an international spontaneous revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary. It was the first major threat to the Soviet's control. Although it failed to cause an uprising, it was highly influential and even played a role in the downfall of the Soviet Union decades later. -
Sputnik
Sputnik is considered the first artificial Earth satellities. It was 585 mm in diameter, polished metal sphere, and has four external radio antennae. It was visible all around the Earth. Sputnik triggered the Space Race which played a large part of the Cold War. -
Space Race
The great Space Race was between the Soviet Union and the Unites States on trying to be the first in space exploration. It started after the launch of Sputnik. It was apparently necessary for national security and technological superiority. The race involved a series of artificial satellities, sub or orbital human spaceflight, and voyages to the moon. -
Great Leap Forward
The Great Leap Forward was an economic and social campaign of Communist China. It was aimed to transform the country from agrarian to modern communist. They introduced mandatory process of agricultural collectivization then banned private farming and those who did were called "counter revolutionaries" then put onto trial. Restrictions were put on rural people that were enforced by public struggle and social pressure. -
USS Nautilus (SNN-571)
It was named after the USS Nautilus (SS-168). It was the first operational nuclear-powered submarine. It was also the first ever vessel to complate a submerged transit to the North Pole. The vessel was authorized in 1951 and it was launched in 1954. -
OPEC
It stands for "Operation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries." It's an oil cartel with a mission to coordinate policies of the oil-producing countries. Another goal of it was to secure the supply of oil to their consumers. This was created by the intergovernmental organization at the Baghdad Conference. -
Bay of Pigs (Invasion)
The Bay of Pigs itself was an inlet of Gulf of Cazones on the southern coast of Cuba. It held landing sites for seaborne forces of Cuba on Playa Girón and Larga. The invasion itself was an unsuccessful invasion of Cuba by Brigade 2506. It's mission was to overthrow Fidel Castro. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was created by the German Democratic Republic that blocked West Berlin from the East. The large concrete walls had guards alongside it with a wide area that was named the "death strip". Eastern Bloc claimed that it was to protect the population from fascist that will prevent the "will of people" in building a socialist state. It was actually built to prevent mass emigration. -
Watergate
It's a famous scandal that began with a break-in and arrest of five men at the DNC HQ at Watergate hotel. This scandal led the resignation of Richard Nixon, the only resignation of a US President. It led to the indictment, trial, conviction, and incareceration of 43 people. Some of these people were Nixon's top administration officials. -
1972 Olympics (Palenstinian Terrorist)
The 1972 Olympics are mostly known for when eight Palestinians belonging to the Black September broke into the Olympic Village and kidnapped nine Israelians including athletes, coaches, and officials. Two were killed immediately because of resistance. The standoff lasted for almost 18 hours. By the evening, they rode a helicopter to Furstendeldbruck where the German authorites were planning to stop them but failed. Four hostages were later shot then burrned when the detonated a gernade. -
Operation New Life
Along with Operation Babylift, this military mission helped evacuate 111,000 Southeast Asian refugees. Around 93, 987 Asians had to receive asylum. 1,546 "politically sensitive" refugees were kept under watched before being forced to paddle back to Vietnam after having US Navy take them off the shore. -
Operation Babylift
Mass evacuation of orphans from South Vietnam to the US, Australia, France, and Canada at the end of the Vietnamese War. Most of the flights were successful leading to over 3,300 kids and child being evacuated but one flight killed 78 children along with 35 officials. -
Camp David Accords
It was a very important document signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the White House, and was witnessed by President Jimmy Carter. It was followed by the 13 days of negotiations at Camp David. This led to Sadat and Begin sharing the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. -
Iran Hostage Situation
It was a diplomatic crisis where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. President Carter called the hostages "victims of terrorism" and added that "US will not negotiate to blackmail". It was seen as a violation of centuries-old principles of international law. The US planned a rescue but it failed and led to the death of eight servicemen, one Iranian, and the destruction of two aircrafts. -
Ayatollah Khomeini
He was an Iranian leader and politician who led the Iranian Revolution which overthrew Mohammad Rexa Pahlavi. Following the revolution, he became the Supreme Leader, a position made in the constituion as the highest ranking authority which he held until his death. He was also named as Man of the Year by TIME Magazine in 1979 for his international influence. He's also known for his support of the hostage takers during the Iran Hostage Crisis. -
Perestroika & Glasnost
Perestroika and Glasnost are translated into restructuring and openness. These words were used by Mikhail Gorbachev in his speech about his renovation of the Soviet Union. The word Glasnost appeared in Article 9 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution. Both of the words were found in his speeches from as early as 1970s. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Chinese called it the June Fourth Incident. It was originally a student-led in Beijing that would show the corruption of China's political leadership. Troops then stormed to the square with rifles and tanks who killed anyone who blocked the military's advancement.
