The Cold War and the Right: Lecture 7

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to The Cold War and its impact on conservatism as discussed in Lecture 7.

The Cold War

A period of conflict between the capitalist USA and the communist USSR from 1945 to 1991.

Proxy War

A conflict where two opposing countries support combatants that serve their interests instead of waging war directly.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. Senator known for alleging that numerous communists and Soviet spies had infiltrated the United States government.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated alleged disloyalty and subversive activities in the U.S.

Whitaker Chambers

A former communist spy who became a prominent conservative and testified against others.

The John Birch Society

A grassroots conservative organization formed in 1958 that promoted conspiracy theories regarding communism.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected by law from governmental interference.

Fifth Amendment Silence

The right of individuals to decline to answer questions that may incriminate them.

Conservatism

A political philosophy that emphasizes tradition, limited government, and a preference for gradual change.

James Burnham

A notable conservative thinker who commented on civil liberties and the nature of political discourse during the Cold War.