AP World History Modern Flashcards: Spread Of Communism After 1900

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This deck focuses on Spread Of Communism After 1900, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP World History Modern.

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Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What does the term 'Iron Curtain' refer to in the context of communism?

Answer: Division between Communist East and Capitalist West Europe. Churchill coined this term to describe the post-WWII European divide.

Flashcard 2: Identify the leader of Vietnam who embraced communism in the mid-20th century.

Answer: Ho Chi Minh. He led Vietnamese independence and established communist North Vietnam.

Flashcard 3: Identify the 1961 U.S. failed invasion to overthrow Castro's government.

Answer: Bay of Pigs Invasion. CIA-trained Cuban exiles failed to overthrow Castro's government.

Flashcard 4: Which 1968 event in Czechoslovakia demonstrated a push against communism?

Answer: Prague Spring. Reforms were crushed when Soviet tanks invaded Czechoslovakia in August.

Flashcard 5: Which Southeast Asian country fell to communism in 1975?

Answer: Vietnam. North Vietnamese forces unified the country under communist rule.

Flashcard 6: What did the Brezhnev Doctrine justify in terms of Soviet foreign policy?

Answer: Intervention in socialist countries. It authorized Soviet military action to preserve socialism in allies.

Flashcard 7: What was the main purpose of the Comintern established in 1919?

Answer: To promote global communism. Lenin created this organization to coordinate international communist parties.

Flashcard 8: What was the strategic defense initiative proposed by the US in the 1980s?

Answer: Star Wars. Reagan's missile defense system aimed to neutralize Soviet nuclear threats.

Flashcard 9: Which communist country experienced economic reforms in the 1980s?

Answer: China. Deng Xiaoping introduced market mechanisms while maintaining communist control.

Flashcard 10: Which Asian war was influenced by communist and anti-communist tensions?

Answer: The Korean War. North Korea (communist) fought South Korea (capitalist) from 1950-1953.

Flashcard 11: What was the major consequence of the Sino-Soviet Split?

Answer: Increased tensions between China and the Soviet Union. Ideological differences split the communist world into rival camps.

Flashcard 12: What did the Brezhnev Doctrine justify in terms of Soviet foreign policy?

Answer: Intervention in socialist countries. It authorized Soviet military action to preserve socialism in allies.

Flashcard 13: What was the primary economic policy under Soviet communism?

Answer: Central planning. The state controlled all production and distribution decisions.

Flashcard 14: Which Eastern European country transitioned from communism to democracy in 1989?

Answer: Poland. Solidarity movement led the peaceful overthrow of communist rule.

Flashcard 15: Identify the Eastern European country that split peacefully after communism's fall.

Answer: Czechoslovakia. It became the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

Flashcard 16: What was the effect of the Soviet-Afghan War on the Soviet Union?

Answer: Weakened Soviet resources and morale. The costly war drained Soviet finances and damaged military prestige.

Flashcard 17: Which military alliance was formed to counteract NATO during the Cold War?

Answer: Warsaw Pact. Eastern European communist states formed this military alliance in 1955.

Flashcard 18: Which country experienced the Velvet Revolution in 1989?

Answer: Czechoslovakia. This peaceful transition ended communist rule without violence.

Flashcard 19: Which European country experienced a communist coup in 1948?

Answer: Czechoslovakia. Communists seized power and ended the country's democratic government.

Flashcard 20: Identify the Berlin structure that symbolized the Cold War division.

Answer: Berlin Wall. Built in 1961, it physically separated East and West Berlin.

Flashcard 21: Which Latin American country was a focal point of Cold War tensions in the 1980s?

Answer: Nicaragua. The US supported Contras against the Sandinista government.

Flashcard 22: What was the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989?

Answer: Symbolized the end of communism. Its destruction represented the collapse of communist control in Europe.

Flashcard 23: Identify the communist leader who initiated the Cultural Revolution in China.

Answer: Mao Zedong. He launched this campaign to purge capitalist elements from Chinese society.

Flashcard 24: Which Soviet policy allowed for more open criticism of the government?

Answer: Glasnost. Openness enabled citizens to criticize government policies and leaders.

Flashcard 25: Identify the leader of Vietnam who embraced communism in the mid-20th century.

Answer: Ho Chi Minh. He led Vietnamese independence and established communist North Vietnam.

Flashcard 26: What was the major consequence of the Sino-Soviet Split?

Answer: Increased tensions between China and the Soviet Union. Ideological differences split the communist world into rival camps.

Flashcard 27: What was the main objective of Mao's Great Leap Forward?

Answer: Rapid industrialization. This failed economic campaign aimed to surpass Western production levels.

Flashcard 28: Which concept describes the easing of tensions between the US and Soviet Union?

Answer: Détente. This policy reduced Cold War hostilities during the 1970s.

Flashcard 29: Identify the communist leader who initiated the Cultural Revolution in China.

Answer: Mao Zedong. He launched this campaign to purge capitalist elements from Chinese society.

Flashcard 30: Which 1968 event in Czechoslovakia demonstrated a push against communism?

Answer: Prague Spring. Reforms were crushed when Soviet tanks invaded Czechoslovakia in August.

Flashcard 31: What was the primary economic policy under Soviet communism?

Answer: Central planning. The state controlled all production and distribution decisions.

Flashcard 32: Identify the tactic used by the US to support anti-communist regimes.

Answer: Military aid and intervention. The US backed friendly dictatorships against communist movements.

Flashcard 33: Which African country became communist after its independence in 1975?

Answer: Angola. The MPLA established a Marxist government after Portuguese withdrawal.

Flashcard 34: Name the first satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Answer: Sputnik. This achievement marked the beginning of the Space Race.

Flashcard 35: Which country became communist after Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959?

Answer: Cuba. Castro's revolution overthrew the US-backed Batista government.

Flashcard 36: Which agreement reduced US and Soviet nuclear weapons in 1987?

Answer: Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to eliminate intermediate-range missiles.

Flashcard 37: What was the strategic defense initiative proposed by the US in the 1980s?

Answer: Star Wars. Reagan's missile defense system aimed to neutralize Soviet nuclear threats.

Flashcard 38: Which communist country experienced economic reforms in the 1980s?

Answer: China. Deng Xiaoping introduced market mechanisms while maintaining communist control.

Flashcard 39: What was the primary goal of the Marshall Plan?

Answer: To rebuild Europe's economy and stop the spread of communism. US economic aid strengthened Western Europe against communist influence.

Flashcard 40: Which US policy aimed to contain communism, announced in 1947?

Answer: Truman Doctrine. Truman promised to support free peoples resisting communist subjugation.

Flashcard 41: Which Asian war was influenced by communist and anti-communist tensions?

Answer: The Korean War. North Korea (communist) fought South Korea (capitalist) from 1950-1953.

Flashcard 42: Which Soviet leader is associated with the policy of Perestroika?

Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. His restructuring reforms ultimately weakened communist control.

Flashcard 43: What was the main objective of Mao's Great Leap Forward?

Answer: Rapid industrialization. This failed economic campaign aimed to surpass Western production levels.

Flashcard 44: Which Eastern European country transitioned from communism to democracy in 1989?

Answer: Poland. Solidarity movement led the peaceful overthrow of communist rule.

Flashcard 45: Identify the Soviet policy of openness initiated by Gorbachev in the 1980s.

Answer: Glasnost. This policy allowed greater freedom of speech and press.

Flashcard 46: What was the outcome of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising?

Answer: Suppression by Soviet forces. Soviet forces crushed the anti-communist rebellion within weeks.

Flashcard 47: Which concept describes the easing of tensions between the US and Soviet Union?

Answer: Détente. This policy reduced Cold War hostilities during the 1970s.

Flashcard 48: Identify the Berlin structure that symbolized the Cold War division.

Answer: Berlin Wall. Built in 1961, it physically separated East and West Berlin.

Flashcard 49: Which Soviet policy allowed for more open criticism of the government?

Answer: Glasnost. Openness enabled citizens to criticize government policies and leaders.

Flashcard 50: What was the outcome of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising?

Answer: Suppression by Soviet forces. Soviet forces crushed the anti-communist rebellion within weeks.

Flashcard 51: Which leader's policies led to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe?

Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. Glasnost and perestroika allowed democratic movements to flourish.

Flashcard 52: Which African country became communist after its independence in 1975?

Answer: Angola. The MPLA established a Marxist government after Portuguese withdrawal.

Flashcard 53: What does the term 'Iron Curtain' refer to in the context of communism?

Answer: Division between Communist East and Capitalist West Europe. Churchill coined this term to describe the post-WWII European divide.

Flashcard 54: Which European country experienced a communist coup in 1948?

Answer: Czechoslovakia. Communists seized power and ended the country's democratic government.

Flashcard 55: Which Southeast Asian country fell to communism in 1975?

Answer: Vietnam. North Vietnamese forces unified the country under communist rule.

Flashcard 56: What was the primary ideology of the Soviet Union after 1917?

Answer: Communism. The Bolsheviks established this system after overthrowing the Tsarist regime.

Flashcard 57: What was the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989?

Answer: Symbolized the end of communism. Its destruction represented the collapse of communist control in Europe.

Flashcard 58: What was the effect of the Soviet-Afghan War on the Soviet Union?

Answer: Weakened Soviet resources and morale. The costly war drained Soviet finances and damaged military prestige.

Flashcard 59: Identify the Soviet policy of openness initiated by Gorbachev in the 1980s.

Answer: Glasnost. This policy allowed greater freedom of speech and press.

Flashcard 60: Which military alliance was formed to counteract NATO during the Cold War?

Answer: Warsaw Pact. Eastern European communist states formed this military alliance in 1955.

Flashcard 61: Which agreement reduced US and Soviet nuclear weapons in 1987?

Answer: Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to eliminate intermediate-range missiles.

Flashcard 62: Which Soviet leader is associated with the policy of Perestroika?

Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. His restructuring reforms ultimately weakened communist control.

Flashcard 63: What was the primary strategy of the US to prevent the spread of communism?

Answer: Containment. This strategy prevented communist expansion without direct military confrontation.

Flashcard 64: Identify the tactic used by the US to support anti-communist regimes.

Answer: Military aid and intervention. The US backed friendly dictatorships against communist movements.

Flashcard 65: Identify the Eastern European country that split peacefully after communism's fall.

Answer: Czechoslovakia. It became the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

Flashcard 66: Which leader's policies led to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe?

Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. Glasnost and perestroika allowed democratic movements to flourish.

Flashcard 67: What was the main purpose of the Comintern established in 1919?

Answer: To promote global communism. Lenin created this organization to coordinate international communist parties.

Flashcard 68: What was the primary goal of the Marshall Plan?

Answer: To rebuild Europe's economy and stop the spread of communism. US economic aid strengthened Western Europe against communist influence.

Flashcard 69: Which country experienced the Velvet Revolution in 1989?

Answer: Czechoslovakia. This peaceful transition ended communist rule without violence.

Flashcard 70: Identify the 1961 U.S. failed invasion to overthrow Castro's government.

Answer: Bay of Pigs Invasion. CIA-trained Cuban exiles failed to overthrow Castro's government.

Flashcard 71: What was the primary ideology of the Soviet Union after 1917?

Answer: Communism. The Bolsheviks established this system after overthrowing the Tsarist regime.

Flashcard 72: Which event marked the beginning of Communist rule in China?

Answer: Chinese Communist Revolution (1949). Mao Zedong's Communist Party defeated the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek.

Flashcard 73: Name the first satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Answer: Sputnik. This achievement marked the beginning of the Space Race.

Flashcard 74: What was the primary strategy of the US to prevent the spread of communism?

Answer: Containment. This strategy prevented communist expansion without direct military confrontation.

Flashcard 75: Which event marked the beginning of Communist rule in China?

Answer: Chinese Communist Revolution (1949). Mao Zedong's Communist Party defeated the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek.

Flashcard 76: Identify the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Answer: Nikita Khrushchev. He led the USSR during the 1962 nuclear standoff with the United States.