UNIT13 ch 36

What was the Baby Boom and its impact on American society?

A period from 1945-1960 where 50 million babies were born in the U.S., leading to larger families, a focus on homemaking for women, and significant social and economic changes.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A policy established in 1947 to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism, initially aimed at Greece and Turkey against totalitarian regimes; it gained all support from the democrats and Republicans in Congress

Define containment as it relates to the Cold War.

The U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism, first articulated by George Kennan.

What was the Marshall Plan?

A U.S. program initiated in 1948 that provided economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe (including USSR and satellite states), which successfully stimulated economic growth.

What does NATO stand for and its purpose?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed to defend member nations from outside attacks.

What was the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the G.I. Bill?

A law providing World War II veterans with benefits for education, housing, and unemployment insurance.

Describe the Sunbelt and its significance post-WWII.

A region in the U.S. known for a mild climate and economic opportunities, attracting millions of people after the war.

What was the Iron Curtain?

A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the division between Western democracies and Eastern communist countries.

Yalta Conference

1945 strategy meeting between Roosevelt (US), Churchill (British) and Stalin (Soviet Union) aimed to shape post war peace

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tensions between the US and the Soviet’s an their respective allies, characterized by proxy wars, ideological conflict, and an arms race, lasting from 1947 to 1991

U.N.

The founding of this in the fall of 1945 provided one hopeful sign for the future, helping to get countries to ally and help

UN General Assembly Vs UN Security council

Was created to provide representation to all member nations, while the 15-member Security council was given the primary responsibility within the U.N. for maintaining international security and authorizing peacekeeping missions

IMF

Focused on global financial stability and economic growth

World Bank

Aimed to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development in developing countries through financial, policy advice, and technical assistance

Nuremberg Trials

22 top Nazi leaders for war crimes and violations of man rights

Satellite Nations

Nations by communist countries (Soviets) such as Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia that needed protection against another Hitler-like invasion from the West

What did the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) do?

Investigated and accused individuals of being communists, leading to blacklisting in many industries.

Rosenbergs/Alger Hiss

US government official accused of being a communist spy and convicted of perjury

What was NSC-68?

A top-secret U.S. government report that outlined a strategy for combating Soviet threats, advocating for a massive military buildup.

What sparked the Korean War?

The invasion of South Korea by North Korea on June 25, 1950, following the division of Korea after WWII.

How did the Truman administration respond to the growing fear of communism in the U.S.?

By establishing the Loyalty Review Board to investigate potential communist affiliations among federal employees.

What was the outcome of the Yalta Conference?

A meeting between the leaders of the U.S., U.K., and the USSR to discuss post-war reorganization, which laid the groundwork for future tensions.

What role did the IMF and World Bank play in the postwar economy?

The IMF focused on global financial stability, while the World Bank aimed to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.

What was the significance of the Fair Deal proposed by Truman?

An ambitious reform program aimed at expanding social welfare and civil rights, though it faced significant opposition.

How did the post-WWII American economy change?

It transitioned from a wartime economy to a prosperous consumer-driven economy, with increased incomes and living standards.

How did the US change ideologically after the war?

WWII dramatically changed the US from an isolationist country into a military superpower and a leader in world affairs

How did the US change socially after the war?

Most of the Americans at home and the millions coming back from the military service returned to normal domestic life and enjoy the revitalized national economy

T or F? During Trumans presidency, the growing conflict between the communist Soviet Union and the US-a conflict that came to be known as the Cold War—dampened the nations enjoyment of the postwar boom

T

What challenged did millions of American soldiers face after coming back to Civilian life?

Many feared that the end of the war might mean the return of economic hard times (even though the war year increased the per-capita income of Americans)

Which applied to this era

A. American economy grew rapidly

B. The middle class expanded

C. Americans accounted to 40% of the planets wealth