United States History terms Flashcards
Containment
The policy that the U.S. should prevent the Communism from spreading to other nations
United Nations (1945)
International organization formed after WWII to serve as a peacekeeper in world conflicts. The U.S. and Soviet Unin used the U.N. to promote their beliefs during the Cold War.
Truman Doctrine (1947)
U.S. policy that gave military and economic aid to coutries threatened by communism.
Marshall Plan (1948)
Program proposed by General George Marshall to help European countries rebuild after WWII. The U.S. offered economic aid to the war-torn countries.
Marshall Plan (1948)
Program proposed by General George Marshall to help European countries rebuild after WWII. The U.S. offered economic aid to the war-torn countries.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization-NATO (1959)
A military alliance formed between the U.S., Canada, and ten western European countries.
Berlin Airlift (June 1948-May 1949)
U.S. operation that flew food and supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union set up a blockade in 1948
Korean War (1950-1953)
Korea was divided at the 38th parallel post WWII after U.S. and USSR North Korea invaded the South to unify under one Communist Rule, U.S. entered to prevent communism from spreading. War turns into a stalemate and ends with armistice with Korea still divided between a northern communist state and democratic south
HUAC
House of Un-American Activities Committee. Investigated individual in the government and Hollwood for Communist conections
Venona Papers
Decoded soviet messages and proved that suspected communist spies were truly spies (Julius Rosenberg and Alger Hiss)
Nuclear Arms Race
The nuclear arms race was a competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the Unites States, the Soviet Union and their allies during the Cold War
Nuclear Arms Race
The nuclear arms race was a competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the Unites States, the Soviet Union and their allies during the Cold War
Joseph McCarthy
Senator from Wsconsin who became famous by accusing people of being Communists without providing evidence.
McCarthysim (1954)
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means “the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism. It was named afte Joseph McCarthy
Sputnik (1957)
The first man-made satelliet to be launched into outer space. Sputnik was a success for the Soviet Union and a symbolic success for Communism. This caused the U.S. to increase interest in its space program and a space race develoed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union
Space Race
was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States (USA) for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, the Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national security and symbolic of technological and ideological superiority
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
A standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when it ws discovered that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles pointed at the U.S. in May 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
A standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when it ws discovered that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles pointed at the U.S. in May 1962
Vietnam War (1954-1975)
The Vietnam War ws a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. At home, the American public was deeply divided over U.S. involvement in the war.
Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
Congressional aproval that gave LBJ the power to escalate the war in Vietnam
The Tet Offensive (1968)
Was a military campaign during the Vietnam War that was launched on January 30, 1968 by forces fo the Viet Cong and North Vietnam against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. Political victory for North Vietnam and let to the credibility gap
Domino Theory
The belief that if a nearby nation became comunist, then surrounding nations would do the same
War Powers Resolution of 1973
A law passed in 1973 that limited the President’s right to send troops into battle without Congressional approval.
Master Sergeant Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez
August 5, 1935-November 29, 1998
one of the Vietnam War’s most decorated soldiers. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat in South Vietnam on May 2, 1968. He was born in Lindenau near Cuero, TX
The Credibility Gap
Distrust in the government based on inconsistency from the United States government during the Vietnam War
The Silent Majority
the U.S. citizens who supported President Nixon’s policies but who were not politically vocal, outspoken, or active: considered by him to constitute a majority.
