Chapters 26 and 27 Flashcards
containment policy
a doctrine uniting military, economic, and diplomatic strategies to prevent communism from spreading and to enhance America’s security and influence abroad (under Truman)
GI bill of rights
designed to forestall the expected recession by easing veterans back into the workforce. gave veterans priority for many jobs as well as 52 weeks unemployment benefits occupational guidance, est. VA hospitals and low interest loans to returning GI’s who were starting businesses of buying homes/farms
“Iron Curtain” speech/churchill
churchill claimed that strain had drawn an iron curtain across the eastern half of europe. the soviet threat required an alliance of the English speaking people and an Anglo-American monopoly of atomic weapons
Truman Doctrine
Truman’s statement of a new policy of active US engagement to contain communism. it laid the foundation for American Cold War policy for nearly 40 years
Marshall Plan
Congress approved proposal for massive US assistance for European recovery in 1947.
considered a “weapon” in the arsenal against the spread of communism
Berlin blockade and airlift
Truman ordered a massive airlift to provide Berlin with food and fuel necessary for survival in response to the soviets blockade of Berlin’s rail and highway routes through the soviet zone into Berlin.
NATO
10 nations of Western Europe adopted a treaty establishing a mutual defense pact with the US and canada. Peacetime military alliance officially ended US isolationism. treaty said that an unarmed attack against one of them was an attack against all of them
Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrats
Strom Thurmond was elected president of the states. Rights Democratic Party. His party was called “the Dixiecrats” they hoped to win enough electoral votes to prevent Truman from being reelected and to restore the dominance of the Democratic Party, he wanted to preserve the southern way of life
Alger Hiss
in 1948 was identified as belonging to a secret communist cell in the 1930’s
he died involvement and denied knowing his accuser, chambers
was eventually convicted for perjury and espionage
made democrats look bad. made them look like the were harboring communists
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
accused as co-conspirators in a wartime spy network. accused of passing atomic secrets (from the Manhattan Project) to the soviets
they claimed to be victims of anti-semitism but they were found guilty of espionage. they were sentenced to death
McCarthyism
became a synonym for personal attacks on individuals by means of indiscriminate allegations, especially unsubstantiated charges
Joseph McCarthy
republican senator from Wisconsin- falsely claimed to be a war hero, with reputation for lying and heavy drinking. lied to public about democrats “traitorous actions” claiming to have a list of names
senate committee found it to be a fraud and hoax
dynamic conservatism
eisenhower’s ideas to avoid a depression; he abandoned balanced budgets and increased spending in order to restore prosperity. eisenhower went along with congress when it extended social security benefits to 10 mil. americans raised minimum wage making more workers eligible for unemployment benefits increased public housing fr low income families
interstate highway act
eisenhower wanted federal government to take the lead in building 41,000 miles of freeways to replace old, unsafe roads and aid comerce.
Earl Warren
Chief Justice of Supreme Court
defended the rights of persons accused of subversive beliefs. made him unpopular with conservatives
