The Cold War and 1950s

This flashcard sets covers postwar America, the origins of the Cold War, and the culture of the 1950s.

Yalta Conference

Meeting of FDR, Churchill, and Stalin where they decided to divide Germany and Berlin to four separate sectors following the end of WW2.

The United Nations

An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

Satellite Nations

Communist nations in Eastern Europe on friendly terms with the USSR and thought of as under the USSR's control. Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland.

Containment

Taking measures to prevent any extension of communist rule to other countries

"Iron curtain"

Barrier between democratic Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe. This name came from a speech given by Winston Churchill.

The Truman Doctrine

The US would provide money and aid to any country "resisting outside pressure" in their nation. The president gave millions of dollars to Greece and Turkey.

The Marshall Plan

Millions of American dollars were given to Western democratic nations to help rebuild after WW2. Money was given to prevent hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries

Berlin Airlift

Airlift in 1948 that supplied food and fuel to citizens of West Berlin when the Russians closed off land access to Berlin

Berlin Blockade

The blockade was a Soviet attempt to starve out the Allies in Berlin in order to gain supremacy. The blockade was a high point in the Cold War, and it led to the Berlin Airlift.

Stalemate

How the Korean War ended. North Korean invaders had been pushed back, communism was contained, and no nuclear weapons were used. However, Korea was still two countries rather than one.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A congressional committee that investigated Communist influence inside and outside the U.S. government in the years following World War II. They reviewed movies

Alger Hiss

A former State Department official who was accused of being a Communist spy and was convicted of perjury (lying). The case was prosecuted by Richard Nixon.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

American communists who were executed after having been found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage. The charges were in relation to the passing of information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Theirs was the first execution of civilians for espionage in United States history

Joseph McCarthy

Wisconsin senator claimed to have list of communists in American gov't, but no credible evidence; took advantage of fears of communism post WWII to become incredibly influential; "McCarthyism" was the fearful accusation of any dissenters of being communists

McCarthyism

Accusing people of disloyalty (as by saying they were Communists)

Warsaw Pact

An alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations. This was in response to the NATO

Eisenhower Doctrine

Policy of the US that it would defend the Middle East against attack by any Communist country

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader who took over after Stalin died

GI Bill of Rights

Law Passed in 1944 to help returning veterans buy homes and pay for higher education

Baby Boom

The larger than expected generation in United States born shortly after World War II

Consumerism

Buying material goods

North Korea & China

Examples of countries who fell to communism during the Cold War

The Red Scare

fear that communists were working to destroy the American way of life

Automania

The post-World War II phenomenon of Americans purchasing automobiles in large numbers, significantly influencing culture and economy.

Mass Media

The various means of communication, such as television, radio, and newspapers, that became prominent in the 1950s and played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and culture.

Stalemate

A situation in the Korean War where neither side could gain a decisive advantage, often resulting in a prolonged conflict without a clear winner. Korea is still divided along the 38th parallel today.

38th parallel

Division between North and South Korea