American History II Final Exam Review

Vocabulary flashcards based on the American History II Final Exam review notes covering WWII to the modern era.

Pearl Harbor

The December 7, 1941 attack that finally pushed the United States into WWII.

Munich Pact

A 1938 agreement that Hitler broke, showing the world that the policy of appeasement had failed.

Nonaggression Pact

An agreement signed by the Soviet Union and Germany that led to the invasion and division of Poland.

Appeasement

The policy used by Britain and France where they gave into Hitler's demands to avoid war.

Treaty of Versailles

The major event from WWI that led to WWII.

Yalta Conference

A meeting where Allied leaders planned postwar Europe and Germany.

Lend-Lease Act

The law that allowed the US to supply weapons and aid to all allies.

Atomic Bomb

A weapon used on Japan to force an end to the war and save American lives.

Iwo Jima

An important base giving the US a last major victory near Japan.

Battle of the Bulge

The last major German offensive in Europe.

Operation Torch

The Allied invasion of North Africa.

Battle of Midway

A major US naval victory that turned the tide in the Pacific.

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France.

Propaganda Posters

Materials used at home to encourage support for the war effort.

Double V Campaign

African Americans' goal of achieving victory abroad and equality at home.

Nuremberg Trials

Trials where Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes.

Israel

Created in 1948 to be a Jewish state.

War Crime Trials

Proceedings following WWII that established individuals will be punished for crimes against humanity.

22nd Amendment

An amendment stating that Presidents may serve only 2 terms.

United Nations

An international organization created to promote peace and cooperation.

Marshall Plan

A US plan to help rebuild Europe after WWII.

Warsaw Pact

The military alliance created by the Soviets in response to NATO.

Berlin Wall

Built to stop refuges from leaving East Berlin to go to West Berlin.

CIA

An intelligence agency of the United States.

Vietnam War Involvement

The US entered this conflict to stop the spread of communism.

CIA in Iran

Action in 1953 where the agency helped overthrow the prime minister in Iran.

Chinese Civil War

The US supported the Nationalists because they opposed communism.

Berlin Airlift

An operation that supplied West Berlin during the Soviet blockade.

Korean War Outcome

The conflict ended with Korea remaining divided at the 38th parallel.

Red Scare

The general fear of communism in the United States.

Suburbanization

The growth of suburbs following the end of WWII.

McCarthyism

The practice of accusing people of being communists without evidence.

GI Bill

Provided benefits including education, housing, and loans for veterans.

Bay of Pigs

A failed US-backed invasion of Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A nuclear standoff between the US and Soviet Union over missiles in Cuba.

Counterculture Movement

A youth movement that rejected traditional values.

Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court case ruling that suspects must be informed of their rights.

Castro

The Communist leader of Cuba.

Great Society

LBJ's programs to improve education and healthcare and reduce poverty.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A protest against segregated buses.

Freedom Riders

Activists who challenged segregation on interstate buses.

De Jure Segregation

Segregation by law.

Affirmative Action

Policies aimed at encouraging equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

Brown v. Board of Education

The Supreme Court decision that ended local school segregation.

Black Panther Movement

A group promoting black empowerment and self-defense.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one nation fell to communism, nearby nations would follow.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gave the President broad military powers in Vietnam.

Vietnam War Media

TV coverage that brought war images into homes.

Credibility Gap

The difference between government claims about Vietnam and the reality of the war.

Kent State Massacre

An event where National Guardsmen killed four student protesters.

Containment

The policy of stopping the spread of communism.

Watergate

A scandal that led to Nixon's resignation and limited presidential power.

Realpolitik

A policy based on practical goals rather than ideals.

Détente

The relaxation of tensions between the US and the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The last leader of the Soviet Union who introduced reforms.

Strategic Defense Initiative

Reagan's proposed missile defense system.

Glasnost and Perestroika

Policies of openness and economic reform in the Soviet Union.

Supply-Side Economics

The theory that lower taxes encourage economic growth.

Patriot Act

A surveillance law passed to expand government power after terrorist attacks.

First Gulf War

A US-led coalition that forced Iraq out of Kuwait.

Baby Boom

Resulted in increased population growth, suburbanization, and consumer demand.

NAFTA

A trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada.