Unit 8 Vocab

Cold War

A period of political and military tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union (1945–1991) without direct warfare.

Soviet Union

A socialist state (1922–1991) consisting of Russia and multiple satellite states, led by the Communist Party.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union (1924–1953) who played a key role in the Cold War’s early years.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation among nations.

Security Council

A key body of the UN responsible for maintaining international security, with five permanent members (U.S., USSR, UK, China, France).

World Bank

An international financial institution that provides loans for economic development and reconstruction globaly

Satellites

Eastern European countries controlled by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister known for opposing Nazi Germany and later coining the term 'Iron Curtain' to describe Soviet expansion.

Containment policy

A U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism, promoted by George Kennan.

George Marshall

U.S. General and Secretary of State who created the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after WWII.

Dean Acheson

who was an American diplomat and U.S. Secretary of State under President Harry S. Truman. He was a key architect of Cold War foreign policy, playing a major role in shaping the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO.

George F. Kennan

American diplomat and historian known for advocating the containment policy.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy to support countries resisting communism, first applied to Greece and Turkey in 1947.

Marshall Plan

U.S. economic aid program to help rebuild Europe after WWII and prevent communism’s spread.

Berlin Airlift

A U.S.-led effort (1948–1949) to supply West Berlin by air after the Soviet blockade.

West Germany

Democratic, U.S.-backed section of Germany post-WWII.

East Germany

Communist-controlled section of Germany under Soviet influence.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance formed in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist nations led by the USSR, created in response to NATO.

National Security Council (NSC)

U.S. organization advising the president on military and foreign policy.

Arms race

A competition between the U.S. and USSR to develop nuclear weapons and military technology.

NSC-68

A 1950 U.S. policy document that called for a major expansion of military power to counter the USSR.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. General in the Pacific during WWII and the Korean War, later dismissed by Truman.

U.S.-Japanese security treaties

Agreements ensuring U.S. military presence in Japan after WWII.

Chiang Kai-shek

Nationalist leader of China who fled to Taiwan after losing to the communists.

Mao Zedong

Communist leader who established the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Taiwan

Island where Chiang Kai-shek established the Republic of China after losing mainland China.

People’s Republic of China

Communist China, established by Mao Zedong in 1949.

38th parallel

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

Kim Il Sung

Communist leader of North Korea during the Korean War.

Syngman Rhee

First president of South Korea, supported by the U.S.

Korean War

A conflict (1950–1953) between communist North Korea and U.S.-backed South Korea.

John Foster Dulles

U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower who promoted an aggressive anti-communist like massive retaliation, and helped to form military alliances like SEATO to contain the Soviet Union.

Brinkmanship

A strategy of pushing dangerous situations to the edge of war to achieve goals.

Massive retaliation

A U.S. policy threatening full-scale nuclear attack in response to communist aggression.

Korean armistice

1953 agreement that ended the Korean War, maintaining Korea’s division at the 38th parallel.

Atoms for peace

A U.S. initiative promoting peaceful nuclear energy use.

Open-skies policy

A proposal allowing U.S. and Soviet reconnaissance flights to prevent surprise attacks.

Spirit of Geneva

A 1955 meeting aimed at easing U.S.-Soviet tensions.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader (1953–1964) who pursued de-Stalinization and peaceful coexistence with the West.

Peaceful coexistence

Khrushchev’s policy of avoiding direct war with the U.S. while competing ideologically.

Hungarian revolt

A 1956 uprising against Soviet rule in Hungary, crushed by Soviet forces.

Sputnik

The first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957, igniting the space race.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

U.S. space agency created in response to Sputnik.

U-2 Incident

1960 event where a U.S. spy plane was shot down over the USSR, worsening tensions.

Cuba

Island nation where Fidel Castro established a communist government in 1959.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba who aligned with the USSR.

Military-industrial complex

Eisenhower’s warning about the growing influence of the defense industry.

Bay of Pigs

A failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba to overthrow Castro.

Berlin Wall

A barrier built in 1961 to separate East and West Berlin.

Cuban missile crisis

A 1962 confrontation over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, nearly causing nuclear war.

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

A 1963 agreement prohibiting above-ground nuclear tests.

Flexible-response policy

JFK’s strategy of using conventional forces rather than relying on nuclear weapons.

Non-Proliferation Treaty

A 1968 agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

Henry Kissinger

U.S. diplomat and National Security Advisor who promoted détente.

Détente

A policy of easing Cold War tensions between the U.S. and USSR.

Anti-Ballistic Missiles (ABMs)

Defensive missiles designed to intercept incoming nuclear attacks.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)

Agreements between the U.S. and USSR to limit nuclear weapons.

Loyalty Review Board

Established by President Truman in 1947 to investigate government employees' loyalty amid fears of communist infiltration.

Dennis et al. v. United States (1951)

A Supreme Court case that upheld the conviction of Communist Party leaders under the Smith Act for advocating the violent overthrow of the government.

Smith Act (1940)

A law that made it illegal to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government and was used to prosecute communist leaders.

McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

Required communist organizations to register with the government and allowed for the detention of suspected subversives during emergencies.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A congressional committee that investigated suspected communist influence in Hollywood, government, and other sectors.

Whittaker Chambers

A former communist who became an anti-communist witness, accusing Alger Hiss of being a Soviet spy.

Alger Hiss

A former U.S. State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy and convicted of perjury in 1950.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

A married couple convicted of espionage for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviets; they were executed in 1953.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. senator who became famous for claiming to have lists of communists in the government, leading to the term McCarthyism.

McCarthyism

A period of intense anti-communist suspicion, characterized by accusations without solid evidence, ruining many careers.

Harry S. Truman

U.S. president (1945–1953), known for the Fair Deal and Cold War policies.

Employment Act of 1946

Established the government's role in promoting economic stability and growth.

Council of Economic Advisors

Created by the Employment Act to advise the president on economic policy.

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill, 1944)

Provided benefits like education and housing loans to WWII veterans.

Baby boom

Post-WWII population explosion (1946–1964) due to economic prosperity and returning soldiers.

Levittown

Mass-produced suburban housing developments, symbolizing postwar suburbanization.

Sun Belt

Southern and western U.S. regions that saw economic and population growth after WWII.

22nd Amendment (1951)

Limited the president to two terms in office.

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)

Restricted union power, banned closed shops, and allowed states to pass 'right to work' laws.

Fair Deal

Truman’s domestic program focused on civil rights, education, and healthcare, though much of it was blocked by Congress.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

U.S. president (1953–1961), promoted Modern Republicanism and infrastructure expansion.

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW)

Created in 1953 to oversee social welfare programs.

Soil-bank program

Paid farmers to reduce crop production to prevent surpluses and stabilize prices.

Modern Republicanism

Eisenhower’s moderate approach to balancing conservative economic policies with social welfare programs.

Highway Act (1956)

Funded the construction of the Interstate Highway System, revolutionizing transportation and boosting suburban growth.

New Frontier

John F. Kennedy’s domestic agenda focusing on space exploration, civil rights, and economic growth.

Trade Expansion Act (1962)

Gave the president power to reduce tariffs and promote international trade.

New Federalism

Nixon’s policy of shifting power from the federal government to state and local governments.

Revenue sharing

Part of New Federalism, where federal funds were distributed to states with fewer restrictions.

Stagflation

A 1970s economic condition with stagnant growth and high inflation, challenging traditional economic policies.

Television

Became a dominant form of entertainment in the 1950s, influencing culture, advertising, and politics.

Credit cards

Introduced in the 1950s, they fueled consumerism by making it easier to buy goods on credit.

Fast food

The rise of chains like McDonald's reflected the era’s focus on convenience and efficiency.

Paperback novels

Affordable books that became widely popular, increasing access to literature.

Rock and roll

A new music genre blending blues, country, and rhythm & blues, with artists like Elvis Presley influencing youth culture.

Conglomerates

Large corporations that diversified across multiple industries to reduce risk, reflecting economic expansion.

The Lonely Crowd (1950)

A sociological study by David Riesman analyzing changing American character and conformity.

The Affluent Society (1958)

John Kenneth Galbraith’s critique of postwar wealth and economic inequality.

The Catcher in the Rye (1951)

J.D. Salinger’s novel about teenage rebellion and alienation, resonating with youth.

Catch-22 (1961)

Joseph Heller’s satirical novel about the absurdity of war and bureaucracy.

Beatniks

A countercultural movement in the 1950s, rejecting materialism and promoting artistic expression (e.g., Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg).