Our word is Cold War

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Definition of word- A period of tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union without direct fighting.

Definition in OUR words- A long period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union without direct fighting.

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The Cold War was a long struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the late 1940s to 1991. Instead of direct fighting, the two countries competed for power, influence, and control around the world. This rivalry led to conflicts, political tension, and an arms race that shaped global history.

Our word is NATO

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Definition of word- A military alliance of Western countries to defend against the Soviet Union.

Definition in OUR words- A military alliance of Western countries formed to protect against the Soviet Union.

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949 by the United States and its allies to defend against the spread of communism. It was a military alliance that promised that if one member was attacked, the others would help defend it. NATO still exists today and includes many countries working together for security.

Our word is Warsaw Pact

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Definition of word- A Soviet-led military alliance in response to NATO.

Definition in OUR words- A military alliance of communist countries led by the Soviet Union.

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In response to NATO, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact in 1955, which included communist countries in Eastern Europe. This alliance helped the Soviet Union maintain control over its allies and spread its influence. The Warsaw Pact remained strong until communism started to collapse in the late 1980s.

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Our word is Berlin Blockade

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Definition of word- A Soviet attempt to cut off West Berlin, leading to a U.S. airlift.

Definition in OUR words- The Soviet Union blocked supplies from reaching West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift.

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The Berlin Blockade (1948–1949) was a key Cold War conflict where the Soviet Union cut off access to West Berlin. In response, the U.S. and its allies organized the Berlin Airlift, delivering supplies until the Soviets lifted the blockade, deepening tensions between East and West.

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Our word is Containment

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Definition of word- A U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism.

Definition in OUR words- The U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism.

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The U.S. used a policy called containment to stop communism from spreading to new countries. This meant providing money, military support, and alliances to nations at risk of Soviet influence. Containment shaped U.S. foreign policy for decades and led to involvement in wars like Korea and Vietnam.

Our word is Iron Curtain

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Definition of word- The division between communist East and democratic West Europe.

Definition in OUR words- A term describing the division between communist and non-communist Europe.

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After World War II, Europe was divided into democratic countries in the West and communist countries in the East. British leader Winston Churchill called this division the "Iron Curtain" because it separated the free world from Soviet control. The Iron Curtain remained in place until the end of the Cold War.

Our word is Domino Theory

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Definition of word- The idea that if one country falls to communism, others will follow.

Definition in OUR words- The belief that if one country fell to communism, others would follow.

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The U.S. believed in the Domino Theory, which said that if one country fell to communism, nearby countries would too. This idea was a major reason the U.S. fought in Korea and Vietnam, trying to stop communism from spreading further. However, not all countries became communist, even after some fell under Soviet influence.

Our word is Red Scare

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Definition of word- A time of intense fear of communism in the U.S.

Definition in OUR words- A time when Americans feared communism spreading in the U.S.

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During the Cold War, many Americans feared that communists were secretly working inside the U.S. government and society. This period, called the Red Scare, led to investigations, accusations, and the blacklisting of people suspected of being communist. Many innocent people lost their jobs and reputations during this time.

Our word is Korean War

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Definition of word- A conflict between North and South Korea, with U.S. and Chinese involvement.

Definition in OUR words- A war between North and South Korea, with the U.S. helping the South and China helping the North.

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The Korean War started in 1950 when communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.S. and United Nations forces helped South Korea, while China and the Soviet Union supported the North. The war ended in 1953 with Korea still divided at the same border, a situation that continues today.

Our word is Vietnam War

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Definition of word- A war between communist North Vietnam and U.S.-supported South Vietnam.

Definition in OUR words- A war where the U.S. fought to stop communism from spreading in Vietnam.

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The Vietnam War was another conflict where the U.S. tried to stop communism from spreading. North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union, fought against South Vietnam, which was backed by the U.S. The war lasted from the 1950s to 1975, when North Vietnam won and united the country under communism.

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Our word is Cuban Missile Crisis

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Definition of word- A 1962 standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba.

Definition in OUR words- A tense standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over nuclear missiles in Cuba.

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During the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war, ending when the Soviets removed their missiles from Cuba in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba and to secretly remove missiles from Turkey, highlighting the dangers of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear conflict.

Our word is Space Race

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Definition of word- The competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to explore space during the Cold War.

Definition in OUR words- A competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to explore space.

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During the Cold War, the Space Race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve major milestones in space exploration. It began in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. In response, the U.S. increased its space efforts, leading to the creation of NASA. The competition continued as both nations sent humans into space, but the U.S. took the lead in 1969 when Apollo 11 successfully landed astronauts on the Moon. The Space Race not only advanced technology but also increased tensions between the two superpowers.

Our word is Truman Doctrine

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Definition of word- A U.S. policy to support countries resisting communism.

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Definition in OUR words- A U.S. policy to help countries fight communism.

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In 1947, President Harry Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, a policy to help countries resist communism. The U.S. sent military and financial aid to nations like Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling under Soviet control. This was one of the first steps in the policy of containment.

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Our word is Command Economy

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Definition of word- An economic system where the government controls all production and distribution decisions.

Definition in OUR words- An economy where the government controls all businesses and production.

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The Soviet Union had a command economy, meaning the government controlled all businesses, production, and resources. Unlike the U.S. system of capitalism, where individuals could own businesses, the Soviet government decided what goods were made and how they were distributed. This system struggled over time, contributing to the fall of the Soviet Union.