(short sentences only) 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 Definition: Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and political theorist who developed the ideology of communism. He believed that class struggle was the driving force behind societal change and advocated for the overthrow of the capitalist system. His ideas greatly influenced the development of socialist and communist movements throughout the world.
2. Containment Definition: Containment was a United States foreign policy strategy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism. It was devised by diplomat George F. Kennan and involved the use of military, political, and economic means to resist Soviet expansion and influence. The policy was based on the belief that if the spread of communism could be contained, eventually the internal weaknesses of the Soviet Union would lead to its collapse.
3. Space Race / Sputnik Definition: The Space Race refers to the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve milestones in space exploration. It began with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957, which was the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. The Space Race saw both countries vying for achievements such as manned space flights, lunar landings, and the development of advanced space technologies.
4. Mutually Assured Destruction Definition: Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a concept associated with the Cold War nuclear arms race. It refers to the belief that if two adversaries possess enough strategic nuclear weapons, a full-scale nuclear war would lead to the total annihilation of both sides. This understanding acted as a deterrent, as the potential consequences of launching a nuclear attack were believed to outweigh any potential benefits.
5. SAL T I + II Definition: SALT I and SALT II were two series of arms control negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. SALT I, signed in 1972, aimed to limit the growth of strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems. SALT II, signed in 1979, further sought to reduce and limit the number of strategic nuclear weapons. Both agreements were intended to decrease the risk of nuclear war and ease Cold War tensions.
6. Perestroika Definition: Perestroika was a policy of political and economic reform implemented by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. It aimed to revitalize the stagnant Soviet economy and increase political openness and transparency. Perestroika involved decentralizing economic planning, allowing limited market reforms, and introducing measures to encourage foreign investment. However, it ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
7. Glasnost Definition: Glasnost, meaning "openness" in Russian, was a policy of increased political openness and transparency implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It aimed to promote freedom of speech, press, and information and to reduce censorship. Glasnost allowed for greater public participation in political and social discussions and helped to pave the way for political reforms and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.
8. Mao Zedong Definition: Mao Zedong was the founder and leader of the People's Republic of China, which he ruled from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. He was a communist revolutionary and a key figure in the Chinese Communist Party. Mao's policies such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution had significant impacts on China's political, economic, and social development.
9. Mikhail Gorbachev Definition: Mikhail Gorbachev was the last general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. He introduced significant political and economic reforms such as perestroika and glasnost, which aimed to modernize the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's reforms contributed to the end of the Cold War and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.
10. The Iron Curtain Definition: The Iron Curtain refers to the ideological and physical division between Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War. It was a metaphorical barrier, symbolizing the division between communist and capitalist countries. The Iron Curtain was characterized by restricted movement, limited communication, and ideological differences between the Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western Bloc, led by the United States.