Kuz and Bailey Final Exam

United Nations

Began during WWII meeting between FDR and Churchill. Goal: world peace. 50 nations signed U.N. Charter in 1945.

General Assembly

All U.N. members; makes recommendations.

U.N. Security Council

Prevents war. U.S., China, France, Great Britain, and USSR are permanent members with veto power.

Containment

U.S. Cold War policy to stop the spread of communism. Developed by diplomat George F. Kennan.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy of providing military/financial aid to countries resisting communism.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program giving $13 billion to help Europe recover from WWII and stop communism. Proposed by George Marshall.

Iron Curtain

Churchill's term for the division between communist East and democratic West Europe.

Brinkmanship

Eisenhower's policy to threaten massive retaliation. Dulles was Secretary of State.

Sputnik

First artificial satellite launched by USSR (1957), shocking the U.S.

U-2 Incident

U.S. spy plane shot down over USSR; pilot Francis Gary Powers captured. Increased Cold War tensions.

GI Bill

Benefits for WWII veterans: loans, education, pensions, health care.

Baby Boomers

Surge in U.S. birthrate after WWII.

Second Red Scare - Rosenbergs

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage in 1953; accused of passing atomic secrets.

McCarthyism

Unfounded accusations of communism in 1950s; Senate condemned McCarthy in 1954.

Franchises

Businesses using a parent company's name/methods (e.g., McDonald's).

MacArthur

Truman dismissed ____________________ for insubordination during the Korean War.

Korean War Results

Stalemate ended with armistice in 1953. 38th Parallel became DMZ.

Berlin Wall

1961-1989: Wall dividing East and West Berlin; built by communist East Germany to prevent escapes.

Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

Failed U.S.-backed Cuban exile invasion of Cuba; major embarrassment for Kennedy.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Nuclear standoff between U.S. and USSR over missiles in Cuba; ended in peaceful compromise.

JFK Assassination

President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas (Nov. 22, 1963) by Lee Harvey Oswald.

Medicare and Medicaid

_______________________: health insurance for 65+. _____________________: state-run health aid for the poor.

James Earl Ray and Sirhan Sirhan

MLK (April 4) killed by James Earl Ray. RFK (June 5) killed by Sirhan Sirhan.

Domino Theory

Eisenhower's belief that if one nation fell to communism, neighbors would follow.

My Lai Massacre

200+ civilians killed by U.S. troops in Vietnam. Lt. William Calley responsible.

Tet Offensive

1968 surprise attack by Vietcong; showed no place in South Vietnam was safe.

Watergate Scandal

Nixon's administration covered up DNC break-in; Nixon resigned August 8, 1974.

Ford's Pardon of Nixon

President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon (Sept. 8, 1974) to move country forward.

Three Mile Island

1979 nuclear accident near Harrisburg, PA; partial reactor meltdown.

Iranian Hostage Crisis

52 Americans held hostage in Tehran for 444 days (1979-1981). Rescue mission failed.

Election of 1980

Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter. George H.W. Bush became VP.

Reaganomics / Trickle-Down / Tax Cuts

Reagan's economic plan: tax cuts, less regulation, increased defense spending.

Supply-side Economics

Belief that tax cuts boost economy and government revenue by encouraging investment.

Sandra Day O'Connor

First woman appointed to U.S. Supreme Court (1981).

AIDS Crisis

Disease weakening the immune system; early U.S. victims were mainly gay men and drug users.

Challenger Disaster

1986 shuttle explosion; all seven on board died, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.

Gorbachev - Glasnost

Soviet leader introduced Glasnost (openness) in the 1980s to allow freer discussion.

Fall of Berlin Wall (1989)

East Germany opened borders; citizens dismantled the Berlin Wall. Symbolized Cold War's end.

Persian Gulf War (1991)

Iraq invaded Kuwait; U.S.-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm. Saddam's forces defeated.

NAFTA

1993 trade agreement between U.S., Canada, and Mexico removing trade barriers.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

U.S. military policy allowing closeted LGBTQ+ individuals to serve without disclosing orientation.

Clinton Impeachment

Charged with perjury and obstruction of justice; acquitted by Senate in 1999.

Election of 2000

George W. Bush defeated Al Gore despite losing popular vote. Controversial Florida recount.

Bush v. Gore

Supreme Court decision stopped Florida recount, securing Bush's victory.

September 11 Attacks

2001 terrorist attacks: WTC, Pentagon, and a failed fourth hijacking. 9/11 led by Al-Qaeda.

Guantanamo Bay

U.S. military prison in Cuba for war crime suspects, criticized for indefinite detention.