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Yalta Conference
The conference held at the end of WWII to discuss the postwar terms between FDR, Stalin, and Churchill that decided unconditional surrender and division into four parts of Germany, and their plans for fighting Japan. -
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Potsdam Conference
The Big Three met for the last time here to discuss Germany's economy, land boundaries, and reparations, and the unconditional surrender of Japan. -
United Nations
Founded in 1945 when the UN charter was signed by the representatives of the 50 countries; the UN was the successor to the League of Nations. -
Long Telegram
An 8,000-word telegram sent to the United States detailing the Soviet Union that encouraged the US to take a tougher stance on fighting communism. -
Containment Policy
The American belief of trying to contain the spread of Communism. -
UN Atomic Energy Commission
Created to assist in considering the control of atomic energy and reduce the number of atomic weapons. -
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The Iron Curtain
The divide between the Allied powers in the west and Soviet Union in the east that divided Germany in two, and a separate divide in Berlin. -
Truman Doctrine
Truman's plan to send monetary aid to Greece and Turkey -
Marshall Plan
George Marshall's plan to send aid to countries in Western Europe ravaged by war. -
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Soviet Blockade in Berlin and Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union blocked roads to Berlin when the United States, Britain, and France combined their zones into one. The Allies responded by sending in a massive airlift of supplies into West Berlin. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed by the United States, Canada, Britain, and other Western European countries to provide a collective security against the Soviet Union. -
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The Korean War
The civil war between North and South Korea that ended in stalemate and created North and South Korea as separate nations with a demilitarized zone between them. -
NSC-68
The Nation Security Counsel report was a top secret report sent to Truman. One of the most important statements of American policy that launched the Cold War. -
Warsaw Pact
A Soviet military alliance formed with communist countries in Eastern Europe. -
Mutual Assured Destruction
The belief that the use of atomic weapons from two nations used against each other would result in the complete and mutual destruction of both nations. -
Brinkmanship
The act of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stoping. -
U2 Spy Plane
A U-2 spy plane carrying high powered cameras crashed inside the Soviet Union and Moscow claimed credit in shooting the plane down and demanded that the US apologize for violation Soviet airspace.