Cold War & the Americas – Political Developments in the U.S.

Vocabulary flashcards based on political developments related to the Cold War and the Americas.

Containment

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

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. during the early Cold War, characterized by widespread paranoia and accusations.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe post-WWII to promote economic stability and prevent communism.

Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division between Western democracies and Eastern communist countries.

Brinkmanship

The practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the limits of safety, especially in politics or diplomatic negotiations.

Act of Chapultepec

A 1945 agreement that established principles of regional solidarity among American nations.

NSC-68

A key policy document that outlined a significant increase in U.S. defense spending during the Cold War.

Eisenhower Doctrine

A policy declaring that the U.S. would provide military and economic assistance to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.

SEATO

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, formed in 1954 to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

Long Telegram

A 1946 cable sent by George Kennan that articulated the strategy of containment against the Soviet Union.