Cold war vocab and more

Containment

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one country falls to communism, others nearby will too.

Iron Curtain

Imaginary divide between communist East and capitalist West Europe.

Marshall Plan

U.S. aid to help rebuild Western Europe after WWII.

NATO

Military alliance of the U.S. and Western nations for mutual defense.

Warsaw Pact

Soviet-led alliance of Eastern communist countries.

United Nations

International organization to promote peace and cooperation.

38th Parallel

Dividing line between North and South Korea.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

Buffer area between North and South Korea; no troops allowed.

Bay of Pigs

Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba in 1961.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 U.S.-Soviet standoff over missiles in Cuba.

Pentagon Papers

Secret government study showing U.S. lied about Vietnam War.

Vietnam War

Conflict where U.S. fought to stop communism in Vietnam.

26th Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency; protects air, water, and land.

Title IX

Bans sex discrimination in schools and sports.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case legalizing abortion (1973).

Watergate

Scandal that led to Nixon's resignation.

Berlin Wall

Barrier dividing communist East and democratic West Berlin.

Camp David Accords

Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel (1978).

Iran Hostage Crisis

U.S. embassy workers held hostage in Iran for 444 days.

Iran-Contra Affair

Reagan officials secretly sold arms to Iran to fund rebels in Nicaragua.