Unit 8 DE US History Vocab

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting from 1947 to 1991.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

World Bank

An international financial institution providing loans, grants, and technical assistance to developing countries to reduce poverty.

Iron Curtain

A political, ideological, and military barrier separating Western Europe from Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

Containment Policy

The U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism by supporting countries resisting Soviet influence.

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 policy declaring U.S. support for countries resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program (1948–1951) providing over $15 billion in aid to Western Europe to rebuild after World War II.

Berlin Airlift

A 1948–1949 operation where the U.S. and allies supplied West Berlin by air after the Soviet blockade.

NATO

A military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations to provide collective defense against aggression.

Warsaw Pact

A 1955–1991 alliance of Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries, created in response to NATO.

Eisenhower Doctrine

A 1957 policy stating U.S. economic and military support for Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.

Domino Theory

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

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A 1964 law allowing the U.S. president to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

Vietnamization

The process of transferring combat roles from U.S. troops to South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War.

War Powers Act

A 1973 law limiting the president's ability to send U.S. troops into combat without congressional approval.

Sputnik

The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the Space Race.

Military-Industrial Complex

The relationship between a country's military and the defense industry, potentially influencing public policy.

Brown v. Board of Education

The 1954 Supreme Court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Civil Rights Movement

A 1950s–1960s movement aiming to end racial discrimination and gain equal rights for African Americans.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A law prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A law eliminating voting barriers for African Americans, such as literacy tests.

24th Amendment

A 1964 amendment abolishing poll taxes in federal elections.

March on Washington

A 1963 event where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech advocating for civil rights.

National Organization for Women (NOW)

A 1966 organization advocating for women's rights and equality.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

A law requiring equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.

Title IX

A 1972 law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Equal Rights Amendment

A proposed amendment aiming to ensure equal rights under the law, regardless of sex.

GI Bill

A 1944 law providing benefits to World War II veterans, including education and housing assistance.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.

Levittown

Mass-produced suburban communities built after World War II, offering affordable housing.

Sun Belt

A region in the southern U.S. experiencing population growth due to its warm climate and economic opportunities.

22nd Amendment

A 1951 amendment limiting U.S. presidents to two terms in office.

Stagflation

An economic condition of high inflation combined with high unemployment.

Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s aiming to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Medicare & Medicaid

Government programs established in 1965 to provide healthcare for the elderly (Medicare) and low-income individuals (Medicaid).

Immigration Act of 1965

A law eliminating national origin quotas, promoting more diverse immigration.

Bay of Pigs

A failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Berlin Wall

A barrier built in 1961 dividing East and West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War divide.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba.

Detente

A period of eased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A congressional committee investigating suspected communist activities in the U.S.

McCarthyism

The practice of making unsubstantiated accusations of communism, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy.

New Left

A political movement in the 1960s advocating for civil rights, anti-war policies, and social reforms.

Counterculture

A movement in the 1960s characterized by a rejection of conventional social norms.