Cold War Vocab US History II

United Nations

International organization created in 1945 to keep peace and encourage cooperation between countries.

Containment

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism.

Iron Curtain

The division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe during the Cold War.

Cold War

Period of tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program that gave economic aid to rebuild Europe after World War II.

Satellite Nation

Country controlled or strongly influenced by another powerful country, especially the Soviet Union.

38th Parallel

Line dividing North Korea and South Korea.

Black List

List of people denied jobs because they were suspected of communist ties.

Brinksmanship

Policy of pushing conflicts to the edge of war to force an enemy to back down.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

U.S. agency that gathers foreign intelligence and carries out secret operations.

Berlin Airlift

U.S. and allied effort to fly supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet blockade.

McCarthyism

Making accusations of communism without proof during the Red Scare.

Hollywood Ten

Group of film workers jailed and blacklisted for refusing to testify about communism in Hollywood.

Warsaw Pact

Military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist countries.

NATO

Military alliance formed by the United States, Canada, and Western European countries for mutual defense.

Baby Boom

Large increase in births in the United States after World War II.

Suburbs

Residential areas outside cities that grew rapidly after World War II.

Mass Media

Communication methods like TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines that reach large audiences.

Rock n’ Roll

Popular music style of the 1950s combining rhythm and blues with country music.

Urban Renewal

Government programs to rebuild and modernize cities.