Post-WWII and Cold War

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the Post-WWII and Cold War period.

Demobilization

The process of transforming the economy to accommodate soldiers after war.

GI Bill

A bill passed to encourage soldiers to invest in homes and education; guarantees $5000 to any veteran.

Baby Boom

A result of the GI Bill; causes an explosion of elementary schools.

Taft-Hartley Act

An Act passed to restrict the power and activities of labor unions due to inflation and labor union strikes.

Levitown

The first planned suburb community.

Nuremberg War Crimes

Military trials held by Allied forces to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany.

Marshall Plan

A plan put in action by Truman to fund the reconstruction of Western Europe after WWII.

Truman Doctrine

Part of Truman's containment doctrine; pledges American military and economic aid to nations threatened by communism.

Berlin Blockade

The process in which the Soviet Union blocked all access to West Berlin to starve its citizens.

Berlin Airlift

The operation through which the US sent supplies to West Berlin.

NATO

An organization formed between the US, Canada, and Western European nations to counter the expansion of the Soviet Union.

Red Scare

The growing fear of communism within the United States.

Hiss Trial

A trial in which a US state department employee was accused of communist ideals; found not guilty of espionage but guilty of lying.

Huac Hearings

Congressional hearings to investigate communist presence in Hollywood; involved 10 directors who refused to testify.

House Un-American Affairs Committee

A committee designed to investigate individuals and organizations for possible communist ties.

McCarren Internal Security Act

An act requiring communist organizations to register with the government.

Rosenberg Trials

Trials in which two American scientists were convicted of espionage for giving atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union.

McCarthy Hearings

A series of Senate hearings to investigate communist accusations against various individuals.

Fair Deal

Truman's policy continuing FDR's New Deal; included reforms like social security and higher minimum wage.

Point Four

A program launched by Truman to aid developing nations and prevent the spread of communism through technical assistance.

Truman's Containment Policy

The general term for Truman's effort to stop the spread of communism. (Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan)

Korean War

A conflict between Soviets in the North and Americans in the South; involved China and led to the dismissal of General MacArthur.

New Look

Eisenhower's vision of the Cold War, transitioning to a tougher foreign policy after claiming the previous containment policy failed.

Massive Retaliation

Eisenhower's policy threatening nuclear response if the Soviets continued spreading communism.

Brinkmanship

The strategy of getting to the brink of war to stop the spread of communism.

Rollback Theory

Eisenhower's rhetorical theory to liberate Eastern European nations from communist rule.

U-2 incident

An event in which the Soviet Union shot down an American spy plane, damaging US credibility.

Eisenhower Doctrine

A doctrine aimed at aiding Middle Eastern nations during the Cold War.

Yalta Conference

A meeting of US, Britain, and the Soviet Union leaders to discuss postwar reorganization of Europe.

Iron Curtain

The political and physical barrier dividing Europe from the end of WWII to the Cold War's conclusion.

Baruch Plan

A proposal for international control of nuclear energy to prevent proliferation. (USSR refused)

China Falls to communism

The event where communists win the Chinese Civil War, leading to nationalists retreating to Taiwan.

Soviets explode A-bomb

The successful detonation of an atomic bomb by the Soviets in 1949.

Warsaw Pact

A Soviet-led military and political alliance with Eastern European communist nations.

Dien Bien Phu falls

The defeat of French Union by Viet Minh in the 1st Indochina war, sparking US involvement.

SEATO

An organization formed to prevent communism's spread in Southeast Asia.

Geneva Summit

A meeting b/w USSR and US aimed at reducing international tensions caused by the Cold War.

Spirit of Geneva

An agreement that ended the occupation of communism in Austria.

Suez Crisis

A crisis where the US supported Egypt to avoid escalation with the Soviet Union.

Hungary (Budapest) revolt fails

A failed revolt against communism due to Soviet military intervention and no US support.

Sputnik

The world's first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union.

National Defense and Education Act

An act providing funding for STEM education in the US to enhance competitiveness.

Lebanon Crisis

US sent troops to Lebanon to support pro-Western govt.

Kennedy's Inaugural Speech

A speech encouraging public service and fostering hope and national unity.

Bay of Pigs

A failed US attempt to overthrow communism in Cuba, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Peace Corps

A US agency providing volunteers for technical and social support in developing nations.

Berlin Crisis of 1961

An event where the Soviets demanded removal of Western forces from West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Wall's construction.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A confrontation between the US and Soviet Union after they placed missiles in Cuba; considered the closest point to nuclear war.

Domino Theory

The theory that the fall of South Vietnam to communism would cause a chain reaction in Southeast Asia.

Moon Landing

Apollo 11: the first successful manned mission to land on the moon by the US.

Détente

A policy aimed at reducing Cold War tensions during Nixon's presidency.

SALT I

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; An agreement between the US and Soviet Union to limit nuclear weapons in 1972.

ABM Treaty

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; A treaty that limited both the US and Soviet Union to two anti-ballistic missile sites.

Open Relations With China

Nixon's foreign policy that facilitated trade and cooperation against the Soviet Union.

Russian Grain Deal

A deal to stabilize agricultural markets by selling grain to the Soviet Union, which ended after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Helsinki Accords

A Cold War diplomatic agreement signed by 35 nations to reduce tensions and affirm post-WWII borders.

Camp David Peace Accord

Political agreements signed by Egypt and Israel following secret negotiations facilitated by Carter

Failure of SALT II

An unratified agreement due to disagreements and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Reagan's election

An election that reignited the Cold War following the Détente policy.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A proposed US space-based defense system to intercept incoming Soviet missiles aka Star Wars

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall

A challenge issued by Reagan to the Soviet leader regarding the Berlin Wall.

Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost

Political and economic reforms in Russia allowing freedom of speech and decentralized economic control.

Berlin Wall falls

The event in 1989 resulting from public protest and the crumbling East German economy.