Unit 8 Flashcards
memorization (157 cards)
1
Q
What is the Cold War?
A
A period of political, military, and ideological rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (1945–1991), without direct warfare between the two superpowers.
2
Q
Define Soviet Union.
A
A communist nation led by the Communist Party, officially called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); key rival to the U.S. during the Cold War.
3
Q
Who was Joseph Stalin?
A
Leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953; known for his totalitarian rule and post-WWII expansion of Soviet influence.
4
Q
What is the United Nations?
A
An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation; became a platform for Cold War tensions.
5
Q
What are satellites in the context of the Cold War?
A
Eastern European nations under Soviet influence or control after WWII, serving as a buffer zone against the West.
6
Q
Who was Winston Churchill?
A
British Prime Minister who famously declared that an ‘Iron Curtain’ had descended across Europe, highlighting Cold War divisions.
7
Q
What does the term Iron Curtain refer to?
A
A term used by Churchill to describe the division between the democratic Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe.
8
Q
What is the containment policy?
A
U.S. foreign policy aiming to prevent the spread of communism beyond where it already existed.
9
Q
Who proposed the Marshall Plan?
A
George Marshall, U.S. Secretary of State, proposed the plan to aid European recovery and resist communism after WWII.
10
Q
What was the Truman Doctrine?
A
President Truman’s policy in 1947 to support countries resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey.
11
Q
What was the Marshall Plan?
A
A U.S. program that provided economic aid to Western Europe to rebuild after WWII and limit the appeal of communism.
12
Q
What was the Berlin airlift?
A
A U.S.-led operation (1948–1949) that supplied West Berlin by air during a Soviet blockade.
13
Q
Define West Germany.
A
Federal Republic of Germany; the democratic, U.S.-backed side formed in 1949 from U.S., British, and French zones.
14
Q
What was East Germany?
A
German Democratic Republic; the communist state created by the Soviet Union in its occupation zone.
15
Q
What is NATO?
A
Military alliance formed in 1949 among the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations to counter Soviet threats.
16
Q
What was the Warsaw Pact?
A
A 1955 military alliance of the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites, formed in response to NATO.
17
Q
What did the National Security Act of 1947 accomplish?
A
Reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence, creating the Department of Defense, CIA, and National Security Council.
18
Q
What is the arms race?
A
A Cold War competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to build up nuclear weapons and military strength.
19
Q
Who was Douglas MacArthur?
A
U.S. General who led UN forces during the Korean War; was dismissed by President Truman for insubordination.
20
Q
Who was Mao Zedong?
A
Leader of the Chinese Communist Party who established the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
21
Q
What is the People’s Republic of China?
A
Communist government of China established by Mao Zedong in 1949 after defeating nationalist forces.
22
Q
What does the 38th parallel signify?
A
The dividing line between North and South Korea; became the de facto border following the Korean War.
23
Q
What was the Korean War?
A
Conflict (1950–1953) between communist North Korea (aided by China and USSR) and South Korea (backed by the U.S. and UN).
24
Q
Who was John Foster Dulles?
A
Eisenhower’s Secretary of State; promoted a strong anti-communist foreign policy including massive retaliation and brinkmanship.
25
What is brinkmanship?
A Cold War tactic of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of war to achieve favorable outcomes.
26
What is massive retaliation?
A policy promising a large-scale nuclear response to any Soviet aggression, intended to deter attacks.
27
What was the Korean armistice?
1953 agreement that ended open fighting in the Korean War, maintaining the 38th parallel as the border.
28
Who was Nikita Khrushchev?
Soviet leader after Stalin; known for de-Stalinization, handling the Cuban Missile Crisis, and space advancements like Sputnik.
29
What is Sputnik?
The first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, sparking the U.S.–USSR space race.
30
What is NASA?
U.S. space agency created in 1958 in response to Sputnik to advance American space exploration.
31
What was the U-2 incident?
1960 event when the USSR shot down a U.S. spy plane; worsened Cold War tensions and canceled a summit meeting.
32
Who was Fidel Castro?
Cuban revolutionary leader who established a communist government in Cuba after 1959 and allied with the Soviet Union.
33
What is the military-industrial complex?
Term from Eisenhower’s farewell address warning against the growing influence of defense contractors on government policy.
34
What was the Bay of Pigs?
Failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro exiles, which embarrassed the Kennedy administration.
35
What was the Berlin Wall?
A barrier built in 1961 by East Germany to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin; symbol of Cold War division.
36
What was the Cuban missile crisis?
1962 confrontation between the U.S. and USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba; ended with Soviet withdrawal and U.S. promises not to invade.
37
What was the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?
1963 agreement between the U.S., USSR, and others to prohibit nuclear tests in the atmosphere, space, and underwater.
38
What is the flexible-response policy?
Kennedy’s strategy to use a variety of military and non-military options (not just nuclear) to respond to threats.
39
What is the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
1968 international treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
40
Who was Henry Kissinger?
Nixon’s National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State; key architect of détente and realpolitik in foreign policy.
41
What is détente?
A period of eased Cold War tensions in the 1970s between the U.S. and USSR, marked by arms control and diplomacy.
42
What are anti-Ballistic missiles (ABMs)?
Missiles designed to intercept incoming nuclear weapons; limited by treaties to reduce the threat of nuclear war.
43
What were the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)?
U.S.–USSR negotiations that led to treaties limiting nuclear weapons production and reducing Cold War tensions.
44
What was the Loyalty Review Board?
Established by Truman in 1947 to investigate federal employees suspected of communist ties.
45
What was Dennis et al. v. United States?
1951 Supreme Court case that upheld the Smith Act; ruled that advocating violent overthrow of the government was not protected by free speech.
46
What is the Smith Act (1940)?
Made it illegal to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government; used to target communists.
47
What is the McCarran Internal Security Act?
1950 law requiring communist groups to register with the government; allowed for arrest of suspected subversives during national emergencies.
48
What was the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?
Congressional committee that investigated suspected communists, especially in Hollywood and the federal government.
49
Who was Alger Hiss?
State Department official accused of espionage and convicted of perjury in 1950, fueling fears of communist infiltration.
50
Who were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
American couple executed in 1953 for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviets; controversial Cold War case.
51
What is McCarthyism?
A campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy to expose communists in the U.S. government, often without evidence.
52
Who was Harry S. Truman?
33rd president; led the U.S. after WWII and into the early Cold War, known for the Truman Doctrine and Fair Deal.
53
What is the Employment Act of 1946?
Committed the federal government to promoting maximum employment and economic growth.
54
What is the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill)?
1944 law offering education, housing, and business loans to WWII veterans.
55
What was the baby boom?
A post-WWII population surge from 1946 to 1964 that had long-term social and economic effects.
56
What is Levittown?
Mass-produced suburban housing developments that symbolized 1950s suburban growth and conformity.
57
What does the 22nd Amendment entail?
Ratified in 1951; limited the president to two terms.
58
What is the Taft-Hartley Act?
1947 law that restricted the power of labor unions; passed over Truman’s veto.
59
What was the Fair Deal?
Truman’s domestic policy agenda that expanded New Deal programs, aimed at healthcare, education, and civil rights.
60
Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower?
34th president; WWII general, promoted 'Modern Republicanism' and expanded infrastructure.
61
Define modern Republicanism.
Eisenhower’s moderate conservatism; supported New Deal programs but limited further expansion of federal power.
62
What did the Highway Act of 1956 accomplish?
Funded the Interstate Highway System; supported national defense and economic growth.
63
What was JFK’s New Frontier?
JFK’s domestic agenda focusing on space exploration, education, civil rights, and poverty.
64
What are beatniks?
A group of 1950s writers and artists who rejected mainstream culture and emphasized personal freedom and nonconformity.
65
Who was Jackie Robinson?
Broke the baseball color barrier in 1947, symbolizing early progress in civil rights.
66
What is the Committee on Civil Rights?
Created by Truman in 1946 to investigate civil rights issues and recommend policy changes.
67
Who was Thurgood Marshall?
NAACP lawyer who argued Brown v. Board; later became the first Black Supreme Court justice.
68
What was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka?
1954 Supreme Court case that declared school segregation unconstitutional.
69
What was the Southern Manifesto?
1956 statement by Southern congressmen opposing Brown and urging resistance to desegregation.
70
Define desegregation.
The process of ending racial separation, especially in public institutions.
71
What was the Little Rock crisis?
1957 crisis where Eisenhower sent troops to enforce school desegregation in Arkansas.
72
Who was Rosa Parks?
Her arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
73
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
Civil rights leader who promoted nonviolent resistance and led the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
74
What was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
1955–56 protest against segregated buses in Alabama; led to a Supreme Court decision desegregating buses.
75
What is the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)?
Civil rights group founded by MLK to coordinate nonviolent protests.
76
What was the sit-in movement?
Started in 1960; Black students peacefully occupied segregated lunch counters to protest segregation.
77
What is the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)?
Youth-led civil rights group that organized sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and voter registration drives.
78
What is covert action?
Secret operations by the CIA to influence foreign governments, often in developing nations.
79
What was the Suez crisis?
1956 conflict where Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, prompting invasion by Britain, France, and Israel.
80
What is the Eisenhower Doctrine?
1957 policy pledging U.S. military aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.
81
What is OPEC?
Formed in 1960 by oil-producing nations to control oil production and prices.
82
What was the Yom Kippur War?
1973 war between Israel and Arab nations; led to a global oil embargo by OPEC.
83
What was the oil embargo?
Arab OPEC nations cut oil exports to the U.S. in 1973, causing an energy crisis.
84
What were the Camp David Accords?
1978 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, brokered by President Carter.
85
What is the Peace Corps?
Kennedy-era program that sent American volunteers to assist development in poorer nations.
86
What is the Alliance for Progress?
JFK’s initiative to improve U.S.–Latin America relations through economic aid.
87
Who was Ngo Dinh Diem?
U.S.-backed leader of South Vietnam; overthrown and assassinated in 1963.
88
What is the domino theory?
Belief that if one country fell to communism, others nearby would follow.
89
What was the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)?
1954 alliance to prevent communism in Southeast Asia.
90
What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?
1964 congressional resolution giving LBJ authority to use military force in Vietnam without a formal war declaration.
91
Who was General William Westmoreland?
U.S. commander in Vietnam who oversaw escalation of American troops.
92
What was the Tet Offensive?
1968 surprise attack by Viet Cong on South Vietnamese cities; shifted U.S. public opinion against the war.
93
Who was Robert F. Kennedy?
Democratic senator and antiwar presidential candidate; assassinated in 1968.
94
Who was Richard Nixon?
37th president; advocated 'Vietnamization' and reduced U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
95
What was the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968?
Event marked by antiwar protests and police violence during the Democratic nomination process.
96
Who was Hubert Humphrey?
Vice president under LBJ; Democratic nominee in 1968 who lost to Nixon.
97
What was the Nixon Doctrine?
Stated that U.S. allies would receive support but must fight their own wars.
98
What happened at Kent State?
1970 protest against Vietnam War expansion into Cambodia; National Guard shot and killed 4 students.
99
What was the My Lai Massacre?
Massacre of Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers in 1968; fueled antiwar sentiment.
100
What are the Pentagon Papers?
Leaked government documents showing deception in U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
101
What were the Paris Accords?
1973 agreement ending U.S. combat involvement in Vietnam and securing a cease-fire.
102
What is the War Powers Act?
1973 law requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action; limits executive war power.
103
What event in 1968 fueled antiwar sentiment due to the massacre of Vietnamese civilians?
My Lai Massacre
## Footnote
The My Lai Massacre involved U.S. soldiers killing a large number of unarmed Vietnamese civilians.
104
What are the Pentagon Papers?
Leaked government documents showing deception in U.S. involvement in Vietnam
## Footnote
The Pentagon Papers revealed how the U.S. government misled the public about the Vietnam War.
105
What was the purpose of the Paris Accords signed in 1973?
Ending U.S. combat involvement in Vietnam and securing a cease-fire
106
What does the War Powers Act of 1973 require the president to do?
Notify Congress within 48 hours of military action; limits executive war power
107
Who was Lyndon B. Johnson?
36th president; succeeded JFK and launched the Great Society to fight poverty and expand civil rights
108
What was the Great Society?
Johnson's domestic program aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice, including healthcare, education, and civil rights reforms
109
What was the 'war on poverty'?
Part of the Great Society; included programs like Head Start, Job Corps, and food stamps to assist the poor
110
What is Medicare?
Federal health insurance program for Americans aged 65 and older, established in 1965
111
What is Medicaid?
Government-funded health insurance for low-income Americans, also created in 1965
112
What is 'Silent Spring'?
1962 book by Rachel Carson that exposed dangers of pesticide use and helped launch the environmental movement
113
Who was James Meredith?
First Black student to integrate the University of Mississippi in 1962
114
Who was George Wallace?
Segregationist governor of Alabama; known for opposing integration, famously blocking school desegregation
115
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
Civil rights leader advocating nonviolence and racial equality; key figure in major protests and marches
116
What is the 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'?
1963 letter by MLK defending civil disobedience as a moral response to unjust laws
117
What was the March on Washington?
1963 rally for civil rights in Washington, D.C., where MLK delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech
118
What is the significance of the 'I Have a Dream' speech?
MLK's powerful call for racial justice during the March on Washington, envisioning a future of equality
119
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 accomplish?
Banned segregation in public places and outlawed employment discrimination based on race, sex, or religion
120
What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
Federal agency created to enforce anti-discrimination employment laws from the Civil Rights Act
121
What does the 24th Amendment prohibit?
Banned poll taxes in federal elections
122
What was the March to Montgomery?
1965 protest for voting rights met with violence in Selma, Alabama; highlighted in 'Bloody Sunday'
123
What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
Outlawed literacy tests and provided federal oversight of voter registration in the South
124
What does the term 'Black Muslim' refer to?
Members of the Nation of Islam, promoting Black empowerment and separation
125
Who was Malcolm X?
Nation of Islam leader turned human rights activist; advocated for Black power and self-defense
126
What is the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)?
Civil rights group initially focused on nonviolence; later shifted toward Black power under Stokely Carmichael
127
What is the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)?
Civil rights organization known for Freedom Rides and involvement in desegregation efforts
128
Who was Stokely Carmichael?
SNCC leader who popularized the phrase 'Black Power' and promoted more militant activism
129
What were the Black Panthers?
Revolutionary Black nationalist group advocating armed self-defense and community programs
130
What is de facto segregation?
Racial separation resulting from social, economic, or residential patterns rather than law
131
What is 'The Feminine Mystique'?
1963 book by Betty Friedan critiquing traditional gender roles and inspiring second-wave feminism
132
What is the National Organization for Women (NOW)?
Founded in 1966; feminist group advocating for equal rights, including employment and abortion access
133
What did the Equal Pay Act of 1963 require?
Equal pay for equal work regardless of gender
134
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also prohibit?
Discrimination based on sex, in addition to race, in employment and public places
135
What is Title IX?
1972 law banning sex discrimination in federally funded education programs, including sports
136
What is the Equal Rights Amendment?
Proposed amendment guaranteeing gender equality; passed Congress but failed state ratification by 1982
137
What was the Warren Court known for?
Expanded civil liberties and civil rights through landmark rulings
138
What was established in Mapp v. Ohio?
The exclusionary rule: illegally obtained evidence can’t be used in court
139
What did Miranda v. Arizona require?
Police to inform suspects of their rights upon arrest (Miranda rights)
140
What was Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)?
Student activist group advocating for participatory democracy and opposing the Vietnam War
141
What is the New Left?
1960s political movement emphasizing civil rights, antiwar activism, and social justice
142
What was Woodstock?
1969 music festival symbolizing countercultural values like peace, love, and rebellion against the mainstream
143
What happened at Three Mile Island in 1979?
A nuclear accident that raised public fears about nuclear energy
144
What is Earth Day?
First celebrated in 1970; raised awareness about environmental issues
145
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
Federal agency created in 1970 to oversee environmental protection and enforce regulations
146
What did the Clean Air Act regulate?
Air pollution and establishing emission standards
147
What is the Clean Water Act?
1972 law aimed at reducing pollution in U.S. waters
148
What does the Endangered Species Act protect?
Threatened and endangered plants and animals
149
Who was Richard Nixon?
37th president; ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam, opened relations with China, resigned after Watergate scandal
150
What does 'silent majority' refer to?
Nixon's term for Americans who supported traditional values and opposed 1960s liberalism and protest movements
151
What was Nixon's Southern strategy?
Political tactic of appealing to disaffected white Southern voters by resisting civil rights advances
152
What was Watergate?
Scandal involving the Nixon administration’s cover-up of a break-in at the Democratic headquarters; led to Nixon’s resignation
153
Who was Gerald Ford?
38th president; took office after Nixon’s resignation; pardoned Nixon and struggled with economic issues
154
Who was Jimmy Carter?
39th president; focused on human rights, energy policy, and diplomacy; faced inflation and the Iran hostage crisis
155
What is the Burger Court known for?
Maintained many liberal rulings of the Warren Court
156
What was the impact of Roe v. Wade?
1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion based on a constitutional right to privacy
157
What is the Moral Majority?
Christian conservative political group founded in 1979; promoted traditional family values and opposed liberal policies
