Textbook Terms, Chapter 27

Alger Hiss

(1948) Former U.S. State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy by Whittaker Chambers, convicted of perjury, and symbolizing Cold War fears of communist infiltration.

Atlantic Charter

(1941) Agreement between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill outlining postwar goals such as self-determination and collective security, influencing early Cold War ideals.

Containment

(1947) U.S. foreign policy strategy, developed by George F. Kennan, aimed at preventing the spread of communism worldwide.

Douglas MacArthur

(1950) U.S. general who commanded UN forces during the Korean War, known for his leadership and eventual dismissal by Harry S. Truman.

Fair Deal

(1949) Domestic program proposed by Harry S. Truman that aimed to expand New Deal reforms, including healthcare, education, and civil rights.

George F. Kennan

(1947) American diplomat who authored the “Long Telegram” and proposed the containment policy to limit Soviet expansion.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

(1938) Congressional committee that investigated alleged communist influence in the U.S., especially active during the early Cold War.

Joseph McCarthy

(1950) U.S. senator who led aggressive investigations into alleged communists in government and society, sparking widespread fear during the Red Scare.

Julius And Ethel Rosenberg

(1951) Married couple convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union and executed in 1953, intensifying Cold War tensions.

Korean War

(1950) Conflict between communist North Korea and South Korea, with U.S. and UN forces intervening to stop the spread of communism, ending in a stalemate.

Mao Zedong

(1949) Communist leader who established the People’s Republic of China after defeating nationalist forces, expanding global communism.

Marshall Plan

(1948) U.S. program providing economic aid to rebuild Western Europe and prevent the spread of communism after World War II.

McCarthyism

(1950s) Practice of making accusations of disloyalty or communism without solid evidence, associated with Joseph McCarthy.

National Security Act

(1947) Law that reorganized the U.S. military and government, creating the Department of Defense, CIA, and National Security Council.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

(1949) Military alliance of Western nations formed to provide collective security against Soviet aggression.

NSC-68

(1950) Secret policy document recommending a major buildup of U.S. military forces to counter the Soviet Union globally.

Syngman Rhee

(1948) First president of South Korea, supported by the United States during the Korean War as part of containment policy.

Taft-Hartley Act

(1947) Law restricting labor unions and allowing the government to intervene in strikes, reflecting postwar concerns about labor power and communism.

Thomas E. Dewey

(1948) Republican presidential candidate who lost to Harry S. Truman in a surprising election victory.

Truman Doctrine

(1947) U.S. policy pledging to provide military and economic aid to countries resisting communism, first applied in Greece and Turkey.

United Nations

(1945) International organization formed after World War II to promote peace, cooperation, and collective security among nations.

Warsaw Pact

(1955) Military alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states formed in response to NATO.

Whittaker Chambers

(1948) Former communist turned anti-communist who accused Alger Hiss of espionage, playing a key role in Cold War investigations.

Yalta Conference

(1945) Meeting between Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin to plan the postwar division of Europe, contributing to Cold War tensions.