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AP U.S. History Flashcards: The Cold War from 1945 to 1980

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.

Describe the overall pattern of the Cold War from 1945 to 1980.
The Cold War was not a constant state of conflict; it fluctuated between periods of direct/indirect military confrontation and periods of détente.
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Describe the overall pattern of the Cold War from 1945 to 1980.
The Cold War was not a constant state of conflict; it fluctuated between periods of direct/indirect military confrontation and periods of détente.
Provide a major example of a military engagement resulting from the U.S. policy of containment.
The U.S. engaged in a major military conflict in Korea as part of its broader strategy to contain communism.
How did U.S. foreign policy evolve after the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union dissolved?
The U.S. developed a policy based on collective security, international aid, and economic institutions to bolster non-Communist nations.
What is meant by détente or mutual coexistence in the context of the Cold War?
Détente refers to periods during the Cold War characterized by eased tensions and mutual coexistence, rather than direct or indirect military confrontation.
What was the main economic objective of U.S. Cold War policy?
A primary objective for the United States was to create a free-market global economy to counter Communist influence.
What ideological concern fueled the U.S. policy of containment?
The United States was concerned by what it perceived as an expansionist Communist ideology that the Soviet Union sought to spread.
Besides military force, what methods did the U.S. use to strengthen non-Communist nations?
The U.S. utilized international aid and established economic institutions to provide support and stability to non-Communist nations.
What was the U.S. policy of containment?
Containment was the U.S. policy of seeking to limit the spread of expansionist Communist ideology through a variety of measures.
What were the three primary goals of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?
U.S. policymakers sought to limit the growth of Communist power, create a free-market global economy, and build an international security system.
How did continuity and change manifest in Cold War policies from 1945-1980?
The continuity was the overall goal of containing communism, while the change was seen in the fluctuation between direct confrontation and periods of détente.
What is collective security as a Cold War policy?
Collective security was a U.S. policy focused on building an international security system and alliances to defend non-Communist nations against Soviet threats.