Unit 8 Vocab Flashcards
The generation that was a result of the 50 million babies born between 1946 and 1964 in the years following WWII.
Baby boomers
Also known as the International Bank for Reconstruction, this bank was supposed to found the rebuilding of a war-torn world. The Soviet Union was offered membership, but declined as they viewed the bank as an instrument of capitalism.
World Bank
Extensive program of US aid outlined by George Marshall that approved $12 billion in aid for distribution to countries in Western Europe over a four-year period. Ended the chance of Communist takeover in the nations involved.
Marshall Plan
A Communist-led uprising in Greece and the USSR seeking control of part of Turkey led Truman to ask Congress for $400 million to assist the “free people” in the countries against the “totalitarian” regimes. The US would support any democratic nation that resisted Communism.
Truman Doctrine
In 1949, as proposed by Truman, ten European nations along with the US made up this military alliance to protect each other from outside attack.
NATO
Secret report from the UN Security Council that said to fight the Cold War, the US needed to: (1) quadruple US government defense spending, (2) form alliances with non-Communist nations, and (3) convince the American public that costly arms buildup was imperative for the nation’s defense.
NSC-68
Began with an unexpected invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950; war was never officially declared. US troops made up most of the opposing UN forces and were led by general Douglas MacArthur, but were eventually pushed out by the Chinese military. Armistice was signed in 1953, dividing North and South Korea along the 38th parallel.
Korean War/Forgotten War
1951 trial that accused Julius and Ethel Rosenberg of spying for the Soviet Union to get nuclear weapons secrets. The couple were found guilty of treason and were executed in 1953.
Rosenberg Case
Republican Senator from Wisconsin who used growing concern over Communism in his reelection campaign. Claimed to have knowledge of 205 Communists working in the State Department, but lost credibility in 1954 when a Senate committee was televised and he was seen as a bully.
Joseph McCarthy/McCarthyism
A group consisting of 12 of the world’s major oil-exporting nations, founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies of its members.
OPEC
A US spy plane was performing aerial reconnaissance when it was shot down over Soviet airspace.
U-2 Incident
Landmark Supreme Court decision that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and abolished racial segregation in public schools.
Brown v. Board of Education
Abolished the practice of collecting a poll tax.
24th Amendment
Ended Jim Crow tactics to prevent blacks from voting and provided federal registers to ensure voter registration was fair.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Thinking influenced by the radicalism of Malcolm X; broke with MLK; scornful of integration and interracial cooperation; advocated greater militancy and acts of violence.
Black Power
Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren; made many (at the time) controversial decisions upholding the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments.
Warren Court
Expressed in young people in rebellious styles of dress, music, drug use, and communal living.
Counterculture
Gave the president a blank check to take “all necessary measures” to protect US interests in Vietnam.
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
A surprise attack launched by the Vietcong on almost every provincial capital and US base in South Vietnam; US military was victorious but the event caused the US public to turn against the war
Tet Offensive
Statue passed in 1972 ending sex discrimination in schools that received federal funding.
Title IX
1973 Supreme Court ruling that struck down many state laws prohibiting abortion as a violation of women’s right to privacy.
Roe v. Wade
In June 1972, a group of men hired by Nixon’s reelection committee were caught breaking into the Democratic national headquarters; it was not proven that Nixon himself was involved but he tried to cover up the scandal.
Watergate Scandal
In the last days of the Watergate scandal, the Supreme Court denied Nixon’s claim to executive privilege and ordered him to turn over the Watergate tapes.
United States v. Nixon
Required president to report to Congress within 48 hours after taking military action and obtain Congressional approval for any military action lasting more that 60 days. Passed after it was found that President Nixon authorized 3,500 bombing raids in Cambodia, a neutral country.
War Powers Act
September 1987 - President Carter arranged for the leaders of Egypt and Israel to meet at Camp David to provide a framework for a peace settlement between the two countries.
Camp David Accords
A prominent American political organization associated with the Christian right and the Republican Party
Moral Majority
A term used to label right-wing Christian political factions characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies.
Religious right
First female Supreme Court justice, appointed by Ronald Reagan
Sandra Day O’Connor
Political scandal under the Reagan Administration whereby the US illegally sold arms to Iran, and then used the proceeds to pay for the illegal support of combat forces (the Contras) in Nicaragua.
Iran-Contra Affair
Three-country accord negotiated between Canada, the United States, and Mexico under the Clinton Administration whereby tariffs and policies would be removes to promote more integrated economies.
NAFTA
Supreme Court decision resolving the dispute in the closely contested state of Florida during the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The conservative majority court ruled Bush the winner in Florida, deciding the election despite Gore winning the popular vote.
Bush v. Gore
A series of four coordinated airplane attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, prompting the beginning of the US War on Terror.
9-11
