The Second World War and the Cold War

Flashcards about The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

Hemispheric Defense Conference (1939)

Coordinated the defense of the Western Hemisphere in light of threats from Axis powers.

Inter-American Reciprocal Assistance Act (1940)

Foundation of cooperation between the U.S. and Latin American countries during the war, ensuring mutual assistance in defending the Western Hemisphere against external threats.

Neutrality Acts (1935–1939)

Laws passed by the U.S. Congress aimed at keeping the U.S. out of the conflicts that were beginning in Europe by restricting arms sales, loans, and military assistance to belligerent countries.

Good Neighbor Policy

U.S. policy initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, aimed to improve diplomatic relations with Latin American countries and reduce the U.S. interventionist policies of the past.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

Act that allowed the U.S. to send military aid to Allies like the UK and Soviet Union without officially entering the war, marking the U.S. as the Arsenal of Democracy.

Brazilian Expeditionary Force

Brazil sent troops to fight alongside the Allies in Italy.

Double V Campaign

Victory over fascism abroad and racism at home.

Reasons for Using Atomic Weapons

The U.S. believed that using atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki would force Japan to surrender, thus avoiding a costly invasion of Japan and preventing Soviet influence.

Nuclear Diplomacy

The use of nuclear weapons marked the beginning of the nuclear age, with far-reaching implications for international relations.

Truman Doctrine (Containment)

Policy adopted by the U.S. after WWII to stop the spread of communism, particularly from the Soviet Union.

McCarthyism

The rise of persecution of individuals suspected of being communists, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, creating an atmosphere of fear in the U.S.

New Look Policy (1950s)

President Eisenhower’s defense strategy emphasized the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent against Soviet aggression, reducing the need for conventional forces.

Domino Theory

The fear that if Vietnam fell to communism, other countries in Southeast Asia would follow.

Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress

Aimed at improving economic conditions in Latin America to prevent the spread of communism.

Carter’s Human Rights Policy

President Jimmy Carter emphasized human rights in U.S. foreign policy, supporting democratic movements in Latin America.

Cuban Revolution (1959)

Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and established a communist government in Cuba, aligning with the Soviet Union.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

The discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba led to a standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.