IB History Impact of the Cold War on the Americas During Truman and Eisenhower Key Definitions

The United States strategy of preventing the further expansion of Soviet power and communist influence through economic, political, military, and covert measures, without directly attacking the Soviet Union itself.

A sudden, illegal overthrow of a government, often carried out by the military. The term comes from French, meaning 'blow of state.'

Secret political, economic, intelligence, or paramilitary activity intended to influence events abroad while concealing or limiting official responsibility.

A form of irregular warfare in which small groups use ambushes, sabotage, raids, and hit-and-run tactics against a larger, conventional military force. The term comes from the Spanish word for 'little war.'

Eisenhower's defence strategy (1953-1961) that prioritized nuclear deterrence and covert operations over large conventional military forces. It relied on the threat of "massive retaliation" to deter Soviet expansion, and used the CIA to intervene in foreign countries at lower cost than direct military action.

A coordinated intelligence and repression network linking military governments in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, active from the mid-1970s. With US backing, it enabled the tracking, abduction, torture and killing of political opponents across national borders. Tens of thousands of people were killed or disappeared under the programme.