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Quarantine Speech

A speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 advocating for the containment of aggressive nations, particularly fascist regimes.

Arsenal of Democracy

An idea proposed by FDR that the U.S. should supply allies fighting against Axis powers during WWII.

The 4 Freedoms

Four essential human freedoms outlined by FDR: Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

The Atlantic Charter

A statement of shared goals between the U.S. and the UK in 1941 outlining principles for a post-war world.

Lend-Lease Act

A U.S. policy during WWII that provided military aid to foreign nations in exchange for military bases.

Convoy System

A naval strategy used during WWII where groups of ships traveled together for protection.

America First Committee

An isolationist group that opposed U.S. intervention in WWII.

Nye Committee

A Senate committee that investigated the causes of U.S. involvement in WWI, influencing the Neutrality Acts.

Life during Wartime

Describes the social and economic changes during WWII, including mass production and racial tensions.

Korematsu v. United States

A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. during the early Cold War, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy.

HUAC

House Un-American Activities Committee, known for investigating alleged disloyalty and subversive activities.

Containment

A U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Berlin Airlift

The operation to supply West Berlin by aircraft during the Soviet blockade in 1948-1949.

Truman Doctrine

A policy providing support to countries at risk of Soviet influence, starting with Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe after WWII to rebuild economies.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations.

Brinkmanship

The practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, associated with Eisenhower's Cold War strategy.

Domino Theory

The idea that a political event in one country could cause similar events in neighboring countries, particularly in the context of communism.

MacArthur and the Korean War

General Douglas MacArthur's role in leading U.N. forces during the Korean War until his dismissal by Truman.

Nixon and Détente

Nixon's foreign policy aimed at easing tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union through diplomacy.

Carter Doctrine

A policy stating that the U.S. would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf.

Reagan-Gorbachev Relationship

The diplomatic relations between U.S. President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev that helped ease Cold War tensions.

Iran-Hostage Scandal

The crisis in which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran from 1979 to 1981.

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a key organization in the Civil Rights Movement.

Brown v. Board of Education

The 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Zoot Suit Riots

A series of riots in Los Angeles in 1943 between U.S. servicemen and young Mexican Americans.

The Feminine Mystique

A book by Betty Friedan that sparked the second wave of feminism by discussing women's dissatisfaction.

National Organization for Women (NOW)

An organization founded in 1966 to advocate for women's rights and gender equality.

Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson's set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice in the 1960s.

New Left

A broad political movement in the 1960s that sought to address issues like civil rights, anti-war protests, and cultural freedoms.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam from the late 1950s to 1975 involving the U.S. in an effort to prevent the spread of communism.

GI Bill

Legislation that provided a range of benefits to returning World War II veterans.

OPEC Embargo

An oil embargo imposed by OPEC in 1973 that caused significant economic disruption in the U.S.

Watergate Scandal

A political scandal involving President Nixon's attempt to cover up his administration's involvement in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Silent Majority

A term popularized by Nixon to describe a significant group of Americans who supported his policies but did not publicly protest.

Reagan and Conservatism

Reagan's policies that revived conservative governance in the U.S. emphasizing deregulation and a free-market economy.

Laffer Curve

An economic theory that suggests tax cuts can lead to increased revenue by motivating people to work harder.