Middle East History and US Government Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering US history, constitutional concepts, and Middle Eastern geopolitical events from the provided review sheet.

Federal Reserve

The entity that uses interest rates to regulate the economy.

NATO

The United States military alliance system established in 1949.

James Madison

The founding father considered to be the Father of the Constitution.

Thurgood Marshall

The first African American appointed to the Supreme Court, who previously served as lawyer on the historic Brown v. Board of Education case.

Filibuster

A procedural tool used by the minority party in the Senate to block legislation.

Axis of Evil

The phrase used by President George W. Bush after 9-11 to describe Iran, Iraq, and North Korea.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of communist forces in Vietnam who was ignored earlier by world powers at Versailles.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Religious leader who returned from exile to Iran in 1979 and led the revolution.

George W. Bush Tax Cuts

Massive tax cuts passed before 9-11 that were never rolled back.

Sectarian Violence

A term describing religious violence between different sects.

1910 Annexation of Korea

The historical event in which Japan annexed and took control of the Korean Peninsula.

Iraq

The country where the War on Terror was expanded in 2003, leading to an 8-year U.S. presence.

Yemen

The nation in which Saudi Arabia and Iran have been fighting a proxy war.

Economic Sanctions

The economic pressure tool increased against Iran after switching away from direct military pressure.

1981 Iran Hostage Release

The moment the American hostages in Iran were released, occurring exactly when Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president.

Soviet Union (1949)

The second nation in history to acquire the atomic bomb.

Secular Government

A type of government system that maintains a separation between religion and politics.

Kremlin

The executive government complex of Russia, often referred to as Russia's White House.

Hezbollah

An Iranian-backed Shiite proxy organization based in Lebanon.

Strait of Hormuz

The vital strategic waterway made famous during conflict and tension with Iran.

9-11 Hijackings

The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, which involved 4 hijacked commercial airplanes.

Theocracy

A system of government ruled by religious leaders, as seen in the Iranian regime.

Taliban

The ruling government of Afghanistan during 9-11 that has since returned to power.

Houthis

The Shiite proxy group in Yemen supported by Iran.

Al-Qaeda

Osama bin Laden's global terror network responsible for the 9-11 attacks on the United States.

Shah Reza Pahlavi

The U.S.-backed ally and ruler of Iran who fled the country during the 1979 Revolution.

Shia Islam

The majority religious sect of Islam in Iran.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

The Supreme Court case that established 'separate but equal' and legalized segregation in the U.S.

Spiritual Enforcers

The enforcement apparatus for the Iranian theocracy.

Cold War

The geopolitical conflict that intensified after two superpower countries possessed nuclear weapons.

Afghanistan War

The country where the United States first went to war following 9-11, remaining for 20 years.

Tehran

The capital city of Iran.