Unit 6 Terms

Détente

A period of improved relations between the US and USSR during the Cold War, from the late 1960s to late 1970s. It included strategic arms limitation talks (SALT I and II), the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, diplomatic negotiations to ease tensions, cultural exchanges, and increased trade, signifying a shift from previous confrontational periods.

Ngo Dinh Diem

The first President of South Vietnam from 1955 until his assassination in 1963, known for his strong anti-communist stance and the establishment of a repressive regime.

Nguyen Van Thieu

The President of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975, known for his leadership during the Vietnam War and his eventual fall from power as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces.

Ho Chi Minh

The Communist revolutionary leader who became the first President of North Vietnam, known for his role in the Vietnam War and efforts toward Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule.

Geneva Accords

The diplomatic agreement that temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, establishing North Vietnam and South Vietnam, and outlining the conditions for reunification and the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Viet Cong

The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, a communist-led guerrilla movement that fought against the U.S. and South Vietnamese governments during the Vietnam War.

Tet Offensive

A major surprise attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces during the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) celebration, which marked a turning point in the Vietnam War by galvanizing public opinion against the war in the United States.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A congressional resolution that authorized the use of military force in Vietnam, following alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Lyndon B. Johnson

The 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969, known for his Great Society programs, which aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, and for his escalated involvement in the Vietnam War.

Richard Nixon

The 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974, known for his foreign policy achievements like the normalization of relations with China, and for his resignation due to the Watergate scandal.

Containment

A U.S. policy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond its existing borders, primarily through diplomatic, economic, and military means.

Helsinki Accords

An agreement signed by 35 nations aimed at improving relations between the Communist bloc and the West, focusing on security in Europe, human rights, and economic cooperation.

SALT I

The first agreement between the US and USSR to limit the growth of their nuclear arsenals, signed in 1972, which led to a freeze on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II, 1979)

A treaty between the US and USSR that aimed to further limit the number of nuclear weapons and strategic arms, building on the foundations of SALT I, although it was never officially ratified.

START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)

An arms control agreement between the US and USSR that aimed to significantly reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems.

Six-Day War

A brief conflict between Israel and its neighboring states (Egypt, Jordan, and Syria) that lasted from June 5 to June 10, 1967, resulting in a decisive Israeli victory and significant territorial gains, including the west bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

The second President of Egypt, serving from 1956 until his death in 1970, known for his role in the development of pan-Arab nationalism, the nationalization of the Suez Canal, and his efforts to modernize Egypt.

Mao Zedong

The founding father of the People's Republic of China, serving as its Chairman from 1949 until his death in 1976, known for his role in the Chinese Communist Revolution, the establishment of communist rule, and campaigns like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)

A sociopolitical movement initiated by Mao Zedong in China to enforce socialism by removing capitalist elements and traditional cultural practices, characterized by mass mobilizations, persecution of intellectuals, and destruction of cultural heritage.

Arms Race

A competitive buildup of nuclear weapons and military capabilities between nations, particularly during the Cold War, primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union, aimed at achieving military superiority.

Leonid Brezhnev

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, known for his leadership during the Cold War, the era of Détente, and significant military buildup, as well as for the Brezhnev Doctrine, which justified Soviet intervention in other socialist countries.

Chile

A country in South America, known for its long, narrow shape, stretching along the western edge of the continent, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes mountains to the east.

Salvador Allende

The first democratically elected Marxist President of Chile, serving from 1970 until his overthrow in a military coup in 1973, known for his socialist reforms and nationalization of key industries.

Plurality

Plurality refers to a voting system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority (more than 50% of votes).

Unidad Popular

A coalition of leftist political parties in Chile that supported the presidency of Salvador Allende and aimed to implement socialist reforms in the early 1970s.

Alliance for Progress (1961)

Aimed at establishing economic cooperation between the United States and Latin America to promote social reform and economic development in the region, countering the influence of communism.

National Reconstruction

The process of rebuilding and reforming a nation's political, economic, and social structures after a period of conflict or disaster, often involving the establishment of new government frameworks, infrastructure development, and societal healing.

Augusto Pinochet

A Chilean military general and dictator who seized power in a coup d'état in 1973, overthrowing President Salvador Allende. He ruled until 1990, implementing free-market reforms but also known for human rights violations, political repression, and the establishment of a totalitarian regime.

Afghanistan

A landlocked country located in South Asia, known for its rugged terrain, diverse ethnic groups, and a history of conflict and invasions, especially during the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the US-led invasion in 2001.

People’s Democratic Party of Afganistán

A political party in Afghanistan that was founded in the 1960s and known for its Marxist ideology, leading to a communist government after the 1978 coup known as the Saur Revolution. The PDPA's rule faced opposition and led to the Soviet invasion in 1979.

Mujahideen

A group of guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan who resisted the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989, known for their Islamist ideologies and use of asymmetric warfare tactics.

Hafizullah Amin

A political leader in Afghanistan who served as President from September to December 1979, known for his controversial and radical policies before being ousted and assassinated by Soviet forces during their invasion.

Babrak Karmal

The leader of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1986, who served as a puppet president installed by the Soviet Union during their invasion. He led a government that faced significant resistance from the Mujahideen and struggled to maintain power amidst ongoing conflict.

Operation Cyclone

A covert CIA program that provided support to the Mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War, aimed at countering Soviet influence and aiding the insurgency against the Soviet-installed government.