US History - Cold War

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms in office

Reason for 22nd Amendment

Passed because FDR was elected four times and people feared too much presidential power

Cold War

A period of tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union without direct fighting

Characteristics of the Cold War

Arms race fear of nuclear war containment of communism and competition in science education and space

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy of giving military and economic aid to countries resisting communism

Significance of the Truman Doctrine

Involved the U.S. in foreign affairs to stop the spread of communism

Countries aided by the Truman Doctrine

Greece and Turkey

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed to protect against Soviet aggression

Significance of NATO

Mutual defense agreement protecting allies including use of U.S. nuclear weapons

NATO member countries

United States Great Britain France Italy Belgium Iceland Denmark Luxembourg and other Western European nations

Marshall Plan

U.S. program providing economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII

Significance of the Marshall Plan

Helped rebuild Europe and prevent the spread of communism

Countries aided by the Marshall Plan

Great Britain France Germany Italy and other Western European nations

Berlin Airlift

U.S. and allies flew supplies into West Berlin after the Soviets blockaded the city

Cause of the Berlin Airlift

Soviet blockade of Berlin when Allies attempted to reunify Germany

Significance of the Berlin Airlift

Kept West Berlin supplied without military conflict

Korean War cause

Communist North Korea invaded South Korea

U.S. involvement in the Korean War

To contain communism and stop its spread

Outcome of the Korean War

Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel

Baby Boom

Large increase in births after World War II

Effect of the Baby Boom

Increased demand for consumer goods and higher consumption

GI Bill (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act)

Helped veterans pay for college education and buy homes

Suburbanization

Movement of people from urban cities to suburbs during the 1950s

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

Committee created to investigate suspected communists

Civil liberty threatened during the Cold War

Freedom of speech

Joseph McCarthy

Senator who led the Red Scare in the 1950s

McCarthyism

Accusing people of being communists without sufficient evidence

Sputnik

First satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957

Effect of Sputnik

Increased U.S. education funding science space race and defense spending

Apollo 11

First successful U.S. moon landing in 1969

Aerospace technology impact

Technology developed for space improved daily life like helmets and fire-resistant materials

“In God We Trust” motto

Adopted to distinguish the U.S. from atheist communist countries

Medical advances of the 1950s–1960s

Polio vaccine antibiotics organ transplants and longer life expectancy

Beat Generation

Group that rejected conformity and promoted independent thinking

Rock and Roll impact

Bridged generation gaps and exposed youth to diverse culture

Cuban Missile Crisis countries

Cuba Soviet Union and United States

Cause of Cuban Missile Crisis

Soviet missiles placed in Cuba within range of the U.S.

U.S. response to Cuban Missile Crisis

Naval blockade of Cuba

Outcome of Cuban Missile Crisis

Soviets removed missiles and U.S. promised not to invade Cuba

United Nations

Organization created to prevent war and promote peace

Constitutional issue in Korea and Vietnam Wars

Congress did not formally declare war

Domino Theory

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

Domino Theory impact in Vietnam

Led to U.S. support of South Vietnam with military and economic aid

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gave President Johnson broad war-making powers in Vietnam

War Powers Act

Limited presidential power to send troops without Congressional approval

Tet Offensive

Major communist attack that increased public doubt about the war

Vietnamization

Plan to withdraw U.S. troops and shift fighting to South Vietnam

Fall of Saigon

Ended the Vietnam War with communist takeover of Vietnam

Media impact on Vietnam War

Graphic war coverage caused loss of public support

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age to 18

Reason for 26th Amendment

If old enough to fight in war then old enough to vote

Credibility Gap

Loss of public trust when government statements conflicted with reality

Silent Majority

Americans who quietly supported the Vietnam War

Tinker v. Des Moines

Supreme Court case protecting student free speech

Antiwar Movement

Opposition to the Vietnam War by students civil rights activists and others

Roy Benavidez

Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient known for bravery

Kent State shooting

National Guard killed four students which weakened support for the Vietnam War