Directions: 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: © Success Academy Charter SchoolsWorld History III: The Contemporary World, Unit 4: The Cold War
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 political theorist who is best known for his influential work on communism and socialism. Marx believed that capitalism was inherently flawed and would eventually lead to its own downfall. He argued that the working class, or proletariat, would rise up against the ruling class, or bourgeoisie, leading to a classless society.
2. Containment: Containment was a policy adopted by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism. It aimed to contain the influence and expansion of the Soviet Union and its communist allies. The policy involved various strategies such as military alliances, economic aid, and diplomatic efforts to counter Soviet aggression and promote democracy.
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. Sputnik, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, was the world's first artificial satellite. It marked a significant moment in the Space Race and heightened tensions between the two superpowers during the Cold War.
4. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): Mutually Assured Destruction is a military doctrine that emerged during the Cold War. It posits that if two opposing nations possess enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, then neither would initiate a first strike, as the resulting retaliation would lead to catastrophic mutual destruction. This strategy of deterrence helped maintain a precarious balance of power between the United States and the Soviet Union.
5. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SAL T) I + II: The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, or SAL T, were a series of negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1970s. SAL T I (1972) and SAL T II (1979) aimed to limit and reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons held by both countries. These treaties marked an important step in arms control and eased tensions between the superpowers.
6. Perestroika: Perestroika was a political and economic reform policy introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. It sought to revitalize the Soviet economy by introducing elements of market-driven economic reforms, decentralization of power, and greater openness to political discourse. Perestroika represented a significant departure from traditional Soviet policies and played a pivotal role in the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.
7. Glasnost: Glasnost, meaning "openness" in Russian, was a policy implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev during the late 1980s. It aimed to promote transparency, freedom of speech, and political openness within the Soviet Union. Glasnost allowed for greater public discussion and criticism, which challenged the traditional Soviet regime. However, it also contributed to the erosion of the Communist Party's authority and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.
8. Mao Zedong: Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary and the leader of the People's Republic of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. He was a key figure in the Chinese Communist Party and led the Chinese Revolution, which resulted in the establishment of communist rule in China. Mao's policies, such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, had significant social, economic, and political consequences for China.
9. Mikhail Gorbachev: Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. He introduced the policies of perestroika and glasnost, which aimed to reform and modernize the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's efforts to reform the Soviet system inadvertently led to the unraveling of the Soviet Union, as it created a wave of democratic movements and independence movements in the Soviet-bloc countries.
10. The Iron Curtain: The Iron Curtain refers to the ideological and physical division between the democratic Western Europe and the communist Eastern Europe during the Cold War. The term was popularized by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in a speech, describing the Soviet Union's communist influence and its control over Eastern European countries. The Iron Curtain symbolized the deep divide between the capitalist and communist blocs during the Cold War era.