Period 8 cold war

Cold War

A period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II, based on ideological conflict, military rivalry, and proxy wars.

Origins of the Cold War

The Cold War began after WWII because the U.S. and Soviet Union distrusted each other and clashed over communism, capitalism, and control of Europe.

End of WWII

The end of World War II in 1945 left the United States and Soviet Union as the world’s two superpowers.

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 policy in which the U.S. promised to help countries resist communism, especially Greece and Turkey.

Containment

The U.S. policy of preventing communism from spreading to new countries.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program that gave economic aid to Western Europe to rebuild after WWII and resist communism.

Berlin Airlift

A 1948–1949 mission in which the U.S. and its allies flew supplies into West Berlin after the Soviets blocked access to the city.

NATO

A military alliance formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations to defend against the Soviet Union.

1950s Culture & Society

A period marked by suburban growth, consumerism, television, conformity, and traditional family values.

Korean War

A war from 1950 to 1953 that began when communist North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to U.S. intervention.

Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower was president from 1953 to 1961 and is known for moderate conservatism and strong Cold War policies.

Economic Growth

A major increase in jobs, income, consumer spending, and suburban development after World War II.

Red Scare

A period of fear of communism in the U.S. that led to investigations, blacklists, and accusations of disloyalty.

Brinkmanship

A Cold War policy of threatening massive retaliation to force the other side to back down.

1960s

A decade marked by civil rights activism, liberal reform, Cold War tensions, and major social change.

Kennedy & Johnson

John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson were 1960s presidents known for Cold War leadership, reform programs, and Vietnam-era decisions.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba that nearly caused nuclear war.

Great Society

Lyndon Johnson’s domestic program aimed at reducing poverty and racial injustice through reforms in health care, education, and civil rights.

Vietnam War

A long conflict in which the U.S. tried to stop the spread of communism in Vietnam but became deeply divided over the war.

1960s/1970s

A period of protest, cultural change, antiwar activism, and growing distrust of government.

Counterculture movement

A movement in which many young people rejected traditional values and embraced freedom, protest, and alternative lifestyles.

Antiwar movement

A movement of Americans who protested U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.