Key Historical Concepts and Events of the Cold War Era

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to significant events and movements during the Cold War era in American history.

Tet Offensive

A system of attacks by North Vietnam and the Vietcong on 27 cities in South Vietnam.

MLK Jr.

Major civil rights movement activist who was assassinated in Memphis TN.

Rachel Carson

Author of 'Silent Spring', a book that raised environmental awareness.

Vietnamization

The process of deescalation of US involvement in Vietnam.

The Pentagon Papers

Documents reported by the NY Times that revealed the US Government lied about their involvement in the Vietnam War.

Pardon

A free out of jail card given to someone who committed a crime, only granted by the president.

Stagflation

An economic scenario characterized by stagnant economic growth, high unemployment, and high inflation.

Détente

An easing of tensions between two opposing sides.

Storming of the US Embassy

An event where Iranian revolutionaries took 50 Americans hostage at the embassy.

Baby boom

The era right after WWII characterized by a boom in birth rate and population.

Cuban Missile Crisis

An event where the Soviet Union armed Cuba with nuclear weapons, significant due to its proximity to the USA.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A policy to expand the government’s role in desegregation, continued by LBJ after JFK’s assassination.

Great Society

A system of programs similar to the New Deal, aimed at combating poverty in the US.

Escalation

The LBJ military policy for communism, characterized by an increase in soldiers, bombs, and military presence.

Cold War

The term describing the overall conflict between the capitalist world (mainly the US) and the communist world (mainly the USSR).

Berlin

The capital of Germany, split into 4 zones after World War II despite being entirely surrounded by the Soviet Union.

NATO

An alliance of democratic governments led by the US.

Containment

US policy to keep communism within its current boundaries, promoted by diplomat George Kennan.

Serviceman’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill)

An act providing educational and economic assistance to veterans returning from WWII.

Senator Joe McCarthy

A staunch anti-communist in American politics known for accusing numerous individuals of being communist.

Sun Belt

An area in the South and West where many people migrated to.

Sputnik

The first satellite ever launched into space by the Soviets, which instilled fear in Americans.

Beatniks (Beat Movement)

A younger counterculture of the 1950s that opposed the conformity of the decade.

Hippies

A new youth culture that separated itself from mainstream culture.