The US from 1945 to 1980

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to U.S. history from 1945 to 1980.

Cold War

A period of ideological conflict between the United States (democracy) and the Soviet Union (communism) after World War II.

Truman Doctrine

A US policy established in 1947 to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism, beginning with Greece and Turkey.

Containment

A foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism, rather than eradicating it.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative passed in 1948 to provide financial aid to Western Europe for economic recovery after WWII.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed in 1949, initially comprising US, Canada, and Western European nations to counter Soviet expansion.

Berlin Airlift

A massive operation in 1948-1949 where the US and its allies delivered supplies to West Berlin after the Soviets blocked access.

Geneva Summit

A meeting in 1955 where leaders of the US and USSR discussed reducing Cold War tensions but ultimately made little progress.

Sino-Soviet Pact

An alliance established between China and the Soviet Union, contributing to global tensions during the Cold War.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice and equality for African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s, aimed at ending racial discrimination.

Brown v. Board of Education

The 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

McCarthyism

The practice of making unfounded accusations of subversion and treason, particularly in relation to communism during the 1950s.

Great Society

A series of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Southeast Asia from the late 1950s to 1975, involving North Vietnam and its allies against South Vietnam and the US.

Watergate Scandal

A major political scandal in the 1970s involving abuse of power by the Nixon administration, leading to Nixon's resignation.

Environmental Movement

A social and political movement that emerged in the 1960s advocating for the protection of the environment and natural resources.

Immigration Act of 1965

Legislation that abolished the quota system based on national origin and established a preference for family reunification and skilled immigrants.

Youth Culture of the 1960s

A cultural phenomenon characterized by youth activism, music, and rebellion against traditional values in response to social issues.

The Feminine Mystique

A book by Betty Friedan published in 1963 that sparked the second wave of feminism by addressing women's dissatisfaction with societal roles.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and aimed at ending segregation.

Roe v. Wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, asserting a woman's right to privacy.