US History 2nd Semester Final Study Guide (2026)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards for the US History 2nd Semester Final covering the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Significance of President Hoover in U.S. History

President Hoover is often associated with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, as his policies were believed to be ineffective in combating the economic downturn. His administration focused on limited government intervention, which led to widespread criticism and set the stage for future economic reforms.

September 11th, 2001

The date of the coordinated terrorist attacks on the United States that led to significant changes in foreign policy and domestic security. twin towers in NYC were destroyed by hijacked airplanes, resulting in thousands of casualties and prompting the War on Terror.

The New Deal

A series of programs and reforms launched by FDR to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression. It aimed to address the economic crisis through government intervention in the economy, creating jobs and supporting the financial system.

Reagan and “Peace Through Strength” Plan

A foreign policy approach focusing on military buildup to deter aggression and maintain global peace. This strategy was particularly directed at the Soviet Union during the Cold War, emphasizing military power as a means to achieve diplomatic solutions and ensure national security.

Social Security Act (1935) + significance

A landmark New Deal law that established a safety net system for the elderly, unemployed, and disadvantaged. It created a system of old-age benefits for workers, survivors, and disability insurance, laying the foundation for the modern welfare state in the United States.

Causes for the end of the Cold War

Factors including Soviet economic collapse, reform policies of Mikhail Gorbachev, and increased military pressure from the United States.Other factors such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, increased public dissent in Eastern Europe, and the desire for independence among Soviet republics contributed to the Cold War's conclusion.

Watergate Scandal + Significance

A political scandal involving illegal activities by the Nixon administration that resulted in the first resignation of a U.S. president. The scandal was centered around the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up, leading to widespread distrust in government and significant reforms in campaign finance and transparency.

TWO reasons that led to the rise of dictatorships following WW

Economic devastation and political instability resulting from the Treaty of Versailles were the primary drivers. These conditions created power vacuums, allowing charismatic figures to seize control by promising stability, national renewal, and economic recovery

Isolationism

A foreign policy strategy aimed at avoiding political or military involvement with other countries. It emphasizes focusing on domestic affairs and minimizing international engagement.

Individualism

Hoover's belief that individuals should succeed through their own efforts rather than relying on government assistance.

Reason why U.S. did not allow Jewish immigrants to enter country during 1930s

During the 1930s, the U.S. did not allow Jewish immigrants to enter due to prevalent anti-Semitism, economic concerns stemming from the Great Depression, and restrictive immigration quotas that limited the number of refugees allowed.

FDR & the “Four Freedoms” Speech

In his 1941 speech, Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined four essential freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. He presented these as fundamental rights that should be guaranteed to all people.

Lend-Lease Act (why passed + how it worked)

The Lend-Lease Act, passed in 1941, aimed to support Allied nations during World War II by providing military aid without direct involvement in the war. It allowed the U.S. to supply weapons and supplies to countries such as Britain and the Soviet Union, thereby bolstering their defense against Axis powers.

Effects of the conflict in Vietnam on the USA

The conflict in Vietnam had significant effects on the USA, including widespread anti-war protests, a reevaluation of foreign policy, and social upheaval. It also led to a sense of disillusionment among the American public, particularly regarding government transparency and military engagement.

Tet Offensive + significance

The Tet Offensive was a series of surprise attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces during the Vietnamese New Year in January 1968. It marked a turning point in the Vietnam War by shifting American public opinion against the war and demonstrating that the enemy was capable of launching large-scale operations.

Reasons U.S. public support declined for Vietnam by 1966

By 1966, U.S. public support for the Vietnam War declined due to increasing casualties, graphic media coverage, and the perception of a prolonged military stalemate. Additionally, the disparity between official government reports and the realities on the ground fueled skepticism and discontent among the American people.

Domino Theory

The Domino Theory was the belief that the spread of communism in one country would lead to its spread in neighboring countries, much like a row of falling dominoes. This theory was used to justify U.S. intervention in various conflicts during the Cold War, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Reasons why U.S. public support initially high for involvement in conflict in Vietnam

Initially, U.S. public support for involvement in the Vietnam conflict was high due to the fear of communism spreading in Southeast Asia, the belief in the "domino theory," and a strong sense of patriotism following World War II. Government narratives emphasized the need to support allies and contain communist expansion, which resonated with the American public at the time.

Battle of Midway

A pivotal WWII naval battle in the Pacific that served as a turning point by halting Japanese expansion.

Korematsu v. the United States

A 1944 Supreme Court ruling that the internment of Japanese Americans was a constitutional 'military necessity' during wartime.

U.S. “Game Plan” on the Home Front (WWII)

The total mobilization of the economy and resources, similar to strategies used in the Civil War and WWI.

Double V Campaign

A movement by African Americans advocating for victory over fascism abroad and victory over racism and discrimination at home.

Operation Overlord (D-Day)

The June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Normandy, which opened a second front in Europe and began the liberation of Western Europe.

A-bomb Decision

President Truman's choice to use nuclear weapons on Japan to force a quick end to the war and prevent a high number of U.S. casualties from a land invasion.

Japan Surrender (WWII)

The outcome caused by the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Federal legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting, such as literacy tests, significantly increasing minority voter turnout.

MLK, Jr. “I Have a Dream”

The speech delivered at the March on Washington focusing on an end to racism and a vision of racial harmony and equality.

Sit-in Movement and Freedom Riders

Protested segregation in public facilities and interstate travel using non-violent direct action to achieve racial integration.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

A year-long protest sparked by Rosa Parks that led to a Supreme Court ruling outlawing segregation on public buses.

Brown v. Board of Education

The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that declared 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,' overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Containment

The primary U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

The military strategy where the use of nuclear weapons by two opposing sides would result in the total destruction of both the attacker and the defender.

Berlin Airlift

The U.S. and Allied operation that flew supplies into West Berlin to overcome a Soviet blockade in 1948.

Korean War

A Cold War conflict (1950–1953) that ended in a stalemate at the 38th parallel, maintaining the division between North and South.

Iran Crisis (1953)

The U.S.-backed coup that overthrew the Iranian Prime Minister to restore the Shah to power and secure Western oil interests.

Second Red Scare/McCarthyism

A period of intense fear of communist subversion in the U.S., characterized by Senator Joseph McCarthy's unsupported accusations of disloyalty.

Sputnik I (1957)

The first artificial satellite launched by the USSR, which triggered the Space Race and led to increased U.S. investment in science and education.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

A 13-day confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba, recognized as the closest the world came to nuclear war.