Unit 8 Finishing - Cold War and Social Changes

Flashcards covering key concepts and events from the Cold War and social changes in America from Unit 8.

What does the Truman Doctrine (1947) promise?

Aid to countries resisting communism, specifically Greece and Turkey.

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan (1948)?

To provide economic aid to rebuild Western Europe and contain communism.

What is the core goal of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?

Containment; to resist the spread of communism worldwide.

What was the Berlin Airlift (1948-49)?

A U.S. response to the Soviet blockade through a massive air supply mission.

What is NATO, and when was it formed?

A military alliance of U.S. and Western nations formed in 1949.

What was the outcome of the Korean War (1950-1953)?

It ended in stalemate at the 38th parallel.

What happened during the Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)?

A failed CIA-led attempt to overthrow Castro in Cuba.

What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)?

It was the closest the U.S. and USSR came to nuclear war and led to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

How did U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War escalate?

It escalated under President Lyndon B. Johnson, leading to massive protests at home.

What was the Tet Offensive (1968)?

A turning point in the Vietnam War that led to decreased support for the war among the U.S. public.

What was Détente under Nixon?

A period of eased Cold War tensions, including the SALT treaties and Nixon's visit to China.

What was McCarthyism?

The Red Scare and fear of communist infiltration, characterized by Senator McCarthy's witch hunts.

What did the HUAC do?

Investigated suspected communists in the government and Hollywood.

What was the purpose of the Federal Employee Loyalty Program?

To conduct background checks for government workers.

What warning did Eisenhower give about the Military-Industrial Complex?

He warned about the growing power of the arms industry.

What was the GI Bill (1944)?

A law that helped veterans get education and homes and fueled suburban growth.

What was the Baby Boom?

A massive increase in the birthrate from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.

What did the Interstate Highway Act (1956) achieve?

Expansion of roads and suburbs, aiding defense and commerce.

What cultural changes emerged in the postwar period?

Rise of consumerism, middle class, TV culture, and suburban ideals.

What was the significance of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools is unconstitutional.

What initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)?

Rosa Parks' act of defiance against segregation.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 accomplish?

It banned segregation in public places and employment discrimination.

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ban?

It banned literacy tests and enforced Black voting rights in the South.

What was the Black Power Movement?

A movement advocating for racial pride and self-determination.

What did the Great Society aim to do?

Reduce poverty and racial injustice through various social programs.

What characterizes the Counterculture Movement of the 1960s-1970s?

Youth rebellion, hippies, anti-war protests, and the sexual revolution.

What scandal led to Nixon's resignation?

The Watergate Scandal (1972-74) involving a political spying cover-up.

What is significant about the rise of Environmentalism in the 1970s?

The establishment of Earth Day (1970) and the founding of the EPA.

What did the Women's Rights Movement advocate for?

Equal rights for women, highlighted by Betty Friedan and the push for the Equal Rights Amendment.