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Cold War
After World War II ended, the two most powerful nations in the world, the United States and the Soviet Union, started to have largely varying opinions on how the post-war world should function.
Americans favored freedom of the people in a capitalist and democratic society while the Soviets favored government controlled Communistic societies.
The two nation's contrasting opinions and beliefs cause them to become involved in a very unhealthy rivalry with one another.
The Korean and Vietnam Proxy wars formed out of this issue between the Soviets and Americans.
United Nations
An international organization created after World War II in order to solve international conflicts diplomatically.
This organization called for a General Assembly comprised of delegates from all included nations and a more powerful Security Council comprised of permanent delegates from the five major powers in the world
The Security Council could veto decisions made by the General Assembly.
This assembly was created at the Yalta Conference.
Containment Doctrine
A foreign policy document created by George F Kennan that stated that America and all of its allies would need to isolate the threat of further Soviet expansion in the world.
George F Kennan
An American diplomat who specialized in foreign affairs. he believed that the only way to stop the Soviet Union from expanding its Communist empire was to contain the Soviet Union.
He is most known for drafting the Containment Doctrine.
The Marshall Plan
A plan made by the United States Secretary of State that would provide economic assistance to devastated European nations.
This plan was created partially to reaffirm the strength of European markets for American goods as well as to help stop the spread of communistic governments from arising in the United States.
National Security Act (of 1947)
An act allowing the reorganization of the United States military.
It allowed for the creation of the Department of Defense to oversee all of the functions of the military as well as created the Central intelligence Agency (CIA).
This act helped strengthen the United States' powers in international conflicts.
Central intelligence Agency(CIA)
The replacement for the wartime Office of Strategic Services that conducted covert political and military operations in order to gain crucial information in times of need.
This group acted within and outside of the United States in order to accomplish its goals.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
An agreement between mostly western nations in Europe and the United States that was made in order to prevent the invasion of communism throughout the world.
this agreement declared that an attack against one of these countries would be an attack on all of them.
The Soviets responded to this with a very similar pact created between communist controlled, eastern European nations.
Berlin Airlift
President Truman's decision to merge the French, British, and American parts of Germany made Stalin impose a complete blockade around the city of Berlin until all French, British, and American diplomats evacuated since Berlin was inside of Soviet controlled territory.
This blockade forced America to drop food and other necessities over the city in order to prevent starvation of Berlin citizens.
NSC-68
America's decision that it could not rely on other countries to resist the spread of communism. Instead, America would deal with communism on its own and try to prevent it from spreading by building up its own military power throughout the world.
This plan increased America's defense budget four times more than its previous expenditures.
Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill)
An act created after World War II in order to provide economic assistance for veterans as well as college tuition money and financial support.
This greatly helped increase the purchasing power of American consumers which aided the growth of the economy.
Fair Deal
Truman's extension of New Deal practices that advocated for more social security benefits, higher minimum wage, an increase in national employment, and the creation of a national healthcare program.
This program was harshly rejected by the Republican dominated House and Senate that all believed that no New Deal programs were needed anymore.
Korean War
Conflict between Communistic North Korea supported by the Soviet Union and capitalist South Korea supported by the United States.
This was the first major Proxy War of the Cold War.
Both the Soviets and Americans poured millions of dollars and military components into each of their supported countries.
The United States got the United Nations to side with South Korea's war effort and Americans tried to make a unified Korea.
American forces seemed to have won until Communist China started to back North Korea as well.
This led to an eventual and long-lasting stalemate in the war
Alger Hiss
A state department official that was accused of taking classified documents and handing them over to the Soviet Union.
This man could not be imprisoned for espionage however because of a law stating that his crime occurred so long ago that it was no longer relevant.
He was charged for perjury and spent many years in prison.
Richard M Nixon
House Un-American Activities Committee member that convicted Alger Hiss of perjury and got him imprisoned for being believed to be a communist.
The conviction of Hiss propelled this man's political career and helped him gain popularity.
McCarran Internal Security Act (of 1950)
An act created during the Cold War that made all communist organizations register with the government.
This allowed the government to keep an eye out for citizens affiliated with communism.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Members of the communist party in America that were convicted for giving information on how to build an atomic bomb to the Soviet Union.
They were put to death because of their conviction of espionage.
Joseph McCarthy
A Republican senator that started to compile lists of "known" communists in the federal government of the United States.
His accusations about government officials ended many careers and would strengthen the Republican party during this era of fear towards communism.
He was one of the first people to directly accuse the government of having communist ties.
Dwight D Eisenhower
Republican president of the United States that promised to end the war with Korea during his term and put an end to communism.
His status as a war hero and military commander made him extremely popular throughout the nation and allowed him to beat out the democratic nomination.
His running mate was Richard Nixon.
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