U.S. History - Post War quiz study guide

Yalta Conference

Leaders of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin agreed to divide Germany, allow free elections in Eastern Europe (which Stalin later ignored), and create the UN.

Potsdam Conference

Tension grew because the U.S. had a new president (Harry Truman) and revealed the atomic bomb, making Stalin distrustful → worsened relations.

UN Security Council purpose

To keep peace by giving major powers (U.S., USSR, etc.) veto power so they would cooperate instead of fight.

Satellite nations

Countries in Eastern Europe controlled politically and militarily by the Soviet Union.

Iron Curtain

Term (by Winston Churchill) describing the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.

Long Telegram (George Kennan)

Said the U.S. must contain communism and stop its spread.

Truman Doctrine

Give aid to countries resisting communism (ex: Greece, Turkey).

Marshall Plan

Economic aid to rebuild Europe → prevent poverty → stop communism from spreading.

NATO

Alliance formed to protect Western countries; attack on one = attack on all.

At what latitude was Korea divided into two nations after World War II?

38th parallel

Why did President Truman fire General MacArthur during the Korean War?

Douglas MacArthur wanted to expand war into China; Truman feared nuclear war.

What sentence was given to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg?

Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Rosenberg were executed (death penalty) for spying for USSR.

Joseph McCarthy

Senator who claimed many communists were in the U.S. government (often without proof).

McCarran Act

Also known as the Internal Security Act of 1950, this law required Communist organizations to register with the government and established controls over suspected subversives.

Effects of McCarthyism?

Fear, false accusations, ruined careers, loss of rights.

How did the Cold War affect popular culture in the 1950’s?

themes of fear and paranoia, reflected in films, literature, and music. These mediums often depicted the threat of communism, nuclear war, and the implications of a divided society.

Francis Gary Powers

U.S. pilot shot down in a U-2 spy plane over USSR → increased tensions.

Eisenhower defense

Cut army spending, relied more on nuclear weapons.

Massive retaliation

A military strategy that involved threatening to use nuclear weapons in response to any act of aggression, aimed at deterring potential attacks during the Cold War.

Sputnik / Space Race

USSR launched first satellite → U.S. rushed to compete in space/technology. This event marked the beginning of the Space Race, emphasizing the technological rivalry between the superpowers.

Brinkmanship

Going to the edge of war (nuclear conflict) to scare the enemy.

How did Eisenhower decide to prevent Communists from staging revolutions inside other countries?

Used the CIA to secretly support or overthrow governments. This strategy involved covert interventions and propaganda to counter Communist influences globally.

Why did Eisenhower warn Americans about the military-industrial complex?

Dwight D. Eisenhower warned that defense industries could gain too much power and influence.

G.I. Bill

Gave veterans money for college, homes, jobs.

Why did Truman veto the Taft-Hartley Act?

He believed it hurt unions and workers’ rights.

Describe an “economy of abundance?”

An "economy of abundance" refers to a situation where goods and services are plentiful, thereby allowing for increased consumer choice and lower prices, leading to a rise in overall living standards.

John Kenneth Galbraith

was an influential economist known for his views on the role of government in ensuring economic prosperity and advocating for an economy of abundance.

White vs Blue collar

White collar refers to workers in office settings or professions, while blue collar describes laborers in manual or industrial jobs.

What are some reasons for the growth of suburbia after the war?

increased automobile ownership, the availability of affordable housing, the desire for a better quality of life, and government policies supporting home loans.

Baby Boom causes

Soldiers returning home, Economic stability, Desire for families

Jonas Salk

American medical researcher noted for developing the first successful polio vaccine.

How did Hollywood and radio respond to the rise of television?

created more films for theaters while radio programs shifted to focus on news, music, and live broadcasts to compete with television's popularity.

Alan Freed 

Popularized rock and roll music in the 1950s and is credited with coining the term "rock and roll". He hosted radio shows and held concerts, promoting racial integration in music.

What was Elvis Presley’s nickname?

“King of Rock and Roll”

Ed Sullivan

Television host who showcased famous musical acts, including Elvis Presley, on his variety show, influencing American pop culture.

How did rock n roll help create the generation gap? 

Teens loved it; parents saw it as rebellious → divided generations

Termination policy

Ended federal support for Native Americans → forced assimilation. ending their special relationship with the federal government.

Which groups of people were left out of the country’s economic boom of the 1950’s? 

African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and poor rural people.

Juvenile Delinquency 

Concern about teens rebelling, crime, and bad behavior sparked fears among adults about societal decay and family values.

How did many Americans feel about the educational system of the 1950’s? 

After Sputnik, people feared U.S. schools were weaker than USSR (especially in science).

Missile Gap

Belief USSR had more nuclear missiles than U.S. (later found false).

Flexible response

A defense strategy that emphasized a range of military options, including conventional forces and nuclear capabilities, to address various levels of conflict.

Bay of Pigs

An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, orchestrated by the U.S. government to overthrow Fidel Castro's regime, leading to significant embarrassment for the Kennedy administration.

Cuban Missile Crisis

USSR put nuclear missiles in Cuba → U.S. blockade → nearly nuclear war → resolved when USSR removed missiles.