Key Events and Policies from World War II to the 1990s

Allied Powers

United Kingdom, America, Soviet Union

Axis Powers

Germany, Italy, Japan

Appeasement

Giving into a country through negotiation to prevent war and keep peace. Countries gave in to Hitler, causing war.

The invasion of which country led to the beginning of WW2

Poland.

Blitzkrieg

German military strategy using surprise attacks and bombing planes.

Island Hopping

Strategy capturing Japanese islands to get closer to mainland Japan.

Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Alliance between Germany and Soviet Union promising not to attack each other and divide up Poland.

Battle of Normandy

liberated france

Battle of Stalingrad

Germany surrendered because of starving and freezing conditions, turning point of Western front war, Germany defeat.

Battle of the Bulge

Largest and bloodiest single battle fought by US in WW2, 2nd deadliest in US history, last offensive to defeat US and Britain forces.

Battle of Midway

Turning point of war in Pacific theatre.

Battle of Iwo Jima

US bombers are in range of the Japanese mainland.

Battle of Okinawa

Only step left for US is the invasion of Japan mainland.

Atomic Bomb Droppings

US dropped atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in hopes for Japan to surrender to end the war.

American Foreign Policy after WW2

Committed to stopping the spread of communism overseas, seen as a superpower country.

Truman Doctrine

US would provide money and whatever necessary to prevent spread of communism.

Korean War

War between communist North Korea and anti-communist South Korea.

Marshall Plan

Designed to rebuild Europe.

Berlin Airlift

US and Great Britain supported West Berlin with essentials by air.

Iron Curtain

A metaphorical term describing the division of Western Europe and Soviet Union after WW2 by Winston Churchill.

Arms Race

A tense competition between Soviet Union and US of building a bigger military force.

Berlin Wall purpose

Stop the flow of refugees to West Berlin.

Containment Policy

Keep communism within its existing boundaries and prevent Soviet Union's aggressive moves.

Domino Theory

Concept that if one country falls to communism, surrounding countries will fall as well.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A US attempt to overthrow Cuban communist government with Cuban exiles, failed attempt.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles into Cuba, when US found out tense conflict with Soviets, ended in agreement.

Baby Boom

Increase of babies being born globally after World War 2.

GI Bill

Federal program that provides education and training benefits to veterans active duty members, and their family.

Role of Women in the 1950's

Lost their jobs due to returning soldiers, expected to be the perfect housewife enforced by society and media.

Red Scare/Joseph McCarthy

Blamed government officials of being communists, failed to give any evidence causing paranoia, happened in the height of Americans being scared of communism or 'red'.

Plessy vs Ferguson

Court case that established 'separate but equal' standards for facilities.

Brown vs Board of Ed

Oliver Brown claimed that schools had different standards despite having to be 'separate but equal'. Court claimed separate but equal has no place in school.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Completely eliminated any type of segregation law forever, Jim Crow laws dead after 100 years.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Illegal to interfere in any way with one's ability to register to vote or cast a vote.

Little Rock Nine

Slowly implemented desegregation in Little Rock with president of the Arkansas branch of NAACP leading the change, he picked 9 African American students from a different school to move to Little Rock. Governor called the national guard to prevent the entry of AA students and students' own 'protection'. Eckford arrived late, met with a mob and spat on.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

A civil rights organization founded by MLK Jr. and other Black ministers. Used nonviolent direct action and protests to go against racial segregation and discrimination.

Montgomery Bus Boycotts

Boycott on the Montgomery buses, many participated. The goal was to not use the Montgomery buses because of an incident for 382 days, so they created a new transportation system.

Rosa Parks

Before Rosa Parks, many other African American women were arrested for bus segregation.

Freedom Summer

Voting registration drive organized by CORE and SNCC to help 1000 blacks register; 3 college students lynched by Mississippians (some KKK) (some victims were white).

Sit-ins

By Congress of Racial Equality to desegregate public areas, primarily Jack Spratt Coffee House in Chicago. African Americans sat down at segregated public places and stayed even if no service; 70,000 participated, many jailed.

Selma March

King started a protest march from Selma to Montgomery with armed troops following because black southerners still had voting issues.

March on Washington

More than 200,000 people came to fight for 'jobs and freedom'. The march included many well-known people who also performed. At this march, MLK Jr gave his I have a dream speech.

Freedom Rides

Black & white students rode buses throughout south to protest bus segregation, purposefully used wrong facilities, one bus was fire bombed in Alabama & other beaten in a mob, even white students severely beaten.

Martin Luther King

Christian (was a priest/pastor), civil rights & human rights focus, segregation and racial harmony.

Malcolm X

Muslim, focused on human rights, separatist, black nationalist.

Black Panthers

Founded by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton with former SNCC members, goal to police the police that patrolled black communities, protect blacks from police brutality -> militant organization, call for power.

Vietnam was a colony of which European country?

France.

Geneva Accords division for Vietnam

Vietnam was divided at the 27th parallel.

Leader of North Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Allowed the president to 'take all necessary measures' to protect Southeast Asian countries.

Style of fighting during Vietnam War

Guerilla warfare.

VietCong

The national liberation front that wanted to overthrow South Vietnamese government, but were in South Vietnam.

Controversial weapons used during the Vietnam War

Agent orange and napalm.

Ho Chi Minh trail

The name of the trail that brought troops and supplies into South Vietnam.

Tet Offensive

Coordinated attacks by North Vietnam, military defeat for communist but a psychological and political defeat for US.

Vietnamization

The plan to reduce U.S. troops and turn the War over to the South Vietnamese.

Kent State and Jackson State

Campus shootings because of students protesting against Vietnam War.

Vietnam after U.S. withdrawal

South Vietnam fell to communism.

Watergate

The name of the scandal that caused Nixon to resign from office.

Nixon was first president to visit these 2 countries

China and Soviet Union.

Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty

The name of the treaty to limit the arms race with the Soviet Union.

Ford became president

Was Nixon's vice, became president after Nixon resigned.

What action did Ford take towards Nixon that many people disapproved of?

Pardoned Nixon of crime connected to Watergate scandal

WIN campaign

Ford campaign, Whip Inflation Now, trying to combat inflation, failed

Carter's energy switch

Renewable energy

Camp David Accords

A historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt

Iran Hostage Crisis cause

Shah being in America for medical treatment and American 'support' for Shah

Iran Hostage Crisis results

Released after 444 days on the same day as Reagan's inauguration

Supply side economics

Concept that emphasizes role of production and supply in rising economic growth

Strategic Defense Initiative

Missile defense system

who did the U.S. Hockey Defeat in the Miracle on Ice game?

Soviet Union

Bush campaign promise

'No new taxes'

Persian Gulf War cause

Iraq invaded Kuwait

Hubble Space Telescope

Name of the telescope launched into space in 1990

End of the Cold War - reason

End of USSR and fall of berlin wall

L.A. Riots cause

LA police department officers charged with beating Rodney King

Waco, Texas event

Federal standoff with Branch Davidians and government 76 dead

World Trade Center event in 1990s

Bombing, truck bomb rollover killing 6 people

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Official policy on military service of homosexuals

NAFTA

Trade agreement made by Clinton with Mexico and Canada, North American Free Trade Agreement

Clinton impeachment trial results

Clinton remained in office