Great Depression, World War II, and Cold War History

Vocabulary terms covering key individuals, policies, programs, and events from the Great Depression through the early Cold War era.

Herbert Hoover

President during the beginning of the Great Depression who believed in “rugged individualism” and limited government involvement.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

President during the Great Depression and most of WWII who created the New Deal and led the U.S. during the war.

Joseph McCarthy

Senator who accused many Americans of being communists during the Cold War.

Harry S. Truman

President who approved the use of the atomic bomb and helped begin Cold War policies.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

WWII general who later became president during the Cold War.

“Rugged individualism”

Belief that people should solve problems on their own instead of depending on government help.

New Deal

FDR’s programs to fight the Great Depression.

Relief

One of the 3 goals of the New Deal, focused on providing immediate aid.

Recovery

One of the 3 goals of the New Deal, focused on improving the economy.

Reform

One of the 3 goals of the New Deal, focused on preventing future crises.

Isolationism / America First

Belief that the U.S. should avoid foreign conflicts.

“Lend-Lease”

Program that gave military aid to Allied nations before the U.S. officially entered WWII.

“Cash and Carry”

Policy passed before the U.S. entered WWII that allowed countries at war to buy American weapons and supplies if they paid in cash and transported the goods themselves.

Four Freedoms

Freedoms FDR believed everyone deserved: speech, worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Communism

System where the government controls property and businesses.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

Idea that nuclear war would destroy both sides during the Cold War.

McCarthyism

Fear-driven accusations of communism without strong evidence.

Red Scare

Fear of communist influence in the United States.

WPA (Works Progress Administration)

Created jobs through public works projects.

FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Protected people’s money in banks.

SSA (Social Security Administration)

Provided retirement pensions and aid for elderly/unemployed Americans.

Manhattan Project

Secret U.S. project that created the atomic bomb.

Bonus Army

WWI veterans who marched for bonus payments during the Depression.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Japanese attack that caused the U.S. to enter WWII.

Normandy landings (D-Day)

Major Allied invasion of France during WWII.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Cities where atomic bombs were dropped in 1945.

Japanese internment camps / Executive Order 9066

Forced relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Pacific Front

Area of WWII fighting against Japan in the Pacific Ocean and Asia.

European Front

Area of WWII fighting against Germany and Italy in Europe.

Hoovervilles

Homeless communities built during the Great Depression.

Island hopping

Strategy of capturing key Pacific islands while skipping heavily defended ones.

Atomic bomb

Powerful nuclear weapon first used in WWII.

Fireside chats

Radio speeches where FDR spoke directly to Americans.