Define the 10 key terms below. Your response should be approximately 2-3 sentences each and clearly define and explain the term. You MAY NOT use google for this assignment- consider this practice for your test.
Key Term Paragraphs:
1.
Karl Marx
Definition:
2.
Containment
Definition:
3.
Space Race / Sputnik
Definition:
4.
Mutually Assured Destruction
Definition:
5.
SAL T I + II
Definition:
6.
Perestroika
Definition:
7.
Glasnost
Definition:
8.
Mao Zedong
Definition:
9.
Mikhail Gorbachev
Definition:
10.
The Iron Curtain
Definition:
1. Karl Marx: Karl Marx was a philosopher, economist, and socialist revolutionary who developed the theory of communism. He believed that class struggle between the bourgeoisie (the ruling class) and the proletariat (the working class) would lead to the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a classless society where the means of production are owned collectively.
2. Containment: Containment was a policy adopted by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism. It involved using economic, military, and diplomatic strategies to contain the influence of the Soviet Union and its allies. The idea behind containment was to limit the expansion of communism and protect democratic nations.
3. Space Race / Sputnik: The Space Race refers to the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve milestones in space exploration, particularly in the context of the Cold War. Sputnik, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, was the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, marking a significant achievement in the Space Race and igniting fears of Soviet technological superiority in the United States.
4. Mutually Assured Destruction: Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a military doctrine that emerged during the Cold War. It refers to the strategy of maintaining a balance of nuclear power between two or more nations, wherein the threat of total nuclear annihilation deters any aggression. This concept implies that if one nation launches a nuclear attack, the other nation(s) will retaliate, resulting in the destruction of both parties.
5. SAL T I + II: SALT is an acronym for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, which were a series of negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting the production and development of nuclear weapons. SALT I, signed in 1972, focused on freezing the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers, while SALT II, signed in 1979 but never ratified, aimed to further limit the number of nuclear weapons.
6. Perestroika: Perestroika was a political and economic reform program implemented by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. The term means "restructuring" and aimed to improve the Soviet economy by introducing elements of market economy and decentralization. It also aimed to promote transparency and accountability within the political system.
7. Glasnost: Glasnost, meaning "openness" in Russian, was another reform introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. It aimed to increase transparency and freedom of speech within the Soviet Union. Glasnost allowed for greater political and cultural openness, which led to increased public discussion, criticism of the government, and a loosening of censorship.
8. Mao Zedong: Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary and the founding father of the People's Republic of China. He led the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese Revolution and became the chairman of the Communist Party and the leader of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. Mao implemented various policies, including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which had significant impacts on China's economy and society.
9. Mikhail Gorbachev: Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. He introduced progressive reforms such as perestroika and glasnost, aimed at modernizing the Soviet state and rejuvenating its economy. Gorbachev also pursued arms reduction agreements with the United States, which played a crucial role in ending the Cold War.
10. The Iron Curtain: The Iron Curtain refers to the division of Europe between Western and Eastern blocs during the Cold War. It was a metaphorical term coined by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the political and ideological divide between communist countries in Eastern Europe, which were under Soviet influence, and democratic countries in Western Europe. The Iron Curtain symbolized the physical and ideological separation between the two sides, representing the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.