Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

Germany's Surrender

The signing of the surrender document by General Alfred Jodl on behalf of the German High Command and by General Dwight D. Eisenhower on behalf of the Allies on May 7, 1945, in Reims, France, and ratified on May 8 in Berlin, marking the end of the war in Europe.

The Atomic Bombings of Japan

The dropping of atomic bombs by the United States on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, causing widespread destruction and killing an estimated 200,000 people, mostly civilians.

Japan's Surrender

The announcement of Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, and the signing of the surrender document by Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu on behalf of the Japanese government and by General Douglas MacArthur on behalf of the Allies on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, marking the end of the war in the Pacific and the official end of World War II.

Winston Churchill

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II and Cold War, known for his speeches and leadership.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, responsible for Soviet expansion and political purges.

Nikita Khrushchev

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, known for his role in the Cuban Missile Crisis and de-Stalinization.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of nuclear missiles in Cuba.

De-Stalinization

Period in the Soviet Union under Khrushchev's leadership that included the release of political prisoners and a relaxation of censorship.

Konrad Adenauer

First Chancellor of West Germany, played a key role in rebuilding Germany after World War II and forming the European Union.

Anti-communist

Opposed to communism, as exemplified by Adenauer's stance against Soviet influence in Europe.

Charles de Gaulle

French army officer who led the Free French forces during World War II and became the first president of the Fifth Republic in 1958.

French Resistance

Movement of French citizens who fought against Nazi Germany during World War II, in which de Gaulle played a key role.

Cold War

A state of political and military tension between the Western powers, led by the United States, and the Eastern powers, led by the Soviet Union, that lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Ideologies

Different beliefs and values that guide political and social systems.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts between two opposing countries, but fought indirectly by supporting opposing sides in other countries.

Berlin Blockade

The Soviet Union blocked all land access to West Berlin, leading to a massive airlift by the Western powers to supply the city.

Korean War

A conflict between North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by the United States.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1962, when the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, nearly resulting in nuclear war.

Berlin Wall

A wall built by the Soviet Union to separate East and West Berlin, symbolizing the division of Europe.

Korean War (1950-1953)

A war between North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Korea, supported by the United States and other Western powers. The war ended in a stalemate.

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

A war between communist North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other Western powers. The war ended with the fall of Saigon and the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

A crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba. The crisis was resolved when the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a US promise not to invade Cuba and to remove US missiles from Turkey.

Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)

A war between the Soviet Union and Islamic militants in Afghanistan. The war ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.

Arab-Israeli Conflict (1948-present)

A long-standing conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, primarily Palestine, over competing claims to the same land. The conflict has been marked by violence, wars, and diplomatic efforts to find a resolution.

Communism

A political and economic ideology in which the government controls the economy and the media, and there is no freedom of speech or political opposition.

Iron Curtain

A series of border controls, travel restrictions, and propaganda campaigns that prevented people from leaving or learning about life outside the communist bloc.

Resistance and rebellion

Moments of opposition against the government, such as the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and the Solidarity movement in Poland in the 1980s.

Fall of the Iron Curtain

The collapse of the Iron Curtain began in the late 1980s, as Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms and allowed greater freedom of expression and political participation.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1927 until his death in 1953, known for his brutal tactics including purges and executions of political opponents.

Nikita Khrushchev

Successor of Stalin who emerged as the leader and denounced Stalin's policies in a speech in 1956, marking the beginning of the end of Stalin's legacy.

Leonid Brezhnev

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, known for his policy of "stagnation" prioritizing stability over reform and facing criticism for lack of political freedoms and human rights abuses.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, introduced policies such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) to reform the country's political and economic systems leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe that aims to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity in Europe.

Single Market

A market where goods, services, capital, and labor can move freely between member states of the European Union.

European Council

Comprised of the heads of state or government of the member states, it sets the EU's overall political direction and priorities.

European Commission

Responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the day-to-day business of the European Union.

Modernism

A cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century, characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing, in both poetry and prose fiction writing.

Postmodernism

A cultural movement that emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century, characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing, in both poetry and prose fiction writing.

Pop Art

An art movement that emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century, characterized by the use of popular culture and mass media imagery.

Minimalism

An art movement that emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century, characterized by the use of simple, geometric forms and a limited color palette.

Conceptual Art

An art movement that emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century, characterized by the use of ideas and concepts as the primary focus of the artwork.