Truman and the Cold War, 1945-1952

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the chapter on Truman and the Cold War.

Cold War

The conflict between the Communist Soviet Union and the United States.

GI Bill of Rights

The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, provided support to veterans transitioning to a peacetime economy by providing education and low-interest loans.

Baby Boom

The increase in marriages and births between 1945 and 1960, resulting in 50 million babies entering the U.S. population.

Levittown

A project of 17,000 mass-produced, low-priced family homes on Long Island, New York, that contributed to the development of postwar suburbia.

Sunbelt

States from Florida to California that attracted many Gis and their families due to a warmer climate, lower taxes, and economic opportunities.

Employment Act of 1946

Created the Council of Economic Advisers to counsel the president and Congress on promoting national economic welfare.

Committee on Civil Rights

Established by Truman in 1946 to challenge racial discrimination.

Fair Employment Practices Commission

Proposed by Truman to prevent employers from discriminating against the hiring of African Americans, but it was blocked by Southern Democrats.

22nd Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1951 that limited a president to a maximum of two full terms in office.

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)

Probusiness act that checked the growing power of unions by outlawing the closed shop and secondary boycotts.

Progressive Party (1948)

Liberal Democrats who thought Truman's aggressive foreign policy threatened world peace and nominated Henry Wallace.

Dixiecrats (States' Rights Party)

Southern Democrats who bolted the party in reaction to Truman's support for civil rights and nominated J. Strom Thurmond.

Fair Deal

Truman's ambitious reform program that included national health care insurance, federal aid to education, civil rights legislation, funds for public housing, and a new farm program.

Soviet Union

Communist empire and one of the two superpowers during the Cold War.

Cold War

Dominated international relations from the late 1940s to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991; an intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.

United Nations

Founded in the fall of 1945 to provide representation to all member nations and maintain international security.

Security Council

A 15-member council within the U.N. responsible for maintaining international security and authorizing peacekeeping missions.

World Bank

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, created to fund rebuilding of a war-torn world.

Satellite States

Nations under the control of a great power, used by the Soviets as a buffer against invasion from the West.

Iron Curtain

A metaphor used to refer to the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe.

Containment Policy

U.S. foreign policy to contain Soviet aggression, formulated by George Marshall, Dean Acheson, and George F. Kennan.

Truman Doctrine

The president asked Congress in March 1947 for $400 million in economic and military aid to assist the "free people" of Greece and Turkey against "totalitarian" regimes.

Marshall Plan

A program of U.S. economic aid to help European nations revive their economies and strengthen democratic governments.

Berlin Airlift

U.S. planes flew in supplies to the people of West Berlin after the Soviets cut off all access by land to the city in June 1948.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a military alliance formed in 1949 to defend all members from outside attack.

National Security Act (1947)

Modernized U.S. military capability by creating the Department of Defense, National Security Council, and Central Intelligence Agency.

NSC-68

Recommended the following measures were necessary for fighting the Cold War: quadruple U.S. government defense spending to 20 percent of GNP, form alliances with non-Communist countries around the world, and convince the American public that a costly arms buildup was imperative for the nation's defense

U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty

Treaties signed in 1951 that allowed U.S. troops to remain in military bases in Japan for that country's protection.

Chinese Civil War

The conflict between Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists and Mao Zedong's Communists, which resulted in the Communists controlling mainland China by 1949.

Korean War

The conflict between North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Korea, supported by the United States and the United Nations, from 1950 to 1953.

38th Parallel

The dividing line between North and South Korea.

Second Red Scare

Post-World War II fear of Communist conspirators and spies infiltrating American society.

Loyalty Review Board

Established by the Truman administration to investigate the background of more than 3 million federal employees.

Smith Act (1940)

Made it illegal to advocate or teach the overthrow of the government by force or to belong to an organization with this objective.

McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

Made it unlawful to advocate or support the establishment of a totalitarian government; restricted the employment and travel of those joining Communist-front organizations; authorized detention camps for subversives.

HUAC

The House Un-American Activities Committee, reactivated in the postwar years to find Communists.

Hollywood Blacklists

Actors, directors, and writers were called before the committee to testify. Those who refused to testify were tried for contempt of Congress. Others were blacklisted from the industry.

Alger Hiss

A prominent official in the State Department who was convicted of perjury in 1950 after being accused of being a Communist.

Rosenberg Case

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of treason and executed in 1953 for giving A-bomb secrets to the Russians.

Joseph McCarthy

A Republican senator from Wisconsin who used the growing concern over communism to gain power.

McCarthyism

The "witch hunt" for Communists led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill) (1944)

Provided economic assistance to veterans, including education and housing benefits.

Early Marriages

A trend toward younger marriages in the postwar society.

Suburban Growth

The rapid expansion of suburbs after World War II due to housing demand and low-interest rates.

Harry Truman

President of the United States from 1945-1953, who made a number of significant decisions regarding the Cold War and domestic policy.

Council of Economic Advisers

Established by the Employment Act of 1946, it advises the president on economic policy.

Inflation and Labor Unions

Increased inflation and labor unrest, including strikes, in the postwar period.

Racial Integration of Military

Truman's executive order to end racial discrimination throughout the federal government, including the armed forces.

Progressive Party

A third party in the 1948 election, led by Henry Wallace, that opposed Truman's foreign policy.

States-Rights Party (Dixiecrats)

A third party in the 1948 election, led by J. Strom Thurmond, that opposed Truman's civil rights stance.

Thomas Dewey

Republican candidate in the 1948 election, who was defeated by Truman.

Origins of the Cold War

The beginning of the Cold War, characterized by conflict and tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin

The leader of the Soviet Union during the early Cold War period.

Security Council

A key body of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

Communist Satellites

Eastern European countries under Soviet control during the Cold War.

Occupation Zones

Areas of Germany and Austria divided among Allied powers after World War II.

Containment in Europe

U.S. policy to prevent the spread of communism in Europe.

Dean Acheson

U.S. Secretary of State who played a key role in shaping Cold War policy.

Containment Policy

U.S. strategy to contain Soviet expansion and influence during the Cold War.

East Germany

The portion of Germany under Soviet control during the Cold War.

West Germany

The portion of Germany allied with the Western powers during the Cold War.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

A military alliance formed by the U.S. and Western European countries to counter Soviet aggression.

National Security Act (1947)

Legislation that reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence communities.

Nuclear Arms Race

The competitive buildup of nuclear weapons by the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty

A treaty guaranteeing U.S. military protection for Japan.

Chinese Civil War

The conflict between Nationalist and Communist forces in China.

Chiang Kai-shek

The leader of the Nationalist forces in China.

Taiwan

The island to which the Nationalist forces retreated after their defeat in the Chinese Civil War.

Mao Zedong

The leader of the Communist forces in China.

Korean War

A conflict between North and South Korea, involving U.S. and UN forces against Communist forces.

Kim II Sung

The leader of North Korea during the Korean War.

Syngman Rhee

The leader of South Korea during the Korean War.

38th Parallel

The line dividing North and South Korea.

"Soft on Communism"

A label used by Republicans to criticize Truman and Democrats for their handling of the Cold War.

Dennis et al. v. United States

Supreme Court case upholding the constitutionality of the Smith Act.

McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

Legislation restricting the employment and travel of those associated with Communist organizations.

Hollywood Blacklists

Lists of individuals in the film industry who were denied employment due to suspected Communist ties.

Alger Hiss

A State Department official accused of being a Communist spy.

Rosenberg Case

The trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage.

Joseph McCarthy

A Republican senator known for his anti-Communist crusade.

McCarthyism

The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.