UNIT 8/( CONFIRMED WORDS Flashcards
Baby boom
The explosion of marriages and births after the end of WWII that resulted in 50 million babies entering the U.S population between 1946 and 1964 due to younger marriages and larger families.
26th amendment
making the voting age in the united states 18
World Bank
Also known was the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, this was created at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The U.S offered the Soviet Union membership, but the Soviets declined because they viewed the bank as an instrument of capitalism. The bank was supposed to fund the rebuilding of a war-torn world. This was an example of how the ideologies of democracy and communism were generally incompatible.
Truman Doctrine
When there was a Communist-led uprising against the government in Greece and the Soviet Union wanted some control of Turkey’s Dardanelles, Truman asked Congress to give $400 million to assist the “free people” in the countries against the “totalitarian” regimes. His actions became known as the Truman Doctrine, in which the US would support any democratic nation that resisted communism.
Marshall Plan
Outlined by George Marshall in June 1947, this extensive program of U.S economic aid would help nations of Europe revive their economies and strengthen democratic governments. In December, Truman submitted the $17 billion dollar plan, also known as the European Recovery Program. $12 billion in aid was approved for distribution to countries in Western Europe over a four-year period. With this plan, the countries’ economies greatly recovered, ending the chance of communist takeover.
Black Power
thinking influenced by the radicalism of Malcom X; formed by young blacks; advocating black power; scornful of integration and interracial cooperation, broke with MLK Jr., to advocate greater militancy and acts of violence.
NATO
1949, Truman proposed that the United States join a military alliance to protect Western Europe. The Senate agreed, and ten European nations along with the U.S and Canada created NATO, a military alliance for defending all members from outside attack.
NSC-68
In 1950, the National Security Council produced this secret report that said to fight the Cold War, the U.S needed: (1) quadruple U.S government defense spending to 20 percent of GNP (2) form alliances with non-Communist countries around the world, (3) convince the American public that a costly arms buildup was imperative for the nation’s defense.
Korean War/Forgotten War
The war began with an unexpected invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950. Truman called a special session of the U.N Security Council, where it was voted that a U.N force would defend South Korea. U.S troops made up most of the U.N forces and were led by General Douglas MacArthur. War was never officially declared. At first, the North Koreans were able to push its opponents to the tip of the peninsula, but MacArthur reversed the war by leading a amphibious assault at Inchon. However, in November 1950, Chinese troops crossed into Korea and drove troops out of North Korea. Peace talks began at Panmunjom in July 1951 and an armistice as signed in 1953 where it was decided to divide into North and South Korea along the 38th parallel.
Rosenburg Trials
The trial in 1951 that accused Julius and Ethel Rosenberg of spying for the Soviet Union to get nuclear weapons secrets. The FBI had found them at the center of a Soviet Spy ring. They were found guilty of treason and were executed in 1953. Civil rights groups raised questions about whether anti-Communist hysteria had played a role in their conviction and punishment.
Mccarythyism/Mccarthy
A Republican senator from Wisconsin who used the growing concern over communism in his reelection campaign. He announced in a speech in 1950 that 205 Communists were still working in the State Department. This sensational accusation was publicized in the American press, and he became one of the most powerful men in America. People feared the damage he could do if his accusing finger pointed their way. He lost credibility in 1954 when a Senate committee held televised hearing on Communist infiltration in the Army, and McCarthy was seen as a bully.
War Powers Act
It was found that President Nixon had authorized 3,500 secret bombing raids in Cambodia, a neutral county. In November 1973, after a long struggle, Congress finally passed this act over Nixon’s veto. This law required Nixon and any future president to report to Congress within 48 hours after taking military action and to obtain Congressional approval for any military action lasting more than 60 days. This was also supported in wake of the disastrous results of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave the president full-reign to conduct war
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia.
Watergate
In June 1972, a group of men hired by Nixon’s reelection committee were caught breaking into the offices of the Democratic national headquarters in the Watergate complex. This break-in and attempted bugging were only part of a series of illegal activities. No proof demonstrated that Nixon had ordered the illegal activities. However, it was shown that Nixon participated in the illegal cover up of the scandal. Investigation of the president revealed that his aides created a group called the plumbers to stop leaks to the press as well as to discredit opponents, and it was also revealed that the White House created this list of prominent Americans who opposed Nixon or the Vietnam War.
Iran Contra Affairs
A political scandal in the United States that occurred during the second term of the Reagan Administration, whereby the US illegally sold arms to Iran, and used the proceeds to pay for the illegal support of combat forces (the Contras) in Nicaragua.
