AP European History Flashcards: Two Super Powers Emerge
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
How did the United States establish its influence in Western Europe after WWII?
The U.S. exerted strong influence by creating military alliances like NATO and establishing world monetary and trade systems such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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How did the United States establish its influence in Western Europe after WWII?
The U.S. exerted strong influence by creating military alliances like NATO and establishing world monetary and trade systems such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What was NATO?
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was a military alliance created by the United States and its Western European allies to exert military, political, and economic influence in the region.
What was the Warsaw Pact?
The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance established by the Soviet Union to formalize its military, political, and economic domination over countries east of the Iron Curtain.
What was the "Iron Curtain"?
The "Iron Curtain" was a term for the political and military boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas: the Soviet-dominated East and the U.S.-influenced West from the end of WWII until the end of the Cold War.
Contrast the key alliances of the two superpowers in Europe.
The United States led the NATO military alliance and influenced trade through systems like the IMF in the West, while the Soviet Union dominated the East through the Warsaw Pact and COMECON.
What was de-Stalinization?
De-Stalinization refers to the policies initiated by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev after 1956, which were intended to reform the Soviet system but ultimately failed to meet economic goals.
What was the outcome of the revolts in Eastern Europe, such as the Prague Spring?
Despite the attempts at reform, these revolts ultimately ended with the reimposition of Soviet rule and military domination over the region.
Describe the economic model used by nations in the Soviet bloc.
These nations followed an economic model based on central planning and specialized production, which also provided extensive social welfare but severely restricted individual rights and freedoms.
What was the primary economic and political consequence of the Cold War for Europe?
The continent was divided into two spheres of influence: Western Europe under strong U.S. influence, and Eastern Europe under the domination of the Soviet Union.
What was COMECON?
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) was the Soviet Union's economic organization for its sphere of influence, coordinating economic policies and specialized production among its members.
What caused revolts like the Prague Spring and the Hungarian Revolt in Eastern Europe?
These revolts were prompted by the failure of Khrushchev’s de-Stalinization policies to achieve economic goals, combined with popular opposition to the restriction of individual rights.