Paeth APUSH Unit 8 (1945-1980)

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological, political, and military rivalry.

Yalta Conference

A February 194 5meeting between Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin to discuss post-World War II reorganization of Europe, leading to agreements on territorial boundaries and the establishment of the United Nations.

Harry Truman

The 33rd President of the United States, who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt and implemented significant policies such as Containment and the Marshall Plan during the early Cold War era.

Chiang Kai-shek

Leader of the Nationalist Government in China during the Civil War and who ultimately had to flee to Taiwan and set up a government there.

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Communists in China who secured victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Containment

A U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Iron Curtain

Term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the ideological and physical division between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc countries controlled by the Soviet Union.

Truman Doctrine

A policy announced by President Truman in 1947, pledging economic and military support to countries threatened by communist insurgencies, primarily in Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

U.S. initiative to provide economic assistance to Western European countries devastated by World War II, aimed at preventing the spread of communism and promoting post-war economic recovery.

National Security Act of 1947

Legislation that restructured the U.S. military and intelligence agencies, establishing the Department of Defense, the US Air Force, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Council (NSC).

Berlin Airlift

A massive flying operation conducted by the Western Allies to supply West Berlin with food and supplies after the Soviet Union blockaded the city in 1948.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Military alliance formed in 1949 between Western European nations and the United States, Canada, and other countries, aimed at collective defense against potential Soviet aggression.

NSC-68

A classified policy document produced by the National Security Council in 1950, advocating for a significant increase in U.S. military spending, nuclear development, and intervention to contain communist expansion.

GI Bill of Rights

Legislation passed in 1944 to provide benefits to World War II veterans, including financial assistance for education, housing, and business loans.

Taft-Hartley Act

Labor law passed in 1947 that restricted the power of labor unions and introduced regulations on union activities, including prohibiting secondary boycotts and restricting union political contributions, as well as allowing states to be ‘right to work’ states where union membership couldn’t be required for a job offer

Dixiecrats

Southern Democrats who broke away from the Democratic Party in 1948 in opposition to its support for civil rights and racial integration. They would continue until the late 1960s.

22nd Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1951, limiting U.S. presidents to two terms in office or a maximum of 10 years if they succeeded a President as their VP.

Korean War

Conflict fought between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by the United Nations and primarily the United States, from 1950 to 1953.

Douglas MacArthur

American general who commanded Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II and later led United Nations forces during the early stages of the Korean War before being relieved of command by President Truman.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

Congressional committee established to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by individuals and organizations suspected of having communist ties.

The Rosenbergs

A husband and wife duo, American citizens executed in 1953 after being convicted of espionage for passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

Joseph McCarthy/McCarthyism

U.S. senator known for his anti-communist crusade in the 1950s, characterized by unfounded accusations of communist infiltration in government, media, and academia.

Dwight Eisenhower

The 34th President of the United States and prior World War II general who implemented policies such as the Interstate Highway System and pursued a policy of containment during the Cold War.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates in the United States following World War II, lasting from approximately 1946 to 1964.

Sputnik

The first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the beginning of the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It sparked fear that the USSR could attack the US with ballistic missiles.

National Defense and Education Act

Legislation passed in 1958 to enhance scientific and technical education in response to the Soviet Union's technological advancements in space.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

U.S. government agency established in 1958 to coordinate space exploration and research activities.

Federal Highway Act of 1956

Legislation authorizing the construction of a vast network of interstate highways across the United States, facilitating travel and interstate commerce, as well as a stronger national defense.

Levittown

Suburban housing developments built after World War II around a few major cities, symbolizing the mass suburbanization of America.

Suburbs

Residential areas located outside of cities, experiencing rapid growth in the post-World War II period due to factors such as the availability of affordable housing, the GI Bill, and transportation infrastructure.

"Vast Wasteland"

Term used by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Newton Minow in 1961 to criticize the poor quality of television programming.

Beat Generation (Beatniks)

A literary movement of the 1950s characterized by unconventional lifestyles, experimental writing, and rejection of mainstream societal norms.

Elvis Presley

Influential American musician known as the "King of Rock and Roll," whose music and persona had a significant impact on popular culture in the 1950s and beyond. His hip shaking was considered controversial for the time.

The Other America

A book by Michael Harrington published in 1962, highlighting the persistence of poverty and inequality in the United States despite economic prosperity.

Brown v. Board of Education

Landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson.

Earl Warren

Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969, presiding over decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education and Miranda v. Arizona.

Thurgood Marshall

American lawyer and civil rights activist who successfully argued cases such as Brown v. Board of Education before becoming the first African American Supreme Court justice in 1967.

Little Rock Nine

Group of African American students who enrolled in an Arkansas High School in 1957, facing opposition and violence during the process of desegregation.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Civil rights protest in 1955-1956 sparked by Rosa Parks's refusal to give up her seat on public transportation, leading to a Supreme Court ruling declaring segregated buses unconstitutional.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Civil rights leader and Baptist minister known for his nonviolent activism, including his leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington.

Jackie Robinson

The first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era, breaking the sport's color barrier in 1947.

Modern Republicanism

Political philosophy advocated by Dwight D. Eisenhower, emphasizing fiscal conservatism, balanced budgets, and a limited role for the federal government. Compared to later Republicans, it was relatively moderate.

Massive Retaliation

Cold War military strategy adopted by the Eisenhower administration, threatening to respond to any aggression by the Soviet Union with overwhelming force, including nuclear weapons.

Brinksmanship

Cold War strategy of pushing dangerous situations to the edge of war to achieve diplomatic objectives, exemplified by the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Suez Crisis

International crisis in 1956 sparked by Egypt's nationalization of the a key waterway, leading to military intervention by Britain, France, and Israel, and eventual withdrawal under pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union.

OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)

International organization formed in 1960 by oil-producing nations to coordinate policies and stabilize oil prices.

Fidel Castro

Cuban revolutionary leader who overthrew the Batista regime in 1959 and established a communist government in Cuba.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader who succeeded Joseph Stalin and pursued a policy of de-Stalinization, as well as engaging in confrontations such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the building of the Berlin Wall.

U-2 Incident

1960 incident in which a U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory, leading to increased tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Military Industrial Complex

Term coined by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to describe the close relationship between the military, defense contractors, and government policymakers, potentially leading to undue influence on national policy.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States, known for his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis, advocacy for his New Frontier, and ambitious space exploration goals.

Flexible Response

Cold War military strategy advocated by President Kennedy, emphasizing a range of military options beyond nuclear weapons to counter communist aggression.

Alliance for Progress

U.S. foreign aid program launched by President Kennedy in 1961 to promote economic development and social reform in Latin America, as an alternative to communism.

Peace Corps

Volunteer program established by President Kennedy in 1961, sending Americans abroad to assist with social and economic development projects in developing countries.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Failed CIA-backed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles in 1961, aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro's government.

Berlin Wall

Barrier constructed by East Germany in 1961 to prevent defection from the eastern capitol to the western, symbolizing the division between East and West during the Cold War.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, bringing the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war.

Lyndon Johnson

The 36th President of the United States, who succeeded John F. Kennedy and implemented major domestic policies such as the Great Society and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Great Society

President Johnson's domestic agenda aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice, including programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the War on Poverty. It included over 200 pieces of legislation.

War on Poverty

Series of social welfare initiatives launched by President Johnson in the 1960s, aimed at reducing poverty and improving economic opportunity for disadvantaged Americans.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program established in 1965 to provide medical coverage for Americans aged 65 and older.

Medicaid

Federal and state-funded health insurance program established in 1965 to provide medical coverage for low-income individuals and families.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

Legislation providing federal funding to improve education in low-income areas and support disadvantaged students.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Civil rights organization founded in 1960 by young activists committed to nonviolent protest and direct action. Their focus was civil rights and they used sit-in’s as one method of protest.

Sit-Ins

Nonviolent protests in which demonstrators occupy a public space, typically a segregated establishment, to challenge racial segregation and discrimination.

James Meredith

African American civil rights activist known for his efforts to desegregate the University of Mississippi, leading to a violent confrontation in 1962.

March on Washington

Massive civil rights demonstration held in 1963, where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, advocating for racial equality and justice.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and outlawing segregation in public facilities and employment practices.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at overcoming barriers to voting for African Americans, particularly in the South, by eliminating discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes.

De facto segregation

Racial segregation that occurs as a result of societal norms and practices rather than explicit laws or policies.

De jure Segregation

Racial segregation that is mandated by law or government policy.

Affirmative Action

Policies and practices aimed at increasing opportunities for groups that have been historically disadvantaged or discriminated against, particularly in employment and education.

Black Power

Political and social movement emphasizing racial pride, self-determination, and empowerment among African Americans, advocating for political and economic equality.

Black Panthers

Revolutionary socialist organization founded in 1966, advocating for self-defense, community empowerment, and revolutionary change within the African American community.

Malcolm X

Influential African American leader and civil rights activist known for his advocacy of black nationalism, self-defense, and separatism before his assassination in 1965. He was a member of the Nation of Islam as well.

Vietnam

Southeast Asian country where the United States became involved in a prolonged and controversial conflict, ultimately ending in defeat for the South and withdrawal of American forces.

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who led the Viet Minh independence movement against French colonial rule and later against the United States during the Vietnam War.

Viet Cong

Communist guerrilla force in South Vietnam, supported by North Vietnam, that fought against the government of South Vietnam and its allies during the Vietnam War.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Congressional resolution passed in 1964, authorizing President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

Tet Offensive

Large-scale surprise attacks launched by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces against South Vietnamese and American targets during the Vietnamese new year holiday in 1968. It was a military victory for Americans, but a symbolic and psychological loss.

Credibility Gap

Growing public skepticism and distrust of the government's official statements and actions, particularly regarding the Vietnam War and other issues.

Robert F. Kennedy

Attorney General under his brother President John F. Kennedy, and later a U.S. Senator and presidential candidate, assassinated in 1968.

Richard Nixon

The 37th President of the United States, who pursued policies such as Vietnamization and détente, but resigned from office in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal.

Silent Majority

Term used by President Nixon to describe the moderate and conservative Americans who supported his policies, particularly regarding the Vietnam War.

New Left

Political movement emerging in the 1960s, characterized by opposition to both traditional liberalism and conservatism, and advocating for social justice, civil rights, and anti-war activism.

Students for a Democratic Society

Student organization founded in 1960, advocating for social and political change through nonviolent protest and civil disobedience. Their main focus was protesting the Vietnam war on college campuses, but later championed other issues.

Hippies / Counterculture

Subculture of young people in the 1960s, characterized by rejection of mainstream values, experimentation with drugs and alternative lifestyles, and advocacy for peace and love.

César Chávez

Labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers union and led nonviolent protests and boycotts to advocate for the rights of Latino and Latina migrant farmworkers.

Betty Friedan / The Feminine Mystique

Feminist writer and activist whose 1963 book critiqued traditional gender roles and sparked the second wave feminist movement.

National Organization for Women

Feminist organization founded in 1966 to advocate for women's rights, including equal pay, reproductive rights, and an end to gender discrimination.

Equal Rights Amendment

Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights under the law regardless of sex, which has failed to be ratified by enough states.

Title IX

Provision of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal funding.

Roe v. Wade

Landmark Supreme Court case in 1973 that legalized abortion nationwide, establishing a woman's right to choose abortion within certain limitations.

Rachel Carson / Silent Spring

Environmentalist and author whose 1962 book exposed the dangers of pesticides, leading to increased awareness of environmental issues and the modern environmental movement.

Environmental Protection Agency

Federal agency established in 1970 to protect human health and the environment by enforcing regulations and conducting research on pollution and other environmental hazards.

Henry Kissinger

American diplomat and National Security Advisor under Presidents Nixon and Ford, known for his role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era, including détente and negotiations in Vietnam and the Middle East.

Vietnamization

Strategy pursued by the Nixon administration to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam and shift responsibility for fighting the war to South Vietnamese forces.

Kent State Shooting

Tragic incident in 1970 where members of the Ohio National Guard fired on unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University, killing four and injuring nine others.

Pentagon Papers

Classified Department of Defense study leaked to the press in 1971, revealing the true extent of U.S. involvement in Vietnam and contributing to public disillusionment with the war.

My Lai Massacre

War crime committed by U.S. soldiers in 1968 during the Vietnam War, resulting in the killing of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, mostly women, children, and elderly.