APUSH OPTIONAL ORAL EXAM COLD WAR

National Security Act of 1947

Legislation that restructured the U.S. military and intelligence community, establishing the NSC and CIA to enhance national security capabilities.

Voice of America (VOA)

A government-funded international radio service that broadcasts news to promote American values and counter Soviet propaganda.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy aimed at containing communism, asserting support for free peoples resisting outside pressures.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative providing over $12 billion for Western Europe's economic recovery to prevent the spread of communism.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet blockade of West Berlin (1948-1949) that led to the West's Berlin Airlift to supply the city.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a collective defense agreement formed in 1949 among Western nations against Soviet expansion.

NSC 68

A key document that advocated for increased military spending and emphasized containment as a central U.S. foreign policy objective.

Korean War

Conflict initiated by North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950, resulting in U.S. intervention under UN auspices to contain communism.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A committee established to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by citizens and organizations suspected of communism.

Executive Order 9835

An order that established a loyalty program for federal employees to investigate communist ties.

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government, characterized by intense scrutiny and accusations without evidence.

Rollback

Strategy to eliminate communism from regions where it had already taken hold through aggressive actions.

Massive Retaliation

A doctrine stating that any aggression against the U.S. would be met with overwhelming nuclear response.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

Military doctrine stating that both superpowers possess enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, deterring nuclear conflict.

Brinksmanship

Foreign policy strategy of pushing dangerous events to the brink of disaster to achieve favorable outcomes.

Peaceful Coexistence

A policy suggesting that the U.S. and the Soviet Union could coexist without direct military conflict despite ideological differences.

Hungarian Uprising

A 1956 revolt against Soviet-imposed policies in Hungary, suppressed by Soviet military intervention.

Third World

Term for countries not aligned with NATO or the Communist Bloc, often newly independent or developing nations.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts where opposing countries support factions serving their interests instead of direct military confrontation.

CIA in Iran

The CIA orchestrated Operation Ajax in 1953, leading to the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

CIA in Guatemala

The CIA executed Operation PBSUCCESS in 1954 to overthrow President Jacobo Árbenz, fearing communist influence.

Suez Canal Crisis

In 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, prompting military intervention by Britain, France, and Israel.

Eisenhower Doctrine

A policy stating that the U.S. would assist Middle Eastern countries against armed aggression from communist countries.

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese revolutionary leader who led North Vietnam against French colonial forces and later against American involvement.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall like a row of dominoes.

Ngo Dinh Diem

The first President of South Vietnam supported by the U.S. but criticized for his authoritarian regime.

U-2 Spy Plane Incident

The 1960 event where a U.S. spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, straining U.S.-Soviet relations.