The Cold War:
The name given to the relationship that developed between USA
and the USSR after the Second World War. This led to tension, fear
amongst civilians, thousands of lives lost in wars but no direct
conflict ever taking place between the two superpowers.
Capitalism:
An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and
1939-45 - Second World War
industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by
the state.
1945 - The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.
Communism:
1945 - The USA explodes first atomic bomb
A political and economic system in which the major resources in a
society are owned by the state and wealth is divided equally
1946 - Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech.
among citizens.
1947 - Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan.
Soviet Union:
States/ countries controlled and led by Russia after the Second
1948 - Beginning of Berlin Blockade
World War, that lived under a Communist regime.
1949 – Creation of NATO
Arms Race:
Key Dates The Cold War Key Notes
A competition between nations for superiority in developing
1955 – The Warsaw pact
weapons.
1961 - Construction of Berlin wall begins
Iron Curtain:
A metaphorical divide between Communist countries in the East
1961 - Bay of Pigs invasion
and Capitalist countries in the West of Europe.
1962 - Cuban Missile crisis
Doctrine:
Speech
1970s – Détente period
NATO:
1989 - Pulling down of Berlin wall
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Capitalist military alliance
between America and other European countries against
1990 - Collapse of the Soviet Union
Communism.
Warsaw Pact:
Communist military alliance signed in Poland by the Soviet union
protecting Communist states.
Détente:
An attempt to reduce tension between superpowers
