APUSH AMSCO 8.1-8.7

After World War II, the U.S. experienced major societal shifts, including economic prosperity, suburbanization, the Civil Rights Movement, the rise of counterculture, and Cold War tensions. Government policies like the GI Bill supported veterans, while movements for racial and gender equality challenged traditional norms.

Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill describing the political and ideological barrier between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and Western democracies.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy of containment, pledging support to countries resisting communism (e.g., Greece and Turkey).

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program that provided over $12 billion to help rebuild Western European economies after WWII to prevent the spread of communism.

Berlin Airlift (1948-1949)

U.S. and British operation delivering food and supplies to West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked access.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1949)

A military alliance of Western nations to counter Soviet aggression.

Warsaw Pact (1955)

Soviet response to NATO, forming a military alliance of Eastern European communist countries.

NSC-68 (1950)

A secret government report that called for a large military buildup to counter the Soviet threat.

Massive Retaliation

Eisenhower’s policy of responding to communist aggression with overwhelming nuclear force.

Sputnik (1957)

The first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union, triggering the Space Race and U.S. fears of falling behind in technology.

Military-Industrial Complex

President Eisenhower’s warning that the growing relationship between the military and defense contractors could become too powerful.

Berlin Wall (1961-1989)

A physical barrier built by East Germany to prevent people from fleeing to West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

A standoff between the U.S. and USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a negotiated removal of missiles.

Détente

A period of relaxed Cold War tensions in the 1970s through diplomatic agreements, such as arms reductions.

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

Treaties between the U.S. and USSR to limit nuclear weapons.

Smith Act (1940)

Made it illegal to advocate for the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. Used to prosecute suspected communists.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

Investigated alleged communist influence in government and Hollywood.

McCarthyism

A campaign by Senator Joseph McCarthy accusing people of communism with little evidence, leading to blacklisting and fear.

GI Bill (1944)

Provided WWII veterans with college tuition, low-interest home loans, and unemployment benefits.

Baby Boom

A population explosion (1946-1964) as millions of babies were born post-war, leading to suburban growth.

Levittown

Mass-produced suburban housing developments that provided affordable homes but were racially segregated.

Sun Belt

The region of the U.S. (South & West) that experienced economic and population growth due to its climate and job opportunities.

Fair Deal

President Truman’s domestic policy to expand Social Security, increase minimum wage, and promote civil rights.

Highway Act (1956)

Funded the creation of interstate highways, promoting suburbanization and economic growth.

New Frontier

President John F. Kennedy’s domestic program focusing on civil rights, space exploration, and social programs.

Stagflation

Economic crisis in the 1970s with high inflation and high unemployment due to oil shortages and government spending.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court ruling that ended racial segregation in public schools, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Desegregation

The process of integrating schools, businesses, and public spaces despite resistance in the South.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)

Sparked by Rosa Parks, this successful boycott led to the Supreme Court ruling bus segregation unconstitutional.

SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference)

A civil rights organization led by Martin Luther King Jr., advocating nonviolent protests.

Sit-in Movement

A form of nonviolent protest where Black students sat at segregated lunch counters, demanding service.

SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)

A civil rights group organizing sit-ins, freedom rides, and voter registration drives.

Decolonization

The process by which former European colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East gained independence, often aligning with either the U.S. or USSR.

Eisenhower Doctrine (1957)

U.S. policy promising military and economic aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.

Camp David Accords (1978)

Peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, brokered by President Jimmy Carter.

Iran Hostage Crisis (1979-1981)

Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, holding 52 Americans hostage for 444 days after the U.S. supported the overthrown Shah.

Peace Corps (1961)

Created by President Kennedy, this program sent American volunteers to developing countries to provide education, healthcare, and infrastructure assistance.