AP US History G369 Unit 8: Freedom from Fear Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards for key terms from AP US History G369 Unit 8, covering topics related to the New Deal and post-World War II events.

A. Philip Randolph

Labor and civil rights leader in the 1940s who demanded a Fair Employment Practices Commission.

Agricultural Adjustment Administration (1933)

New Deal program that paid farmers not to produce crops to stabilize farm production.

Alfred (Al) Smith

First Catholic nominated for president who lost in 1928 due to ethnicity and views on Prohibition.

American Liberty League

Conservative anti-New Deal organization that criticized Roosevelt's policies.

Atlantic Charter (1941)

Joint statement by FDR and Churchill outlining goals for Allied victory in WWII.

Black Cabinet

Informal network of black officeholders in the federal government pushing for African American rights.

Bonus Army (1932)

Group of WWI veterans lobbying Congress for early payment of bonuses, driven out by Hoover.

Brain Trust

Advisors to Roosevelt from Columbia University who shaped early New Deal policies.

Charles Coughlin

Catholic priest and radio host who criticized the New Deal and became increasingly anti-Roosevelt.

Court-packing plan

FDR's proposal to appoint additional justices to the Supreme Court to influence its decisions.

Fireside chats

Roosevelt's informal radio addresses that conveyed empathy and confidence to the public.

Frances Perkins

First woman to serve as a federal Cabinet officer; influenced many New Deal programs.

Francis Townsend

Proposed Old Age Revolving Pension Plan to help retired workers and stimulate spending.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

U.S. president (1933-1945) who led recovery from the Depression and WWII efforts.

Harry S. Truman

Vice president who became president after FDR; known for atomic bomb decision and Fair Deal programs.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff (1930)

Tariff raising duties on imports, worsening the Great Depression.

Herbert Hoover

President blamed for the Great Depression; emphasized rugged individualism.

Hoovervilles

Shantytowns for homeless Americans during the Depression, a symbol of Hoover's failure.

Huey Long

Louisiana governor who proposed 'Share-Our-Wealth' to guarantee income for the poor.

Hundred Days

First weeks of FDR's presidency marked by significant emergency relief and reform measures.

Lend Lease (1941)

Program providing military aid to nations vital to U.S. security during WWII.

National Labor Relations Act (1935)

Created the National Labor Relations Board to promote union organization.

National Recovery Administration (1933)

Agency creating government-business partnerships to address the Depression.

Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)

Laws restricting U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and shipping supplies.

New Deal (1933-1938)

Roosevelt's program focusing on relief, reform, and recovery during the Great Depression.

Pearl Harbor

Naval base attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941, leading to U.S. entry into WWII.

Reconstruction Finance Corporation (1932)

Hoover's program providing loans to businesses; criticized for being ineffective.

Rugged individualism

Hoover's belief in self-reliance and minimal government support during economic hardship.

Second Front

Proposed Allied invasion of France to ease pressure on Soviet forces; delayed until D-Day.

Second New Deal (1935-1936)

FDR's response to white in labor and economic recovery efforts, including the Social Security Act.

Social Security Act (1935)

Established a pension fund for retirees and assistance for the disabled and unemployed.

Chiang Kai Shek

Leader of China during the 1930s-1940s, known for corruption and inability to resist Communism.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country fell to Communism, neighboring countries would follow.

Douglas MacArthur

World War II hero who commanded UN forces during the Korean War.

Dwight Eisenhower

World War II hero and U.S. President known for internationalist foreign policy.

George Kennan

State Department official who articulated the policy of containment towards Soviet expansion.

John Foster Dulles

Eisenhower's Secretary of State, known for his confrontational stance against Communism.

Joseph Stalin

Soviet leader from 1925-1953, known for industrializing the USSR and expanding its influence.

Mao Zedong

Communist leader who established the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Marshall Plan (1947-1954)

U.S. program providing economic aid to rebuild post-WWII Europe.

Massive retaliation

U.S. doctrine of using nuclear weapons to deter Communist aggression.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1949)

Military alliance to counter Soviet threats in Europe.

Peaceful coexistence (1955-1960)

Period of reduced tension in Soviet-American relations.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

Policy to provide aid to countries resisting Communism.

Yalta Conference (February 1945)

Meeting of Allied leaders to discuss postwar plans and Soviet entry into the war against Japan.

Alger Hiss

Former State Department official accused of spying for the Soviet Union.

House Un-American Activities Committee

Investigative committee targeting perceived threats to democracy, especially related to Communism.

Joseph McCarthy

Senator known for accusing individuals of Communist ties, leading to the Red Scare.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Executed for espionage, accused of leaking atomic secrets to the USSR.

National Defense Education Act (1958)

Authorized federal funds to improve education in science and math amid Cold War fears.

Sputnik

Soviet satellite launched in 1957, raising concerns over U.S. education and technology.