Cold War Foreign Policy/1990s/2000s

Containment

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program that gave aid to Western Europe to help rebuild after WWII and resist communism.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. promise to help countries resist communism, especially in Greece and Turkey.

Berlin Airlift

U.S. and Allied effort to fly supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked access in 1948–49.

Bay of Pigs

Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles trying to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 standoff between the U.S. and USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba; brought the world close to nuclear war.

Arms Race

Competition between the U.S. and USSR to build more and better nuclear weapons.

Sputnik

First satellite launched into space by the USSR in 1957; started the space race.

Space Race

Cold War competition between the U.S. and USSR to achieve space exploration milestones.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one country fell to communism, nearby countries would follow.

Détente

Easing of tensions between the U.S. and USSR during the 1970s.

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

Agreements between the U.S. and USSR to limit nuclear weapons.

Watergate Scandal

Political scandal in the 1970s involving a break-in at the Democratic headquarters and a cover-up by President Nixon, leading to his resignation.

Impeachment

Formal charge of wrongdoing against a government official; Nixon resigned before he could be impeached.

Oil Embargo & Crisis (1973)

OPEC stopped oil exports to the U.S., causing gas shortages and high prices.

Inflation

Rise in prices and decrease in the value of money, especially a problem in the 1970s.

Camp David Accord (1978)

Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel brokered by President Jimmy Carter.

Supply-Side Economics

Reagan’s economic policy of cutting taxes to encourage investment and economic growth.

Star Wars (SDI)

Reagan’s proposed missile defense system to protect the U.S. from nuclear attack.

Iran-Contra Affair

Scandal where U.S. officials secretly sold weapons to Iran and used the money to fund rebels in Nicaragua, violating U.S. law.

Persian Gulf War (1991)

U.S.-led war to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq invaded it.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to remove tariffs.

Globalization

Growing international trade and interconnectedness of the world’s economies and cultures.

Election of 2000

Controversial election where George W. Bush defeated Al Gore after a disputed Florida vote recount.

Affordable Care Act (2010)

Health care reform law passed under President Obama to expand insurance coverage and reduce costs.