Vocab Quiz simple understandment

U.S. promised to help countries resist communism; first helped Greece and Turkey with $400 million.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. promised to help countries resist communism; first helped Greece and Turkey with $400 million.

containment

U.S. policy to stop communism from spreading, based on ideas from diplomat George Kennan.

marshall plan

Gave $13 billion to help Western Europe rebuild after WWII and stop the spread of communism.

act of chapulpe

U.S. and 19 Latin American countries agreed to defend each other against attacks.

rio treaty

Regional defense pact used by the U.S. to justify action against communist-leaning governments.

OAS

21 American countries formed an alliance to stop communism and keep peace in the Americas.

mutual security

Gave $38 million in military aid to Latin America—focused on stability, not democracy.

CIA

Used covert (secret) missions in Latin America to stop socialist and communist movements

point four programs

U.S. aid for developing countries, mostly in Asia and Africa—not much for Latin America.

McCaran Act

Forced communists to register with the government—those who didn’t could be jailed or deported.

trumans executive order

Loyalty checks on federal employees to root out communists.

HUAC

Investigated suspected communists, especially in Hollywood. Many people were blacklisted.

IKEs Exective

Expanded who could be fired from government jobs—alcoholics, LGBTQ people, and “security risks” included.

Joesph McCartyn

Senator who falsely accused many of being communists, causing panic and fear.

McCarthyism

The practice of making unfair accusations without real evidence—basically a political witch hunt.

NSC-68

Called for massive military spending to fight global communism—led to a big defense budget.

new look policy

Relied more on nuclear weapons than large armies; aimed to save money and stay strong.

more bang for you buck

Nuclear weapons gave more defense power for less money.

massive retaliation

Promise to respond to any attack with overwhelming nuclear force.

brinkmanship

Willingness to push tensions to the edge of war to intimidate enemies.

domino theory

Belief that if one country became communist, nearby countries would follow.

PB Sucess

CIA secretly helped overthrow Guatemala’s president Árbenz, who was seen as too left-leaning.