History of the Americas Final 21/1/2026

What and when was the Bolshevik Revolution, and who led it?

The Bolshevik Revolution was in Russia in 1917 and saw Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party establish the world’s first Communist state.

What is Capitalism?

When individuals compete with each other with minimum state interference. [The West]

What is Democracy?

When individuals choose the government through voting and are guaranteed certain rights. [The West]

What is Communism?

When all businesses and farms are to be owned by the state on behalf of the people. They have a one-party state and freedom is not necessary. [USSR]

Critique of communism:

One-party states eliminate political dissent and freedom

Critique of capitalism:

Concentrates wealth in the hands of the minority, which creates massive income disparity

What happened at Yalta?

Germany + Berlin would be split into 4 zones with British, French, and American zones becoming west germany (and berline) and the Soviet zone becoming east germany (and berlin)

Who is George Kennan and what did he send that was important?

He was an American diplomat and expert on the USSR. He sent the “Long Telegram” which stated that the Soviet Union wanted to expand and they are sensitive to the “logic of force”

What is the Truman Doctrine?

Truman’s promise to aid nations struggling against communist movements ($400 million to aid Greece and Turkey was the first example).

What did the Mr. X Article accomplish, where was it published, and who wrote it?

George Kennan wrote this, published it in Time Magazine, and it presented the blueprint for the American policy known as containment (keep communism from spreading).

If you had a Paper 3 question that asked about Truman and containment, would you only discuss Truman? Discuss

• No I wouldn’t, I would probably bring up the Mr. X article and also maybe some stuff about Russia that made Truman scared and want to try containment

What was the Marshall Plan?

A plan to give $13 billion in grants and loans to western europe nations. Latin American resented that there was no equivalent programs for the countries of the Americas.

Who was the leader of the Soviet Union?

Joseph Stalin

• What were the Latin Americna countries thoughts at the end of WWII?

Believed their contributions entitled them to greater recognition and influence in the western hemisphere.

What did the Act Of Chapultepec do and when was it signed?

Signed in 1945, it guaranteed each nation’s national sovereignty and diplomatic equality.

When and why did the US violate the Act Of Chapultepec?

A year after it was signed, the US violated the act by interfering in the affairs of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile in an effort to keep those nations non-communist.

Where did most US overseas aid go?

To Europe and Asia; They only assisted Latin America when it felt threatened in the region. 2% of overseas aid (almost all military in nature) went to them from 1946-1951.

What was the Rio Treaty?

Established “an attack against one was an attack against all” in the Latin America.

How did Latin American countries feel about containment and Truman?

Latin American people felt they were forced to conform to Truman’s containment policy without choice and without receiving reciprocal benefits.

What was OAS and what did it stand for?

Stood for Organization of American States and it was a regional defense pact, like NATO. Truman was only focused on the defense of western hemisphere.

What was “stablility over democracy,” and where did the US support it?

The idea that the US would rather have a strong leader (dictator) who limited rights of individuals rather than a democracy that would struggle to stop communism in Latin America.

What long term effect could result from the US’s lack of financial support and interventions in Latin America?

Distrust between the countries and Anti-Americanism (war).

What is McCarthyism?

The political practice of publicizing accusations of disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence

Who else besides McCarthy was carrying out investigations prior to him?

The HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

What were the two events that helped lead to hysteria in the US?

The 1949 test of the A-bomb by soviets and China becoming communist in 1949

What was the McCarran Act and when did it come into effect?

Said that communist organizations had to register with the federal government, started in 1950.

What does HUAC stand for and what did it do?

Stands for “House Un-American Activities Committee” and it investigated suspected communists in the US (much of its work involved hollywood)

What happened to people accused of being communist and what else could cause it?

They were black listed, preventing them from obtaining work; they could be suspected of having “communist ties”

What political party was attacked during this time and why?

Democrats were attacked for being “soft on communism”

What did schools teach and practice during this time?

They taught common values and practiced duck and cover

Who were the Rosenbergs?

A married couple exectuted for giving secrets to the soviets.

What was Truman Executive Order 9835?

It established formal loyalty tests for government employees

What happened to movies in the 1950s?

Social themed movies disappeared