20th history unit 6 Flashcards
(42 cards)
What was the 1950’s red scare?
Growing American fear of spreading communism.
Why were people so afraid of communism?
It went against all of America’s core values and was a threat to independence, freedom and rights.
What was McCarthyism and who did it come from.
McCarthyism was an idea from a republican senator. McCarthy known for his list of people (celebs, politicians, mayors, etc) who he thought were communist. He would hold loyalty hearings and interrogate people on whether or not they were communist. (incredibly humiliating) This created paranoia and suspicion among Americans called McCarthyism.
Who was president during the Korean war?
President T. Truman (1945-1953)
When did the Korean War take place?
1950-1953
Why did North Korean invade South Korea?
US and Soviet union had divided Korea. North was to be communist, south would be democratic. North Korea believed the country should be one and invaded.
How did the Korean War represent America’s desire to spread democracy and contain communism at the start of the cold war?
They used Korea as the “middle man” to push back communism
What was the “new look” policy?
The new look policy aimed to increase beneficial alliances, convert operations and nuclear weaponry.
Which president shifted US to the “New look” policy?
Dwight D. Eisenhower, (1953-1961)
What was the Domino Theory?
If one nation falls to communism, neighboring countries will follow.
What did Eisenhower want to decrease?
Hint: What is boots on the ground?
Eisenhower looked to decrease the deployment of US troops. Boots on the grounds is a term that refers to soldiers.
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a really scary time in 1962 when two big countries, the United States and the Soviet Union, almost went to war. The Soviet Union put powerful weapons called missiles in Cuba, which is very close to the U.S. This made the U.S. very worried because those missiles could hurt people. So, the U.S. blocked Cuba so no more missiles could come. For almost two weeks, everyone was afraid a big war might start. But in the end, both sides made a deal: the Soviet Union took their missiles out of Cuba, and the U.S. promised not to attack Cuba. They also removed some of their own missiles from another place.
Who was Khrushchev and what was his significance with the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Khrushchev was the leader of Russia at the time.
Who was Arkihpov and what was his significance with the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Arkihpov was the man who essentially prevented a nuclear war by saying no don’t launch.
Which two leaders met in secret to plan to not launch? (Cuban Missile Crisis)
RFK (Robert F. Kennedy) and Dobrynin.
What were the Geneva Accords?
The Geneva Accords were a set of agreements made in 1954 to stop a big fight called the First Indochina War in Vietnam. The countries involved decided to split Vietnam into two parts—North and South—until they could have an election to pick one leader.
What was Nixon’s “Smoking Gun”
The “Smoking Gun” referred to Nixon blocking the FBI from tracing the money trail that led to the evidence showing how Nixon paid the robber’s money from his campaign funds. It was called an obstruction of justice.
What was the Tet Offensive?
The Tet offensive was a huge wave of attacks from North Vietnam on the US to try to push them into negotiations. It began on Tet (The Vietnamese holiday)
What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident and what was its significance? WHEN was it?
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident happened in 1964 when the U.S. Navy said that North Vietnamese boats attacked their ships. This made the U.S. government really mad, so they decided to send more soldiers to fight in Vietnam. The significance is that it gave the U.S. a reason to join the Vietnam War in a big way. Later, people found out that the second attack might not have even happened, meaning the U.S. may have gone to war over something that wasn’t true. “BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY”
What was Operation Rolling Thunder?
An LBJ order of bombing missions on North Vietnam that lasted for 2 years.
When does Nixon resign?
August 9th, 1974
True or False, LBJ seeked re-election.
False, LBJ faced significant criticism and discontent and in return, stepped away.
What was the significance of Kent State University?
In 1970, May 3, Kent State students held an anti-war protest. National guard got called in and an incident occurred where the guards claimed the thought a student had a weapon (none did), shots were fired and 4 kids died. This increased tensions between young people and governments and heightened Us citizens worries in general. here were WHITE students exercising their first amendment rights and they were getting shot at.
What was the black opinion on the war?
Black you men feeling they should not be drafted, why should they fight for another country for freedom when their own country didn’t even grant the same rights? On the other hand, most of the black men serving had no other choice, drafts would get them out of the ghetto.
