Exam 2: WWII to New Millennium Flashcards
1
Q
United Nations (UN)
A
- formed June 26th, 1945 with the coalition of 46 nations
- formulated to promote world peace and strengthen international relations
- still a dominant force in international politics today
2
Q
UN Security Council
A
- one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, an executive branch, and is charged with:
> ensuring international peace and security
> recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly
> approving any changes to the UN Charter
3
Q
Marshall Plan
A
- plan to provide economic relief to post-WWII Europe, which was also intended to curb the spread of communism
- also known as the Economic Recovery Act of 1948
4
Q
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
A
- formed April 4th, 1949 and committed 30 North American and European countries to safeguard allies’ mutual freedom and security
5
Q
Soviet Union
A
- the other global superpower (aside from the United States) that emerged post-WWII, and would be America’s biggest rival in the Cold War
- they were involved in other international troubles including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis
6
Q
Warsaw Pact
A
- military alliance formed in 1955 between the Soviet Union and seven (7) other Eastern European countries as a response to the establishment of NATO by Western countries in 1949
- required countries to provide mutual defenses against potential attacks and helped influence communist ideologies over these regions
7
Q
Truman Doctrine
A
- Truman proclaimed on March 12, 1947 that “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures”
- announced in response to the growing threat of Soviet expansionism and aimed to contain Soviet influences and aggression worldwide
8
Q
Interservice Roles and Missions Conflict of 1947
A
- a dispute between the Army and Air Force over their respective roles and responsibilities in the post-WWII era
- this conflict helped establish the framework for the modern military organization and established the Air Force as a key player in national defense
9
Q
Women’s Armed Services Integration Act
A
- allowed women to have options for a full military career
10
Q
Executive Order 9981
A
- the racial integration of the armed forces ordered by President Truman
11
Q
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
A
- essentially a separate judicial branch for cases of military officers who break civilian laws (murder, theft, assault, etc) or military laws (insubordination, desertion, fraternization, etc)
- laws and regulations that govern the behavior of ALL members of the U.S. military (consistency)
12
Q
National Security Council Memorandum 68 (NSC-68)
A
- outlined the strategies of the U.S. government in dealing with the USSR during the Cold War
- called for massive increases in military spending and the establishment of a global network of alliances
- emphasized the importance of propaganda and psychological warfare
13
Q
The Korean War
A
- military conflict that involved communist North Korea (and its supporters) invading South Korea (and its supporters); the war ended in a bloody stalemate, and the two Koreas remain divided to this day
14
Q
Douglas MacArthur
A
- appointed by President Truman to lead the United Nations Command during the Korean War
- known for his aggressive approach to military strategy
- launched a surprise amphibious attack in Inchon in 1950, which led to the recapturing of Seoul
- controversially relieved from his duties after openly criticizing the president
15
Q
Ho Chi Minh
A
- revolutionary and political leader who played a key role in Vietnam’s struggle for independence from France and (later) the United States
- while “Uncle Ho” was fighting for Vietnamese independence, he did so with the partnership of communists, which threatened American values
16
Q
Dien Bien Phu
A
- a valley in northwest Vietnam that was the site of a significant battle during the First Indochina War between French colonial forces and communists
17
Q
Ngo Dinh Diem
A
- south Vietnamese politician who served as the first president of South Vietnam
- was Prime Minister prior
- stood against the communist rule of its northern neighbors