Unit 8 Vocab Quiz Flashcards
Cold War
an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies that developed after World War II.
United Nations
maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain specifically refers to the imaginary line dividing Europe between Soviet influence and Western influence, and symbolizes efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas.
Containment policy
Policy introduced by Truman after WWII that said the duty of the U.S. was to stop the spread of Communism and Soviet influence
Truman Doctrine
First established in 1947 after Britain no longer could afford to provide anti-communist aid to Greece and Turkey, it pledged to provide U.S. military and economic aid to any nation threatened by communism.
Marshall Plan
Introduced by Secretary of State George G. Marshall in 1947, he proposed massive and systematic American economic aid to Europe to revitalize the European economies after WWII and help prevent the spread of Communism.
Berlin Airlift
Joint effort by the US and Britian to fly food and supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet blocked off all ground routes into the city
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
In 1949, the United States, Canada, and ten European nations formed this military mutual-defense pact. In 1955, the Soviet Union countered NATO with the formation of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance among those nations within its own sphere of influence.
Warsaw Pact
he Soviet Union countered NATO with the formation of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance among those nations within its own sphere of influence.
National Security Act
Passed in 1947 in response to perceived threats from the Soviet Union after WWII. It established the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Council.
NSC-68
he only plausible way to deter the Soviet Union was for President Harry Truman to support a massive build-up of both conventional and nuclear arms.
Sputnik
First artificial Earth satellite, it was launched by Moscow in 1957 and sparked U.S. fears of Soviet dominance in technology and outer space. It led to the creation of NASA and the space race.
Military-industrial complex
Eisenhower first coined this phrase when he warned American against it in his last State of the Union Address. He feared that the combined lobbying efforts of the armed services and industries that contracted with the military would lead to excessive Congressional spending.
Bay of Pigs
An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, which was sponsored by the United States. Its purpose was to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Cuban Missile crisis
A confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962 over the presence of missile sites in Cuba
GI Bill
Provided for college or vocational training for returning WWII veterens as well as one year of unemployment compensation. Also provided for loans for returning veterens to buy homes and start businesses.
22nd amendment
Passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.
domino theory
the idea that if a nation falls under communist control, nearby nations will also fall under communist control
OPEC; oil embargo
the arab members of this organization placed this on oil sold to israel’s supporters; it caused a worldwide oil shortage and long lines at gas stations in the US
Eisenhower Doctrine
Eisenhower proposed and obtained a joint resolution from Congress authorizing the use of U.S. military forces to intervene in any country that appeared likely to fall to communism. Used in the Middle East.
Great Society
President Johnson called his version of the Democratic reform program this. In 1965, Congress passed many of its measures, including Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education.
Medicare; Medicaid
Great Society programs to have the government provide medical aid to the elderly and the poor
Civil Rights Act of 1964
made racial, religious, and sex discrimination by employers illegal and gave the government the power to enforce all laws governing civil rights, including desegregation of schools and public places.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage. Under the law, hundreds of thousands of African Americans were registered, and the number of African American elected officials increased dramatically.
