Period 8 pt 1

What conference is considered the technical start of the Cold War?

The Yalta Conference in 1945.

What was the primary disagreement between FDR and Stalin regarding Eastern Europe?

FDR wanted self-determination, while Stalin wanted to control the region.

Who are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?

The US, Britain, France, China, and the Soviet Union.

What power do the five permanent members of the UN Security Council hold?

Veto rights.

What were the three main post-war punishments agreed upon for Germany at the Potsdam Conference?

Disarm Germany, disband military production facilities, and allow occupying nations to collect reparations.

What was the purpose of the Baruch Plan?

To establish international control of atomic weapons and ensure atomic energy was used only for peaceful purposes.

Why did the Soviet Union reject the Baruch Plan?

They believed the US and its allies controlled the UN, making inspections unfair.

What was the primary goal of the US containment policy?

To prevent the spread of communism beyond where it already existed.

What were Soviet 'satellite nations'?

Communist or pro-communist countries in Eastern Europe that acted as a buffer between the Soviets and Western democracies.

Who coined the phrase 'an iron curtain has descended across the continent'?

Winston Churchill.

What did the Truman Doctrine promise?

Economic and military aid to any country threatened by a communist takeover, whether from internal or external forces.

What was the goal of the Marshall Plan?

To provide economic assistance to help rebuild post-WWII Europe and prevent economic chaos that might invite communism.

How did the Soviet Union respond to the consolidation of West Germany and West Berlin by the Allies?

They instituted a blockade around the city of Berlin.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

A US-led operation to fly supplies into West Berlin to bypass the Soviet blockade.

What is the core principle of the NATO alliance?

Collective security; an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

What was the Soviet military response to the formation of NATO?

The Warsaw Pact.

What was COMECON?

An economic alliance between the Soviet Union and its satellite nations.

Which three US organizations were created in 1947 to advise on national security and defense?

The National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the CIA.

What happened in Japan following WWII under Douglas MacArthur's occupation?

The economy was rebuilt, a democratic constitution was adopted, and Japan regained sovereignty in 1951.

Who led the communist forces in the Chinese Civil War?

Mao Zedong.

What happened to the Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek after the communist victory?

He fled to Taiwan and established a non-communist government.

How did the US respond to the establishment of the People's Republic of China?

The US refused to recognize the new government and blocked its admission into the UN.

What was the significance of the Soviet Union testing an atomic weapon in 1949?

It ended the US atomic monopoly and forced a reassessment of US foreign policy.

At what line was Korea divided after WWII?

The 38th parallel

Why was the USSR unable to vote against the UN police action in Korea?

They were boycotting the Security Council to protest China's exclusion from the UN

Who led the UN peacekeeping troops during the Korean War?

General Douglas MacArthur

Why did China intervene in the Korean War?

They feared the UN's goal of reunifying Korea under democratic control and warned against crossing the 38th parallel

Why did President Truman fire General MacArthur?

For insubordination, specifically for publicly disagreeing with the decision to seek a negotiated peace and pressuring Truman to invade China

What is the status of the Korean War peace agreement?

An armistice was signed in 1953, but an official peace treaty has never been signed

What is the DMZ in the context of Korea?

The demilitarized zone established at the 38th parallel where no military forces are stationed

How did the conflict in Vietnam end compared to the Korean War?

Unlike the stalemate in Korea, the North eventually conquered the South, uniting the country under communism

What were the three main pillars of Cold War Liberalism?

Preserving New Deal programs, developing the containment policy, and fighting subversives at home

What was the purpose of the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act?

To restrict the power of labor unions

What significant executive action did Truman take regarding the military in 1948?

He issued an executive order to integrate the military

Who were the 'Dixiecrats' in the 1948 election?

Southern Democrats who broke away from the party to form the States' Rights Democratic Party in protest of Truman's civil rights support

What were three key components of Truman's 'Fair Deal' that were adopted by Congress?

Expanding Social Security, higher minimum wage, and housing programs

What was the purpose of the Loyalty Review Board created in 1947?

To investigate communist influences inside the U.S. government and its agencies

What was the primary focus of the HUAC hearings in 1947?

Alleged communist activities in the film industry

Who were the 'Hollywood Ten'?

Ten members of the film industry who publicly denounced HUAC's tactics and were subsequently jailed and blacklisted

What was the outcome of the Alger Hiss case?

He was found not guilty of espionage but was convicted for lying to Congress

What was the central claim made by Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1950?

That communist party members were active in shaping policy within the U.S. State Department

Who were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?

A married couple convicted of espionage for passing atomic bomb secrets to the Soviets and the first civilians executed for such a crime

What event led to the downfall of Senator Joseph McCarthy?

His accusations that the U.S. Army had been infiltrated by communists

What action did the U.S. government take against McCarthy in 1954?

The government voted to censure him

What was the containment policy?

A U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism

What was the 'Give 'em Hell, Harry' campaign?

Truman's aggressive 1948 campaign strategy to overcome his polling deficit

What was the result of the 1952 presidential election?

Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president

How did the Vietnam conflict begin after WWII?

Vietnam sought independence from French colonial rule, leading to a division at the 17th parallel between a communist North and a democratic South

What was the significance of the mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and South Korea?

It formalized the alliance between the two nations following the Korean War

What was the core philosophy of Eisenhower's 'modern Republicanism'?

Slowing down but not ending federal intervention in economic and social affairs while maintaining a middle ground.

What was Eisenhower's primary criterion for supporting foreign governments?

Stability and opposition to communism, regardless of whether the government was democratic or repressive.

Who succeeded Joseph Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union in 1953?

Nikita Khrushchev

What is 'Brinkmanship' as advocated by John Foster Dulles?

The policy of risking war to protect national interests.

What weapon technology allowed for pinpoint accuracy in delivering nuclear warheads across continents?

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)

What was the significance of the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957?

It was the first artificial satellite launched by the Soviets, sparking fear in the US and accelerating the Space Race.

What was the purpose of the National Defense Education Act of 1958?

To increase federal spending on math, science, and technology education.

What was the primary strategic justification for the Interstate Highway System?

National security, specifically for evacuating cities and moving military forces in the event of a war.

What is the 'Domino Theory' in the context of the Cold War?

The belief that if one country fell to communism, all surrounding countries would inevitably follow.

What was the goal of Zionism after WWII?

To encourage Jewish people to return to their ancestral homeland of Israel.

Why did the US intervene in Iran in 1953?

To overthrow an elected government and install the Shah, who was favorable to US and British oil interests.

What event in 1956 led to increased Soviet influence in the Middle East?

The Suez Canal crisis, where Egypt secured the canal after Britain and France were forced to withdraw.

What did the Eisenhower Doctrine (1957) promise?

To assist any country in the Middle East that requested aid to combat communism.

Why did the US place an embargo on trade with Cuba in 1959?

Fidel Castro began seizing land from American companies and citizens.

What was the policy of 'Massive Retaliation'?

Responding to any aggressor attack with force disproportionate to the size of the initial strike.

What is 'Mutually Assured Destruction' (MAD)?

A military policy where both sides possess enough nuclear power to destroy the other, making a first strike undesirable.

What was the U-2 Incident of 1960?

The shooting down of an American spy plane over Soviet territory, which forced Eisenhower to admit to secret surveillance flights.

What did Eisenhower warn against in his final address to the nation?

The growing influence of the 'military-industrial complex' on democratic governance.

What was the primary function of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW)?

To manage increased federal responsibilities in social and educational sectors.

How did the Cold War affect American domestic life regarding civil defense?

It created a climate of fear, leading to the construction of bomb shelters and regular 'duck and cover' drills.

What was the status of the military draft during the Cold War?

It remained in effect as a peacetime draft to ensure readiness.

What was the result of the power struggle following Stalin's death?

Nikita Khrushchev became the dictator and called for 'peaceful coexistence' while continuing the arms race.

What was the significance of the Piki me Atol test?

It was the site of a successful US hydrogen bomb test.

What was SEATO?

A collective security alliance that the US joined during the Eisenhower administration.

What was the primary motivation for US intervention in Lebanon and Jordan in the late 1950s?

To support pro-US governments against revolts and prevent the spread of communism under the Eisenhower Doctrine.

What were the health consequences of the Cold War arms race mentioned in the notes?

Illness, death, and birth defects resulting from exposure to radiation.

Who were the major candidates in the 1960 presidential election?

Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy.

What was a significant first in the 1960 presidential campaign?

It was the first time a presidential debate was televised.

What nickname was given to the Kennedy administration?

The Camelot years.

What was the inspiration for the 'Camelot' nickname?

A popular play about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

What was JFK's 'flexible response' military policy?

Building up conventional military forces and counter-insurgency units to combat communism, rather than relying solely on nuclear weapons.

What was the purpose of the Peace Corps established in 1961?

To provide aid to developing countries while spreading American influence during the Cold War.

What was the goal of the Alliance for Progress?

To provide funding for food, education, and medical assistance to Latin American countries to prevent the spread of communism.

What was the outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

It was a disaster; the invading Cuban exiles were captured or killed, and JFK took full responsibility.

Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961?

To stop East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin and the free world.

What was the significance of JFK's 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech?

It served as a morale boost for West Germans and a message to the Soviets that the U.S. would not abandon West Berlin.

What did the limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty prohibit?

The testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.

How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved?

The Soviets removed missiles from Cuba, and the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba and to remove missiles from Turkey.

What was the 'hot line' established after the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A direct phone line between the White House and the Kremlin to ensure fast, efficient communication.

What space-related goal did JFK set for the United States in 1962?

To land the first man on the moon.

Who was the first American in space?

Alan Shepard.

Who was arrested for the assassination of John F. Kennedy?

Lee Harvey Oswald.

Who became president immediately following JFK's death?

Lyndon B. Johnson.

What happened to Lee Harvey Oswald two days after his arrest?

He was shot and killed by Jack Ruby while being transported.

What was the purpose of the Warren Commission?

To investigate the assassination of President Kennedy.

What were the primary conclusions of the Warren Commission?

There was no evidence of a domestic or foreign conspiracy, and all shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.

What is an oligopoly?

A market structure where a few companies control the market.

What was the primary foreign policy goal of JFK regarding communism?

To adopt a containment policy and block its spread in the Western hemisphere.

What special forces unit did JFK create for counter-insurgency?

The Green Berets.

What was the time span that the Berlin Wall remained in place?

1961 to 1989.

Who was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969?

Neil Armstrong.