Key Events and Policies of the Cold War Era

Containment

U.S. strategy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism by restricting Soviet influence through diplomatic, military, and economic means.

Cold War

The geopolitical tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (1947-1991), characterized by ideological conflict, nuclear arms race, and proxy wars, but without direct military confrontation.

George F. Kennan

U.S. diplomat and historian who articulated the policy of containment in his 1946 'Long Telegram,' influencing American Cold War strategy.

United Nations (UN)

International organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among member states.

Satellite Nation

Countries in Eastern Europe under Soviet influence or control during the Cold War.

Iron Curtain

Term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division between communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy announced in 1947 pledging support to countries resisting communism, marking the start of active Cold War engagement.

Marshall Plan

U.S. initiative providing over $12 billion in economic aid to Western Europe (1948-1952) to rebuild economies and prevent communist influence.

Berlin Airlift

Operation (1948-1949) where the U.S. and allies supplied West Berlin by air after the Soviet Union blockaded the city.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance formed in 1949 among the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations for collective defense.

Warsaw Pact

Military alliance established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries as a counterbalance to NATO.

Eisenhower Doctrine

Policy announced in 1957 stating U.S. intervention in the Middle East to counteract communist aggression.

Brinkmanship

Cold War strategy of pushing dangerous events to the brink of disaster to achieve favorable outcomes.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

U.S. agency responsible for gathering intelligence and conducting covert operations abroad.

Realpolitik

Foreign policy based on practical and material factors, rather than on moral or ideological considerations.

Détente

Period of eased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s, marked by arms control agreements.

SALT I Treaty

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks agreement (1972) between the U.S. and USSR to limit nuclear weapons.

Vietnamization

Nixon administration policy aimed at reducing American involvement in the Vietnam War by increasing South Vietnamese responsibility.

War Powers Act

1973 U.S. law limiting the president's ability to engage in armed conflict without congressional approval.

Kent State

1970 incident where National Guard troops killed four students during an anti-war protest at Kent State University.

My Lai Massacre

1968 mass killing of between 347 and 504 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by U.S. Army soldiers.

Watergate Scandal

1972-1974 political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up, leading to President Nixon's resignation.

Saturday Night Massacre

1973 event during Watergate where President Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, leading to resignations within the Justice Department.

Impeachment

Constitutional process to remove a president from office for misconduct; Nixon resigned before full proceedings.

Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP)

Nixon's campaign organization involved in the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover-up.

Southern Strategy

Republican political strategy in the 1960s-1970s aimed at gaining support in the South by appealing to racial tensions.

Stagflation

Economic condition of high inflation and high unemployment occurring simultaneously in the 1970s.

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Intergovernmental organization of oil-producing countries that coordinates petroleum policies.

Entitlement Program

Government programs providing benefits to individuals based on eligibility criteria, such as Social Security and Medicare.

New Right

Political movement in the 1970s-1980s promoting conservative social and economic policies.

Reverse Discrimination

Policies aimed at redressing past discrimination that may result in preferential treatment for minorities.

Conservative Coalition

Alliance of conservative interest groups and politicians advocating for limited government and traditional values.

Moral Majority

Political organization in the 1970s-1980s promoting socially conservative policies and values.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Disease caused by the HIV virus, leading to weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to infections.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader (1985-1991) who introduced reforms like glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), contributing to the end of the Cold War.

Glasnost

Policy of increased openness and transparency in government and media in the Soviet Union.

Perestroika

Economic and political reforms in the Soviet Union aimed at restructuring the economy and political system.

Tiananmen Square

1989 pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China, that were violently suppressed by the government.

Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm)

1991 conflict where a U.S.-led coalition expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Trickle-Down Economics

Economic theory suggesting that benefits for the wealthy will eventually lead to benefits for the broader population.

Gerrymandering

Manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party.

Civil Rights

Rights guaranteeing individuals freedom from discrimination and ensuring equal protection under the law.

Murder of Emmett Till

1955 lynching of a 14-year-old African American boy in Mississippi, sparking national civil rights activism.

James Meredith

First African American student admitted to the University of Mississippi in 1962, under federal protection.

Freedom Summer

1964 campaign to register African American voters in Mississippi, involving volunteers from across the U.S.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, empowering federal oversight in areas with discriminatory practices.

De Facto vs. De Jure Segregation

De Facto: Segregation resulting from social, economic, or cultural factors. De Jure: Segregation enforced by law.

Malcolm X

Civil rights leader advocating for black empowerment and self-defense; later moderated his views after pilgrimage to Mecca.

Nation of Islam

African American religious movement promoting black nationalism and self-sufficiency.

Stokely Carmichael

Civil rights activist and leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), later advocating for Black Power.

Affirmative Action

Policies aimed at increasing opportunities for historically underrepresented groups in education and employment.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Civil rights organization founded by MLK Jr., promoting nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Youth-led civil rights organization focused on direct action and voter registration.

Orval Faubus

Governor of Arkansas who opposed desegregation and used the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering school.

Rosa Parks

Civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Freedom Riders

Interracial groups that rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States to challenge non-enforcement of Supreme Court decisions.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

1955-1956 protest against segregated buses.