Cold War Test Flashcards
Iron Curtain
The dividing line between eastern and Western Europe
Containment
The US and the West should focus on containing communism to the countries in which it already existed.
Truman Doctrine
The US would not hesitate to intervene and aid nations overseas to resist communism.
Berlin Aircraft
Done to avoid war, but deal firmly with Stalin. Over a 15 month period, US and British planes delivered needed supplies to West Berlin.
Cold War
Between the US and Soviet Union
China
Became a communist nation following a revolution led by Mao Tse - Tung.
Korea
Liberated from Japanese during WW2
Korean War
Began when North Korea forces crossed the 38th parallel. The United Nations came to South Korea’s aid.
Israel
Became an independent Jewish state
Eisenhower Doctrine
The US would not hesitate to aid any country in the Middle East that asked for help resisting communist aggression
Nikita Khrushchev
The soviet leader following the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953.
U-2 Incident
Involved a US U-2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union
Fidel Castro
Overthrew the Cuban government in 1959 and assumed control of the nation
Berlin Wall
Soviet Union built a wall that separated communist east Berlin and democratic West Berlin
John F. Kennedy
Succeeded Eisenhower as president of the US in 1961. He approved an operation to aid anti-Castro Cubans in an invasion of their homeland.
Cuban Missile Crisis
Brought the two super powers (US and Soviet Union) to the brink of a nuclear war.
United Nations
Intended to provide a place where countries could negotiate rather than go to war. Representatives from the US, Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, and China.
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. US + many European countries signed a treaty to fight together.
Warsaw Pact
The USSR + its allies answer to NATO. It United the communist countries of Eastern Europe.
GI Bill of Rights
Servicemen’s Re-Adjustment Act. This legislation provided military veterans with benefits such as job priority, money for education, training, and loans for purchasing homes and property.
Middle Class
Common people moved to suburbs
Suburbanization
The rapid growth and spread of suburbs
Baby Boom
After WW2 a lot of people had babies
Post War Education
For the first time in US history, middle class people getting a college degree became the social norm
Consumer Society
After the war people started buying what they wanted, like they couldn’t have before because of rationing.
Television
New invention after WW2
Housewife
A woman’s role remained that primarily of a housewife; men worked
Second Red Scare
In the late 1940s and into the 19050s, the government investigated and arrested many people with alleged connections to the communist party
HUAC
Congress relied on the House Un-American Activities Committee. This committee was responsible for rooting out communists in government and US society.
Hollywood Blacklist
This list consisted of writers, actors, directors, and so forth that producers refused to work with because of suspected ties to communism
Joseph McCarthy
Believed communists had infiltrated high levels of government and the US military
Military- Industrial Complex
Refers to the important link between the US military, the congress (which allocates money for military spending), and the civilian industry that produces needed military goods.
Demographic Changes
Caused by the changing economy and culture. The western population grew as areas like Orange County, CA became home to the emerging post-war defense industry.
Marshall Plan
Provided Nations in war torn Europe with much needed financial support from the US. This aid served to spark economic revival and prosperity in these countries.
