Untitled Flashcards Set

The Cold War

A geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991, characterized by ideological, military, and economic competition.

Containment

A U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism, first outlined by George Kennan in the Long Telegram.

The Long Telegram

A 1946 communication by U.S. diplomat George Kennan outlining the Soviet Union’s expansionist policies and advocating for the containment of communism.

The Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 that referred to the division of Europe between the democratic West and communist East.

Truman Doctrine

A policy announced by President Harry Truman in 1947, promising U.S. aid to countries resisting communism, first applied to Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative that provided over $13 billion to rebuild Western European economies after WWII, aiming to prevent the spread of communism.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, formed in 1949 as a military alliance against Soviet expansion, including the U.S., Canada, and several Western European nations.

NSC-68

A 1950 National Security Council report recommending massive U.S. military expansion to contain communism.

Korean War

A conflict (1950–1953) between communist North Korea and U.S.-backed South Korea, ending in an armistice and the division of Korea.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general in charge of UN forces during the Korean War, known for leading the successful Inchon Landing.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. senator known for leading anti-communist investigations in the 1950s, causing mass hysteria without substantial evidence.

Fair Deal

President Truman’s plan to expand New Deal reforms, which faced significant opposition in Congress.

Dixiecrats

A pro-segregation faction that split from the Democratic Party in 1948, opposing Truman’s civil rights policies.

McCarthyism

The aggressive anti-communist investigations in the 1950s that led to widespread fear and blacklisting.

Hollywood Ten

A group of film industry professionals accused of communism who refused to testify before HUAC, leading to their blacklisting.

Army-McCarthy Hearings

The televised hearings in 1954 investigating McCarthy’s claims of communist infiltration in the U.S. Army, leading to his censure.