US II Honors Review Flashcards

Flashcards from US II Honors Lecture Notes

D-Day

The start of Operation 'Overlord' on 6 June 1944, where Allied forces launched a naval, air, and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. Opened up a second major front in Europe.

Second Front Controversy

Soviets wanted the U.S. to attack Germany from the west to divert German forces from the Eastern Front, but the U.S. was not enthusiastic. Stalin believed the Allies were stalling to weaken both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

Yalta Conference

Held in February 1945, the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom agreed to split Germany into four zones of occupation after the war.

Potsdam Conference

Held in Potsdam, Germany in 1945, the United States (Truman), Soviet Union (Stalin), and Britain (Churchill) met to finalize a post-war settlement and told Japan to surrender or be destroyed.

Einstein

Wrote a letter to President FDR alerting him that the Nazis were potentially building atomic bombs and recommended that the US should also.

Manhattan Project

The American-led effort to develop a functional atomic weapon, initiated in 1939 due to concerns about Nazi Germany developing nuclear weapons.

A-Bomb

Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, killing 129,000 to 226,000 people; designed and created through the Manhattan Project.

Truman

33rd President of the United States (1945-1953) who implemented policies to contain communism, increase U.S. influence, lay the foundation for U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, and provide military aid for Greece & Turkey through the Truman Doctrine.

Taft-Hartley Act

Passed by Republican Congress over President Truman's veto, restricted union activities, made unions liable for damages, and required union leaders to take a noncommunist oath slowing down the growth of organized labor.

Soviet Union

A communist state spanning much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991, with a highly centralized government and economy that controlled elections in Poland, Belarus, and other places.

Truman Doctrine

Truman’s policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology (1947), particularly helping Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

George Marshall's program of economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe in the postwar years ($12.5 billion to 16 European countries), leading to flourishing economies and reduced Communist influence.

Berlin Blockade

Soviets blockaded Berlin after being upset that the FAB were merging their occupation zones in Germany and introducing a new currency in an attempt to starve the allies. The US responded with the large Berlin airlift.

George Kennan (Soviet Sources of Conduct)

Authored "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" (the 'X article') in July 1947, which proposed a strategy of containment that became the basis of US foreign policy towards the Soviet Union.

Containment

U.S. Cold War strategy to prevent the spread of communism.

Brinkmanship

A strategy that pushes a country to the edge of disaster to achieve favorable outcomes; a Cold War strategy that determined defeat based on who backed down first.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance among western countries against the Soviet Union built to contain communism.

Fall of China

After WWII, the USSR spread into Asia and supports Mao Zedong, who takes over China making China a communist nation which demonstrated that communism & Soviet influence was spreading despite the containment efforts.

Military Industrial Complex

Eisenhower warned against the combined lobbying efforts of the armed services and industries contracted with the military leading to excessive congressional spending.

Realpolitik

A system of politics of principles based on practical consideration and national interests of moral or ideological principles

Civil Rights

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

Eisenhower Doctrine

US policy to provide military aid and defense to any Middle Eastern country threatened by communism.

Sputnik

The first artificial earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, igniting technological competition and leading to the creation of NASA.

Korean War–38th Parallel

The 38th parallel of latitude was chosen in 1945 by the US and USSR as a border for their military occupation of the Korean peninsula at the Potsdam conference

HUAC

Stands for House Un-American Activities Committee which was first led by Richard Nixon in an attempt to observe alleged communist influence within the United States.

McCarthyism

Term associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy-part of HUAC-who led the search for communists in America and became the face of the anti-communist crusade.

Election of 1960 (Kennedy vs. Nixon)

JFK a wealthy democratic senator from Massachusetts ran against Vice President Nixon a republican. Both candidates wanted to combat communism

Kennedy

JFK was the first Catholic and youngest president to ever hold office after succeeding Eisenhower. As the 35th president his administration brought forth the New Frontier

Alliance for Progress

In 1961 JFK initiated a program which aimed to help Latin American countries overcome poverty and foster social growth.

Peace Corps

An army of idealistic and youngful volunteers who assisted in social and economic development projects in developing countries.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed CIA operation to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist government in Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 confrontation between US and USSR over the placement of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Khrushchev

The soviet leader/president following Stalin who denounced Stalin. He also played a central role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

CIA

Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government.

Soviet satellite states

Countries that were placed under Soviet control at the end of WWII until 1991. Includes East Germany, Poland, Hungary, and other countries that aligned with the soviet ideals of communism during the Cold War

1950s Prosperity

In the 1950s, the US experienced a period of economic prosperity which was driven by increased industrial production, technological advancements, and government policies that stimulated economic growth.

Anti-communism

1950s were characterized by a strong anti-communist sentiment in the US.

Middle class

A social class made up of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and wealthy farmers. The 1950s saw the emergence of a strong, growing middle class as the economy grew.

Capitalism

An economic and political system characterized by private ownership of a country's trade and industry for profit.

Highways

Signed into law by President Eisenhower which aimed to improve transportation and facilitate movement of people and goods.

Suburbs

A residential district located on the outskirts of a city. Huge expansion to the suburbs during the 1950s as it offered affordable housing, better schools, and a perceived escape from the perceived social problems of urban areas.

Television

While TV was invented in the 1930s it became a dominant form of mass media and entertainment in the 1950s.

Betty Friedan

1921-2006, she started the feminist “second wave” of feminism through her book “The Feminine Mystique”.

Beatniks

A small group of artists and writers who were very critical of American society during the 1950-1960s who rejected social and cultural norms.

Counterculture

A culture with lifestyles and values opposed to those of the established culture.

Gender roles

Referred to the societal expectations and norms regarding the behaviors, roles, and responsibilities assigned to men and women.

Baby Boomers

The generation of individuals born between 1946 and 1964.

Brown v. Board

Supreme Court case in 1954 that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional

Little Rock 9

A group of African American students who were the first to enroll in Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas in 1957 whose enrollment was met with strong opposition.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Boycott that demanded racial segregation on buses after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, led by MLK.

King (nonviolence)

MLK was a prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement who advocated for nonviolent resistance.

De jure vs. de facto segregation

De Jure segregation exists by law while De facto segregation exists by practice and custom without being explicitly mandated by the law.

Urban Riots (Watts, Detroit, Newark)

Five days of violence that left 34 dead, 1,032 injured, and almost 4,000 arrested including millions of dollars worth of property destroyed

Black Power

A social movement that called for African American power and independence

Sit-in

Form of nonviolent protest that was commonly used during the Civil Rights Movement.

Freedom Riders

A group of civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated Southern United States in 1961 to challenge and protest segregated bus transportation.

Black Panthers

A black political organization officially known as the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense.

Jackie Robinson

The first African American player in Major League Baseball.

George Wallace

A four-time governor of Alabama and prominent segregationist who opposed racial integration

Orval Faubus

Governor of Arkansas during the Little Rock Crisis in 1957 who called out the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the integration of Little Rock Central High School.

March on Washington

Occurred on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C.. At the end of the march MLK made his historic “I have a dream speech” at the Lincoln memorial in front of over 200,000 marchers.

Civil Rights Act

1964; Banned discrimination in public facilities and place of employment.

Freedom Summer

Voter registration and education campaign that took place in Mississippi in 1964.

Selma March

The march occurred in Selma, Alabama in 1965 aiming to advocate for voting rights for African Americans.

Voting Rights Act

1965; A federal law that aimed to eliminate the racial discrimination in voting practice

Malcolm X

A prominent Civil Rights leader who advocated for black self-determination and complete separation.

Johnson (Great Society)

A set of domestic social programs and reforms launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s which aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Medicare/Medicaid

Medicare is medical aid to individuals over the age of 65 and Medicaid is medical aid for low-income or rather poor individuals and families.

War on Poverty

One of President Lyndon B. Johnson's federal initiatives in the 1960’s as a part of the Great Society programs.

Conservative backlash

A political and social reaction against the civil rights movement and the social changes of the 1960s.

Feminism

The social, political, and cultural movement that advocated for gender equality particularly the rights of women.

Vietnam Five presidencies during the war

(Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon) All 5 presidents oversaw the Vietnam War which ratcheted up in intensity as the years passed by

North–South Vietnam

Vietnam was divided into North and South with the USSR influencing the North and the US influencing the South.

Ngo Dinh Diem

Leader of South Vietnam from 1955 until his assassination in 1963

Geneva Convention

A series of four international treaties that were first adopted in 1949 that aimed to protect individuals who are not involved in hostilities

Viet Cong

A communist led army and guerrilla force in South Vietnam that was supported by North Vietnam and attempted to overthrow the South Vietnamese government.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident/Resolution

Occurred in 1964 when North Vietnamese patrol boats allegedly attacked U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf Tonkin.

Escalation

An incease or intensification in US millitary involvement under President Johson

Vietnamization

President Nixon's strategy for ending US involvement in the Vietnam War by transferring the responsibility from the US to the South Vietnamese government.

Guerilla warfare

Tactics employed by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.

Tet Offensive

A massive surprise attack by North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on South Vietnamese towns and cities in early 1968 during the Tet holiday (Lunar New Year in Vietnam).

Foreign policy

A government’s strategy and actions regarding its relations with other countries

Nixon

Richard Nixon was a republican and the 37th president of the US serving from 1969 to 1974.

“Silent majority”

A phrase coined by President Nixon to describe Americans who supported his policies but did not express their views as publicly as others.

Democratic Convention

Took place in 1968 in Chicago and became a focal point of the anti-war movement.

“Law and order”

A slogan used by Nixon during his presidential campaign in 1968 which appealed to Americans concerned about social unrest and protests.

My Lai Massacre

Occurred during the Vietnam War in March 1968 when American soldiers killed over 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai.

Draft

A law that required people of a certain age to serve in the military if they were needed.

Paris Peace Accords

A peace agreement between the US, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Vietcong in January of 1973 that effectively ended the Vietnam War.

Kent State

A shooting that took place on May 4, 1970 during an anti-war protest at Kent State University in Ohio where the guardmen opened fire on protesting students.

Watergate

Nixon’s committee for re-electing involved in a “dirty tricks” campaign against the democrats which included Watergate scandal.

Haldeman

H.R. Haldeman was Nixon’s chief of staff and was a key figure in the Watergate scandal.

Plumbers

A secret White House group formed by President Nixon’s administration to stop leaks to the media and intimidate political enemies.

Secret tape recordings

Between February 16, 1971 and July 18, 1973 Nixon secretly recorded roughly 3,700 hours of conversations and meetings that took place in the Oval Office or other locations throughout the White House.

Kissinger

Henry Kissinger was Nixon’s secretary of state and played a significant role in shaping American foreign policy, particularly with his policy of realpolitik.

Détente w/ Soviets

Détente refers to a period of relaxation and improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Recognition of China

In 1972, Nixon made a historic visit to China leading to the normalization of diplomatic relations between the US and People's Republic of China.

Ford–Carter–Reagan–Bush–Clinton–Bush Pardon

A release from a legal punishment where Nixon was pardoned by President Gerald Ford in 1974 just weeks after his resignation.

Carter-human rights focus

Jimmy Carter who served as president from 1977 to 1981 made an emphasis on human rights by making it a central element of US foreign policy.

Iran Hostage Crisis

Occurred from 1979 to 1981 when Iranian militants who supported the Iranian Revolution seized the US Embassy in Tehran taking 52 Americans hostage.