Untitled Flashcards Set

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies.

Soviet Union

A socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, comprising Russia and other republics.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, known for his totalitarian regime.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945, aimed at promoting peace and cooperation among countries.

Security Council

A principal part of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

World Bank satellites

Countries that were aligned with the US during the Cold War and benefited from international financial assistance.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister known for his leadership during World War II and his speech marking the start of the Cold War.

Iron Curtain

A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the division between Western democracies and Eastern communist countries.

Containment policy

A foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of communism.

George Marshall

U.S. Secretary of State who proposed the Marshall Plan to aid Europe post-World War II.

Dean Acheson

U.S. Secretary of State under President Truman, key in shaping Cold War policies.

George F. Kennan

American diplomat whose ideas on containment shaped U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1947 to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative to aid Western Europe, in which the U.S. gave over $12 billion to help rebuild economies.

Berlin airlift

A 1948-1949 operation to deliver supplies to West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked access.

West Germany

Formally known as the Federal Republic of Germany, established in 1949 as a result of the division of Germany.

East Germany

Formally known as the German Democratic Republic, established in 1949 under Soviet influence.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations for mutual defense.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist nations in Eastern Europe, formed in response to NATO in 1955.

National Security Act

A 1947 law that reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence agencies after World War II.

arms race

A competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons.

second Red Scare

A period in the late 1940s and 1950s marked by widespread fear of communism and anti-communist investigations.

Loyalty Review Board

An agency established by the U.S. government to investigate the loyalty of federal employees.

Dennis et al. v. United States

A Supreme Court case that upheld the Smith Act, which made it a criminal offense to advocate the violent overthrow of the government.

Smith Act (1940)

A law that made it a criminal offense to advocate for war or to advocate the overthrow of the U.S. government.

McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

A law that provided for the registration of communist organizations and authorized the internment of communists during national emergencies.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A congressional committee that investigated allegations of communist activity in the U.S.

Whittaker Chambers

A former communist and an important figure in exposing Alger Hiss as a communist spy.

Alger Hiss

A U.S. government official accused of being a communist spy in the 1940s; his trial was a major event in Cold War history.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

American citizens executed for espionage after being convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

Joseph McCarthy

U.S. Senator known for his intense anti-communist pursuits and leading the witch hunt for suspected communists.

What is McCarthyism?

McCarthyism is a political movement in the United States during the early 1950s linked to Senator Joseph McCarthy, marked by allegations of subversion or treason primarily against those affiliated with the Communist Party.

NSC-68

What is NSC-68?

NSC-68 is a key United States policy document from 1950 that outlined a comprehensive strategy for combating the Soviet Union during the Cold War, emphasizing military preparedness and a significant increase in defense spending.

What was the main recommendation of NSC-68?

The main recommendation of NSC-68 was for the United States to adopt a policy of containment against the Soviet Union, ensuring the U.S. maintained a strong military presence to counter perceived threats.

How did NSC-68 influence U.S. foreign policy?

NSC-68 had a profound impact on U.S. foreign policy by driving the expansion of military forces and setting the stage for an aggressive stance during the Cold War, which included support for allies resisting communism.