APUSH Period 8 Vocabulary

Flashcards on APUSH Period 8.

Period 8 (1945-1980)

Marks a period of heavy American involvement in global affairs, especially in regards to Communism. It also marks a period of heavy participation in American politics by the young generation of Americans who protested against racism, poverty, and inequality.

Cold War

Began at the end of WWII when the differences in American and Soviet ideologies became clearer. Involved the Soviet takeover of Eastern European nations and rising tensions.

Truman Doctrine

An attempt to contain Soviet expansion into Europe, stating the US would help nations resist subjugation by outside groups, focusing on defense rather than attack.

The Marshall Plan

US loans money toward European nations to help them rebuild and gain enough strength to resist Communist takeover.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Alliance between America, Canada, and a number of European nations, marking a departure from America's historical avoidance of permanent alliances.

The Berlin Blockade and the Berlin Wall

Events noting rising tensions between America’s democratic views and the Soviet’s communist ideologies that occurred in Germany.

Joseph McCarthy

Rode the wave of fear during the Red Scare, claiming he had a list of Communists working for the government and destroying the careers of multiple innocent people by falsely accusing federal officials.

President’s Committee on Civil Rights

Started to promote desegregation and anti-lynching laws, advancing black civil rights but also leading to Truman’s unpopularity within his own Democratic party.

The Korean War

Soviet-backed North Korea invades US-backed South Korea, and Truman supports the South’s invasion to try and reunify Korea.

Interstate Highway System

Built to help quickly transport troops, but also ended up promoting tourism

Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka

Supreme Court case that overturned the separate but equal case from Period 6

The Arms Race

Eisenhower followed a method of massive retaliation, in which the threat of mass destruction prevented both the Soviets and the Americans from attacking first.

Eisenhower's Farewell Statement

Warned that the implied alliance between America’s military might and America’s profiting businesses (that profit off of the Cold War) may later create a powerful relationship that would go against the public’s opinion (take away citizen’s freedom)

Cuban Missile Crisis

Spy planes detect Soviet missiles being built in Cuba, inflaming tensions between the nations.

Peace Corps

American group that helped Third World countries with infrastructure, agriculture, and health

Equal Pay Act

Act that gave men and women equal pay in equal jobs

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Banned discrimination on the basis of skin color, gender, or religious practice.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Enforced the 15th Amendment in states that barred blacks from voting

Economic Opportunity Act

Set aside federal funds for poverty relief

Job Corps

trained individuals so that they could be employed in better jobs

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Helped those with low- income that rented apartments

The Great Society

The term for Johnson’s cumulative sweeping changes across government and society

The New Left

Groups of progressive individuals on college campuses who aimed to end poverty, racism, and American involvement in the Cold War

Stonewall Riots

Beginnings of the gay-rights movement

Counterculture

The growth of “hippies” who went against customs and standard culture by growing their hair long and wearing counter-fashion

Détente

Nixon’s peaceful approach in which the Soviet Union and the US would cooperate with each other and respect each other’s differences

Nixon Doctrine

US would reduce troops overseas and check the spread of communism through alliances rather than military might.

Pentagon Papers

Revealed all government dealings with the Vietnam war, including all the disgraceful involvements and lies told to the public