APUSH Quarter 4 Lessons 1&2

United Nations

International organization founded in 1945 to promote global peace, security, and cooperation, replacing the League of Nations.

Yalta Conference

Meeting between FDR, Churchill, and Stalin in 1945 to discuss post-war Europe; led to the division of Germany and Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

Potsdam Conference

Final WWII meeting in 1945 between Truman, Churchill (later Attlee), and Stalin; increased tensions over Eastern Europe and issued an ultimatum to Japan.

GI Bill

Provided education, housing, and financial benefits to WWII veterans, helping to expand the middle class.

Desegregation of Armed Forces

Executive Order 9981 by President Truman in 1948 ending racial segregation in the U.S. military.

Baby Boom

Period of increased birth rates from 1946 to 1964 following WWII, leading to major demographic and economic shifts.

Fair Deal

Truman’s domestic policy aimed at expanding New Deal reforms, including healthcare, civil rights, and housing programs.

Containment

U.S. Cold War policy to prevent the spread of communism, first outlined by George Kennan.

George Kennan

Diplomat who authored the 'Long Telegram,' advocating for the containment policy against Soviet expansion.

Get Tough Policy

Truman’s approach toward the Soviet Union, rejecting appeasement and demanding free elections in Eastern Europe.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy established in 1947 to provide military and economic aid to countries resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

U.S. economic aid program initiated in 1948 to help rebuild Western European economies to prevent the spread of communism.

NSC-68

National Security Council report from 1950 urging a massive military buildup to counter the Soviet threat.

NATO

Military alliance established in 1949 between the U.S. and Western European nations to counter Soviet expansion.

Warsaw Pact

Soviet-led military alliance formed in 1955 in response to NATO, uniting Eastern Bloc nations.

Berlin Airlift

U.S. and British operation from 1948 to 1949 to supply West Berlin by air after the Soviet Union blockaded the city.

Point Four Program

Truman’s initiative launched in 1949 to provide U.S. aid to developing nations to counter communism.

Korean War

Conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North (communist) and South Korea (backed by the U.S. and UN) that ended in a stalemate.

38th Parallel

Dividing line between North and South Korea before and after the Korean War.