What this deck covers
This deck focuses on The Cold War, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP World History Modern.
AP World History Modern Flashcards: The Cold War
Study The Cold War in AP World History Modern with focused flashcards that help you recognize the idea, recall the key rule, and apply it in practice-style prompts.
AP World History Modern
The Cold War
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QUESTION
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Identify the main ideological conflict in the Cold War.
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ANSWER
Capitalism vs. Communism. Two opposing economic and political systems that shaped global alliances.
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Flashcard 1: Identify the main ideological conflict in the Cold War.
Answer: Capitalism vs. Communism. Two opposing economic and political systems that shaped global alliances.
Flashcard 2: Which US President initiated the policy of containment?
Answer: Harry S. Truman. Announced the doctrine in 1947 to Congress requesting aid for Greece and Turkey.
Flashcard 3: What year did the Berlin Wall fall?
Answer:
Flashcard 4: Which US policy aimed to rebuild Europe after WWII?
Answer: The Marshall Plan. Massive economic aid program designed to prevent communist expansion westward.
Flashcard 5: What was the Non-Aligned Movement?
Answer: A group of states not formally aligned with any major power bloc. Led by countries like India and Egypt, sought independence from bloc politics.
Flashcard 6: What was the significance of the Vietnam War in the Cold War?
Answer: A major conflict symbolizing US efforts to prevent communism. Costly American defeat that weakened public support for containment strategy.
Flashcard 7: What was the significance of the Helsinki Accords?
Answer: Improved relations between the communist bloc and the West. 1975 agreement recognized borders and promoted human rights across Europe.
Flashcard 8: What was the Marshall Plan?
Answer: An American initiative to aid Western Europe's economic recovery. Provided $13 billion to rebuild Western Europe and counter Soviet influence.
Flashcard 9: What does 'glasnost' mean?
Answer: Openness. Policy allowing greater freedom of information and public discussion.
Flashcard 10: Identify the main effect of the nuclear arms race.
Answer: Increased global tension and fear of nuclear conflict. Created climate of mutual suspicion and massive military spending.
Flashcard 11: What event marked the start of the Space Race?
Answer: The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957. First artificial satellite demonstrated Soviet technological superiority and shocked America.
Flashcard 12: When was the Berlin Wall built?
Answer:
Flashcard 13: What was the main outcome of the Yalta Conference?
Answer: Division of Germany into occupation zones post-WWII. Big Three leaders agreed on post-war occupation and spheres of influence.
Flashcard 14: When was the Berlin Wall built?
Answer:
Flashcard 15: What was the Iron Curtain?
Answer: A metaphorical division between Eastern and Western Europe. Churchill's term describing Soviet control over Eastern European satellite states.
Flashcard 16: What was the main outcome of the Yalta Conference?
Answer: Division of Germany into occupation zones post-WWII. Big Three leaders agreed on post-war occupation and spheres of influence.
Flashcard 17: Which US President initiated the policy of containment?
Answer: Harry S. Truman. Announced the doctrine in 1947 to Congress requesting aid for Greece and Turkey.
Flashcard 18: Who coined the term 'Iron Curtain'?
Answer: Winston Churchill. British Prime Minister who used this metaphor in his 1946 'Sinews of Peace' speech.
Flashcard 19: What does 'perestroika' mean?
Answer: Restructuring. Economic and political reforms to modernize the Soviet system.
Flashcard 20: Which country launched the first human into space?
Answer: The Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin's 1961 flight gave Soviets another major space achievement.
Flashcard 21: Identify the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer: Nikita Khrushchev. Soviet Premier who placed missiles in Cuba and negotiated their removal.
Flashcard 22: Define the term 'detente'.
Answer: Easing of tensions between the US and Soviet Union in the 1970s. Period of reduced hostility marked by arms control agreements and diplomatic dialogue.
Flashcard 23: Define the term 'detente'.
Answer: Easing of tensions between the US and Soviet Union in the 1970s. Period of reduced hostility marked by arms control agreements and diplomatic dialogue.
Flashcard 24: What was the Non-Aligned Movement?
Answer: A group of states not formally aligned with any major power bloc. Led by countries like India and Egypt, sought independence from bloc politics.
Flashcard 25: What event marked the start of the Space Race?
Answer: The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957. First artificial satellite demonstrated Soviet technological superiority and shocked America.
Flashcard 26: What was the primary goal of the policy of containment?
Answer: To prevent the spread of communism. Core US strategy to limit communist expansion without direct military confrontation.
Flashcard 27: What was the Domino Theory?
Answer: The belief that communism would spread to neighboring countries. Theory that communist victory in one nation would trigger regional spread.
Flashcard 28: What was the Korean War's relation to the Cold War?
Answer: A proxy war between communist and capitalist forces. First major Cold War conflict testing containment policy in divided Korea.
Flashcard 29: What was the Truman Doctrine?
Answer: A US policy to contain the spread of communism. Established to support free nations against communist expansion and Soviet pressure.
Flashcard 30: What was the significance of the Vietnam War in the Cold War?
Answer: A major conflict symbolizing US efforts to prevent communism. Costly American defeat that weakened public support for containment strategy.
Flashcard 31: What was the Cold War?
Answer: A geopolitical tension between the US and Soviet Union after WWII. Defined by nuclear arms race and proxy wars without direct military confrontation.
Flashcard 32: Which Soviet leader introduced policies of glasnost and perestroika?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. His reforms of openness and restructuring ultimately led to Soviet collapse.
Flashcard 33: What was the Korean War's relation to the Cold War?
Answer: A proxy war between communist and capitalist forces. First major Cold War conflict testing containment policy in divided Korea.
Flashcard 34: What was the purpose of the Warsaw Pact?
Answer: A military alliance of communist nations in Eastern Europe. Soviet response to NATO, created in 1955 to unify Eastern European forces.
Flashcard 35: What was the purpose of the Warsaw Pact?
Answer: A military alliance of communist nations in Eastern Europe. Soviet response to NATO, created in 1955 to unify Eastern European forces.
Flashcard 36: What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Answer: It brought the US and Soviet Union close to nuclear war. Thirteen-day standoff in 1962 was the closest the world came to nuclear war.
Flashcard 37: What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
Answer: Soviet policy to intervene in support of communism. Justified 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia to preserve communist rule.
Flashcard 38: What was the purpose of the SALT agreements?
Answer: To limit the number of nuclear weapons held by the superpowers. Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties sought to control nuclear weapon stockpiles.
Flashcard 39: Identify the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer: Nikita Khrushchev. Soviet Premier who placed missiles in Cuba and negotiated their removal.
Flashcard 40: Which two alliances were formed during the Cold War?
Answer: NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Opposing military alliances representing Western and Eastern bloc nations respectively.
Flashcard 41: What was the purpose of the SALT agreements?
Answer: To limit the number of nuclear weapons held by the superpowers. Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties sought to control nuclear weapon stockpiles.
Flashcard 42: Which doctrine justified US intervention in Latin America during the Cold War?
Answer: The Monroe Doctrine. 19th-century policy extended to justify intervention against communist influence.
Flashcard 43: What was the Iron Curtain?
Answer: A metaphorical division between Eastern and Western Europe. Churchill's term describing Soviet control over Eastern European satellite states.
Flashcard 44: Which country launched the first human into space?
Answer: The Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin's 1961 flight gave Soviets another major space achievement.
Flashcard 45: Who was the US President at the end of the Cold War?
Answer: George H. W. Bush. In office from 1989-1993, oversaw peaceful end of Cold War tensions.
Flashcard 46: What was the Marshall Plan?
Answer: An American initiative to aid Western Europe's economic recovery. Provided $13 billion to rebuild Western Europe and counter Soviet influence.
Flashcard 47: What was the Cold War?
Answer: A geopolitical tension between the US and Soviet Union after WWII. Defined by nuclear arms race and proxy wars without direct military confrontation.
Flashcard 48: Identify the main ideological conflict in the Cold War.
Answer: Capitalism vs. Communism. Two opposing economic and political systems that shaped global alliances.
Flashcard 49: What was the significance of the Helsinki Accords?
Answer: Improved relations between the communist bloc and the West. 1975 agreement recognized borders and promoted human rights across Europe.
Flashcard 50: What event symbolized the end of the Cold War?
Answer: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. USSR's breakup into independent republics ended bipolar world order.
Flashcard 51: What was the purpose of the Berlin Airlift?
Answer: To supply West Berlin amidst a Soviet blockade. Massive operation delivering supplies by air for 11 months in 1948-49.
Flashcard 52: What event symbolized the end of the Cold War?
Answer: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. USSR's breakup into independent republics ended bipolar world order.
Flashcard 53: What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
Answer: Soviet policy to intervene in support of communism. Justified 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia to preserve communist rule.
Flashcard 54: Identify the main effect of the nuclear arms race.
Answer: Increased global tension and fear of nuclear conflict. Created climate of mutual suspicion and massive military spending.
Flashcard 55: What was the purpose of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)?
Answer: To develop missile defense systems against nuclear attacks. Reagan's 'Star Wars' program aimed to intercept incoming nuclear missiles.
Flashcard 56: What was the primary purpose of the United Nations during the Cold War?
Answer: To prevent conflicts and promote peace. International forum for dialogue though often paralyzed by superpower vetoes.
Flashcard 57: What was the Truman Doctrine?
Answer: A US policy to contain the spread of communism. Established to support free nations against communist expansion and Soviet pressure.
Flashcard 58: Who led the Soviet Union during its dissolution?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. Last Soviet leader whose reforms inadvertently accelerated the USSR's collapse.
Flashcard 59: Which US policy aimed to rebuild Europe after WWII?
Answer: The Marshall Plan. Massive economic aid program designed to prevent communist expansion westward.
Flashcard 60: What was the significance of the Prague Spring?
Answer: Czechoslovakia's failed attempt at liberalization in 1968. Soviet invasion crushed democratic reforms and demonstrated Brezhnev Doctrine.
Flashcard 61: What year did the Berlin Wall fall?
Answer:
Flashcard 62: What was 'Mutually Assured Destruction' (MAD)?
Answer: A doctrine of deterrence during the nuclear arms race. Both superpowers held enough weapons to destroy each other completely.
Flashcard 63: What was the primary goal of the policy of containment?
Answer: To prevent the spread of communism. Core US strategy to limit communist expansion without direct military confrontation.
Flashcard 64: Who coined the term 'Iron Curtain'?
Answer: Winston Churchill. British Prime Minister who used this metaphor in his 1946 'Sinews of Peace' speech.
Flashcard 65: What was 'Mutually Assured Destruction' (MAD)?
Answer: A doctrine of deterrence during the nuclear arms race. Both superpowers held enough weapons to destroy each other completely.
Flashcard 66: What was the purpose of the Berlin Airlift?
Answer: To supply West Berlin amidst a Soviet blockade. Massive operation delivering supplies by air for 11 months in 1948-49.
Flashcard 67: What was the Domino Theory?
Answer: The belief that communism would spread to neighboring countries. Theory that communist victory in one nation would trigger regional spread.
Flashcard 68: Who led the Soviet Union during its dissolution?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. Last Soviet leader whose reforms inadvertently accelerated the USSR's collapse.
Flashcard 69: What was the significance of the U-2 incident?
Answer: Heightened Cold War tensions due to a US spy plane capture. 1960 downing of Francis Gary Powers' spy plane ended summit diplomacy.
Flashcard 70: What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Answer: It brought the US and Soviet Union close to nuclear war. Thirteen-day standoff in 1962 was the closest the world came to nuclear war.
Flashcard 71: What was the significance of the Prague Spring?
Answer: Czechoslovakia's failed attempt at liberalization in 1968. Soviet invasion crushed democratic reforms and demonstrated Brezhnev Doctrine.
Flashcard 72: Which two alliances were formed during the Cold War?
Answer: NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Opposing military alliances representing Western and Eastern bloc nations respectively.
Flashcard 73: Who was the US President at the end of the Cold War?
Answer: George H. W. Bush. In office from 1989-1993, oversaw peaceful end of Cold War tensions.
Flashcard 74: What was the purpose of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)?
Answer: To develop missile defense systems against nuclear attacks. Reagan's 'Star Wars' program aimed to intercept incoming nuclear missiles.
Flashcard 75: What was the significance of the U-2 incident?
Answer: Heightened Cold War tensions due to a US spy plane capture. 1960 downing of Francis Gary Powers' spy plane ended summit diplomacy.
Flashcard 76: Which doctrine justified US intervention in Latin America during the Cold War?
Answer: The Monroe Doctrine. 19th-century policy extended to justify intervention against communist influence.
Flashcard 77: What was the primary purpose of the United Nations during the Cold War?
Answer: To prevent conflicts and promote peace. International forum for dialogue though often paralyzed by superpower vetoes.
Flashcard 78: What does 'glasnost' mean?
Answer: Openness. Policy allowing greater freedom of information and public discussion.
Flashcard 79: Which Soviet leader introduced policies of glasnost and perestroika?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev. His reforms of openness and restructuring ultimately led to Soviet collapse.