IRON CURTAINS Meaning and
Definition
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The term "iron curtains" refers to a metaphorical partition or barrier that represents the division between two separate ideological or political entities, often used in reference to the division between Western and Eastern Europe during the Cold War. The phrase was famously popularized by the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in his speech delivered in Fulton, Missouri, in 1946.
In its dictionary definition, the iron curtains refer to an impenetrable and immovable barrier made of iron or similar strong material that signifies a strict divide between two regions or systems. It suggests a boundary that restricts information, movement, or communication between the two sides.
During the Cold War, the term became synonymous with the political and ideological separation between the democratic and capitalist Western countries and the communist, centrally-planned Eastern bloc, led by the Soviet Union. The iron curtain essentially represented the physical and ideological divide in Europe, with countries behind it subjected to communist regimes and limited contact with the Western world.
The iron curtains connoted a stark contrast in political ideologies, economic systems, and social structures, emphasizing the limited freedom and restricted flowing of ideas across the divide. The phrase captures the essence of the deep division and tensions that existed during this era, symbolizing the stark geopolitical reality and mutual suspicion that characterized the East-West relationship.
Common Misspellings for IRON CURTAINS
- uron curtains
- jron curtains
- kron curtains
- oron curtains
- 9ron curtains
- 8ron curtains
- ieon curtains
- idon curtains
- ifon curtains
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- i5on curtains
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- irin curtains
- irkn curtains
- irln curtains
- irpn curtains
- ir0n curtains
- ir9n curtains
- irob curtains
- irom curtains
Etymology of IRON CURTAINS
The word "iron curtain" was originally used to describe the boundary that separated Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc, particularly during the Cold War era. The term was popularized by the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in a speech he delivered on March 5, 1946, in Fulton, Missouri, United States.
The term "iron" refers to the symbolism of the Iron Curtain being a solid and impenetrable barrier, similar to a curtain made of iron. It implies the strict control and separation enforced by the Soviet Union and its allies on the Eastern side of Europe. This barrier prevented information, people, and ideas from freely moving between the two regions.
The word "curtain" is likely chosen to describe this boundary because curtains typically separate spaces or provide privacy. The trappings of a physical curtain can also be seen in the way the border was fortified with fences, walls, barbed wire, and guarded checkpoints.
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