The Vietnam War and Cold War Politics Flashcards
Vietnam War
A Cold War-era conflict in which the U.S. supported South Vietnam in its fight against the communist North (backed by the USSR and China). The war led to widespread protests, especially in the 1960s and early 70s.
Joseph McCarthy
U.S. Senator (1953–1955) who led a campaign of anticommunist suspicion, falsely accusing many of being communist sympathizers in the era known as the “Red Scare.”
“Red Scare”
A period during the late 1940s and 1950s when fear of communism led to the persecution of suspected communist sympathizers in the U.S., often without evidence.
McCarthyism
The practice of making unsupported accusations of communism or subversion, largely driven by Senator McCarthy’s hearings, which ruined careers and reputations.
Anticommunism
The U.S. government’s stance during the Cold War, opposing the spread of communism globally, leading to interventions in countries like Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba.