cold war and post war vocab

Post War America & Cold War Vocabulary
Term Definition Significance
1957 The yeaPage

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Post War America & Cold War Vocabulary

Term

Definition

Significance

1957

The year the Soviets launched the

first man-made satellite, Sputnik.

Artificial Satellites

A man-made object launched into

orbit around Earth.

Space Race

A Cold War competition between the

United States and the Soviet Union to

achieve significant milestones in

space exploration & technology.

Started in the late 1950s with the

launching of the Soviet satellite

Sputnik

and ended with the US

Apollo

11

mission.

Office of War Information

(OWI)

A US government agency founded in

1942. Its purpose was to manage and

release war information, both

domestically and internationally.

McCarthyism

This is the name for the investigations

led by a Senator based on

accusations of suspected

communists. Some compare this to

the Salem Witch Trials.

House Un-American Activities

Committee (HUAC)

This was created to investigate

communist influence in the movie

industry.

Communist

An economic ideology that advocates

for a classless society in which all

property and wealth are communally

owned (or owned by the

government), instead of being owned

by individuals.

Political Stability

A situation characterized by the

preservation of an intact and

smoothly functioning government or

political system, avoiding significant

disruptions or changes over a period

of time.

Sputnik

Russian satellite that successfully

orbited the earth in 1957, prompting

Americans to question their own

values and educational system.

Red Scare

The heightened fear and paranoia of

communist influence following the

end of WWII during the late 1940s

and 1950s. This period is

characterized by suspicions of

communist infiltration into American

institutions, leading to investigations,

blacklists, and McCarthy hearings.

“In God We Trust”

Established in 1955, the official motto

of the United States and was widely

used in government and politics.

“E Pluribus Unum”

Latin phrase that means “Out of

Many, One”. It is the motto of the

United States.

Arms Race

A competition between nations for

power through the creation and

buildup of weapons, especially

nuclear weapons, between the United

States and the Soviet Union during

the Cold War.

Containment

This policy was used by Americans to

prevent Communism from spreading.

Blockade City

A city that is used as a military or

economic strategy where the

movement of goods and/or people

into or out of the city is restricted or

cut off.

Example - Post WWII City of Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis

An attempt by the Soviet Union in

1962 to place nuclear missiles in

Cuba directed toward the United

States - This event is considered the

high point of nuclear tensions

between the U.S. and the Soviet

Union.

East-West Conflict

East Germany - the Soviet zone of

Germany created after it was divided

by the allied powers

following World War II

West Germany - the American,

French, and British zones of

Germany created after it was

divided by the allied powers after

World War II.

Marshall Plan

In 1948 this plan extended efforts to

prevent communist takeovers by

providing economic aid to war torn

countries in Europe.

Iron Curtain

An imaginary barrier separating the

Soviet Union and its communist

satellite states from Western Europe

during the Cold War.

38th Parallel

The dividing line between Communist

North Korea and Democratic South

Korea.

North Korea

Formally known as the Democratic

People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK,

it was founded in 1948 when the

United States and the Soviet Union

divided control of the peninsula after

World War II.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one nation fell to

communism, neighboring nations

would also fall.

United Nations

A fifty-nation organization intended to

create lasting world peace.

Berlin Wall

A guarded concrete wall, 28 miles

long, erected across the city of Berlin

by the German Democratic Republic

(East Germany) in 1961 and torn

down in 1989.

West Berlin

The democratic side of Berlin

following WW2.

Missile Sites

Places where missiles were stored

and launched.

Subversion

The act of overthrowing or

undermining a government system.

Berlin Airlift

The 15-month operation in which the

US and British planes flew food and

supplies into a blockaded city in

1948.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed attempt by the United States

and Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel

Castro's government in Cuba in 1961.

Korean War

Conflict between the Democratic

People's Republic of Korea (North

Korea) and the Republic of Korea

(South Korea).

Truman Doctrine

In 1947 this policy was passed to

assist nations in preventing

communist takeovers. It initially

focused on Greece and Turkey and

later opened to all.

North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO)

This democratic organization of

countries created in 1949 aligned

themselves together for protection

from a communist attack.

South Korea

The Republic of Korea (ROK), a

democratic state established in 1948

with the support of the United States.

Warsaw Pact

The military alliance between the

Soviet Union and its eastern

European satellites.

Soviet Union

After WWII, this was a communist

state led by Joseph Stalin. It was one

of two of the leading world

superpowers alongside the United

States, making the beginning of the

Cold War - a period of ideological and

geopolitical rivalry. Will become

Russia in 1991.

Prosperity

The state of being successful,

especially in terms of economic

growth and well-being.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of cultural elements from

one group to another.

Beat Generation

A literary movement started by a

group of authors/poets whose work

explored and influenced American

culture and politics in the post-World

War II era. They rejected the societal

norms of the 1940s, 1950s, and

1960s.

Suburbs

These residential communities were

sought out by many city residents

because they wanted to escape their

crowded neighborhoods and find

lower cost of land and housing

following the end of WWII - Led to a

Housing Boom.

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act

of 1944

(G.I. Bill)

Signed by FDR in 1944, the GI Bill

provided World War II veterans with

funds for college education,

unemployment insurance, and

housing.

Gross Domestic Product

The total value of goods produced

and services provided in a country

during one year.

Levittown

First created in Long Island, New

York - pre-planned, mass-produced

uniform suburban community.

Interstate Highway System

A vast network of roads built to

facilitate quick travel between

different regions of the US, with a

focus on safety and speed.

Developed in 1956.

Baby Boom

Families that had waited to have

children (depression & WWII) no

longer waited and the US

experienced unexpected and

unprecedented population growth.

Rock & Roll

A genre of popular music developed

in the 1950s which has a strong beat

and is played on electrical

instruments.

Nikita Khrushchev

The leader of the Soviet Union

following Stalin ruling from 1953-

1964. He favored a peaceful co-

existence with the west.

Jonas Salk

Creator of the Polio Vaccine -

Refused to make a large profit by not

patenting the vaccine.

Harry Truman

First President during the Cold War

who initiated a policy of containment.

John F. Kennedy

(1960 - 1963)

35th President. Created the "Flexible

Response" strategy that meant a

variety of military options dependent

on the situation (not just nuclear).

Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

This couple was executed for

conspiracy to commit espionage

under the U.S. Espionage Act of

1917. As members of the communist

party, they were convicted of passing

secret information about the atomic

bomb to the Soviet Union in 1945.

Joseph McCarthy

US Senator in the 1950s known for

leading campaigns against alleged

communist infiltration in the US

government. His tactics were later

discredited, and he was censored by

the Senate in 1954 - also referred to

as McCarthyism.

r the Soviets launched the
first man-made satellite, Sputnik.
Artificial Satellites A man-made object launched into
orbit around Earth.
Space Race A Cold War competition between the
United States and the Soviet Union to
achieve significant milestones in
space exploration & technology.
Started in the late 1950s with the
launching of the Soviet satellite
Sputnik and ended with the US Apollo
11 mission.
Office of War Information
(OWI)
A US government agency founded in
1942. Its purpose was to manage and
release war information, both
domestically and internationally.
McCarthyism This is the name for the investigations
led by a Senator based on
accusations of suspected
communists. Some compare this to
the Salem Witch Trials.
House Un-American Activities
Committee (HUAC)
This was created to investigate
communist influence in the movie
industry.
Communist An economic ideology that advocates
for a classless society in which all
property and wealth are communally
owned (or owned by the
government), instead of being owned
by individuals.
Political Stability A situation characterized by the
preservation of an intact and
smoothly functioning government or
political system, avoiding significant
disruptions or changes over a period
of time.
Sputnik Russian satellite that successfully
orbited the earth in 1957, prompting
Americans to question their own
values and educational system.
Red Scare The heightened fear and paranoia of
communist influence following the
end of WWII during the late 1940s
and 1950s. This period is

characterized by suspicions of
communist infiltration into American
institutions, leading to investigations,
blacklists, and McCarthy hearings.
“In God We Trust” Established in 1955, the official motto
of the United States and was widely
used in government and politics.
“E Pluribus Unum” Latin phrase that means “Out of
Many, One”. It is the motto of the
United States.
Arms Race A competition between nations for
power through the creation and
buildup of weapons, especially
nuclear weapons, between the United
States and the Soviet Union during
the Cold War.
Containment This policy was used by Americans to
prevent Communism from spreading.
Blockade City A city that is used as a military or
economic strategy where the
movement of goods and/or people
into or out of the city is restricted or
cut off.
Example - Post WWII City of Berlin.
Cuban Missile Crisis An attempt by the Soviet Union in
1962 to place nuclear missiles in
Cuba directed toward the United
States - This event is considered the
high point of nuclear tensions
between the U.S. and the Soviet
Union.
East-West Conflict East Germany - the Soviet zone of
Germany created after it was divided
by the allied powers
following World War II
West Germany - the American,
French, and British zones of
Germany created after it was
divided by the allied powers after
World War II.
Marshall Plan In 1948 this plan extended efforts to
prevent communist takeovers by
providing economic aid to war torn
countries in Europe.
Iron Curtain An imaginary barrier separating the
Soviet Union and its communist

satellite states from Western Europe
during the Cold War.
38th Parallel The dividing line between Communist
North Korea and Democratic South
Korea.
North Korea Formally known as the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK,
it was founded in 1948 when the
United States and the Soviet Union
divided control of the peninsula after
World War II.
Domino Theory Belief that if one nation fell to
communism, neighboring nations
would also fall.
United Nations A fifty-nation organization intended to
create lasting world peace.
Berlin Wall A guarded concrete wall, 28 miles
long, erected across the city of Berlin
by the German Democratic Republic
(East Germany) in 1961 and torn
down in 1989.
West Berlin The democratic side of Berlin
following WW2.
Missile Sites Places where missiles were stored
and launched.
Subversion The act of overthrowing or
undermining a government system.
Berlin Airlift The 15-month operation in which the
US and British planes flew food and
supplies into a blockaded city in
1948.
Bay of Pigs Invasion A failed attempt by the United States
and Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel
Castro's government in Cuba in 1961.
Korean War Conflict between the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (North
Korea) and the Republic of Korea
(South Korea).
Truman Doctrine In 1947 this policy was passed to
assist nations in preventing
communist takeovers. It initially
focused on Greece and Turkey and
later opened to all.
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO)
This democratic organization of
countries created in 1949 aligned
themselves together for protection
from a communist attack.

South Korea The Republic of Korea (ROK), a
democratic state established in 1948
with the support of the United States.
Warsaw Pact The military alliance between the
Soviet Union and its eastern
European satellites.
Soviet Union After WWII, this was a communist
state led by Joseph Stalin. It was one
of two of the leading world
superpowers alongside the United
States, making the beginning of the
Cold War - a period of ideological and
geopolitical rivalry. Will become
Russia in 1991.
Prosperity The state of being successful,
especially in terms of economic
growth and well-being.
Cultural Diffusion The spread of cultural elements from
one group to another.
Beat Generation A literary movement started by a
group of authors/poets whose work
explored and influenced American
culture and politics in the post-World
War II era. They rejected the societal
norms of the 1940s, 1950s, and
1960s.
Suburbs These residential communities were
sought out by many city residents
because they wanted to escape their
crowded neighborhoods and find
lower cost of land and housing
following the end of WWII - Led to a
Housing Boom.
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act
of 1944
(G.I. Bill)
Signed by FDR in 1944, the GI Bill
provided World War II veterans with
funds for college education,
unemployment insurance, and
housing.
Gross Domestic Product The total value of goods produced
and services provided in a country
during one year.
Levittown First created in Long Island, New
York - pre-planned, mass-produced
uniform suburban community.
Interstate Highway System A vast network of roads built to
facilitate quick travel between
different regions of the US, with a
focus on safety and speed.
Developed in 1956.

Baby Boom Families that had waited to have
children (depression & WWII) no
longer waited and the US
experienced unexpected and
unprecedented population growth.
Rock & Roll A genre of popular music developed
in the 1950s which has a strong beat
and is played on electrical
instruments.
Nikita Khrushchev The leader of the Soviet Union
following Stalin ruling from 1953-
1964. He favored a peaceful co-
existence with the west.
Jonas Salk Creator of the Polio Vaccine -
Refused to make a large profit by not
patenting the vaccine.
Harry Truman First President during the Cold War
who initiated a policy of containment.
John F. Kennedy
(1960 - 1963)
35th President. Created the "Flexible
Response" strategy that meant a
variety of military options dependent
on the situation (not just nuclear).
Julius & Ethel Rosenberg This couple was executed for
conspiracy to commit espionage
under the U.S. Espionage Act of
1917. As members of the communist
party, they were convicted of passing
secret information about the atomic
bomb to the Soviet Union in 1945.
Joseph McCarthy US Senator in the 1950s known for
leading campaigns against alleged
communist infiltration in the US
government. His tactics were later
discredited, and he was censored by
the Senate in 1954 - also referred toPost War America & Cold War Vocabulary
Term Definition Significance
1957 The year the Soviets launched the
first man-made satellite, Sputnik.
Artificial Satellites A man-made object launched into
orbit around Earth.
Space Race A Cold War competition between the
United States and the Soviet Union to
achieve significant milestones in
space exploration & technology.
Started in the late 1950s with the
launching of the Soviet satellite
Sputnik and ended with the US Apollo
11 mission.
Office of War Information
(OWI)
A US government agency founded in
1942. Its purpose was to manage and
release war information, both
domestically and internationally.
McCarthyism This is the name for the investigations
led by a Senator based on
accusations of suspected
communists. Some compare this to
the Salem Witch Trials.
House Un-American Activities
Committee (HUAC)
This was created to investigate
communist influence in the movie
industry.
Communist An economic ideology that advocates
for a classless society in which all
property and wealth are communally
owned (or owned by the
government), instead of being owned
by individuals.
Political Stability A situation characterized by the
preservation of an intact and
smoothly functioning government or
political system, avoiding significant
disruptions or changes over a period
of time.
Sputnik Russian satellite that successfully
orbited the earth in 1957, prompting
Americans to question their own
values and educational system.
Red Scare The heightened fear and paranoia of
communist influence following the
end of WWII during the late 1940s
and 1950s. This period is

characterized by suspicions of
communist infiltration into American
institutions, leading to investigations,
blacklists, and McCarthy hearings.
“In God We Trust” Established in 1955, the official motto
of the United States and was widely
used in government and politics.
“E Pluribus Unum” Latin phrase that means “Out of
Many, One”. It is the motto of the
United States.
Arms Race A competition between nations for
power through the creation and
buildup of weapons, especially
nuclear weapons, between the United
States and the Soviet Union during
the Cold War.
Containment This policy was used by Americans to
prevent Communism from spreading.
Blockade City A city that is used as a military or
economic strategy where the
movement of goods and/or people
into or out of the city is restricted or
cut off.
Example - Post WWII City of Berlin.
Cuban Missile Crisis An attempt by the Soviet Union in
1962 to place nuclear missiles in
Cuba directed toward the United
States - This event is considered the
high point of nuclear tensions
between the U.S. and the Soviet
Union.
East-West Conflict East Germany - the Soviet zone of
Germany created after it was divided
by the allied powers
following World War II
West Germany - the American,
French, and British zones of
Germany created after it was
divided by the allied powers after
World War II.
Marshall Plan In 1948 this plan extended efforts to
prevent communist takeovers by
providing economic aid to war torn
countries in Europe.
Iron Curtain An imaginary barrier separating the
Soviet Union and its communist

satellite states from Western Europe
during the Cold War.
38th Parallel The dividing line between Communist
North Korea and Democratic South
Korea.
North Korea Formally known as the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK,
it was founded in 1948 when the
United States and the Soviet Union
divided control of the peninsula after
World War II.
Domino Theory Belief that if one nation fell to
communism, neighboring nations
would also fall.
United Nations A fifty-nation organization intended to
create lasting world peace.
Berlin Wall A guarded concrete wall, 28 miles
long, erected across the city of Berlin
by the German Democratic Republic
(East Germany) in 1961 and torn
down in 1989.
West Berlin The democratic side of Berlin
following WW2.
Missile Sites Places where missiles were stored
and launched.
Subversion The act of overthrowing or
undermining a government system.
Berlin Airlift The 15-month operation in which the
US and British planes flew food and
supplies into a blockaded city in
1948.
Bay of Pigs Invasion A failed attempt by the United States
and Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel
Castro's government in Cuba in 1961.
Korean War Conflict between the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (North
Korea) and the Republic of Korea
(South Korea).
Truman Doctrine In 1947 this policy was passed to
assist nations in preventing
communist takeovers. It initially
focused on Greece and Turkey and
later opened to all.
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO)
This democratic organization of
countries created in 1949 aligned
themselves together for protection
from a communist attack.

South Korea The Republic of Korea (ROK), a
democratic state established in 1948
with the support of the United States.
Warsaw Pact The military alliance between the
Soviet Union and its eastern
European satellites.
Soviet Union After WWII, this was a communist
state led by Joseph Stalin. It was one
of two of the leading world
superpowers alongside the United
States, making the beginning of the
Cold War - a period of ideological and
geopolitical rivalry. Will become
Russia in 1991.
Prosperity The state of being successful,
especially in terms of economic
growth and well-being.
Cultural Diffusion The spread of cultural elements from
one group to another.
Beat Generation A literary movement started by a
group of authors/poets whose work
explored and influenced American
culture and politics in the post-World
War II era. They rejected the societal
norms of the 1940s, 1950s, and
1960s.
Suburbs These residential communities were
sought out by many city residents
because they wanted to escape their
crowded neighborhoods and find
lower cost of land and housing
following the end of WWII - Led to a
Housing Boom.
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act
of 1944
(G.I. Bill)
Signed by FDR in 1944, the GI Bill
provided World War II veterans with
funds for college education,
unemployment insurance, and
housing.
Gross Domestic Product The total value of goods produced
and services provided in a country
during one year.
Levittown First created in Long Island, New
York - pre-planned, mass-produced
uniform suburban community.
Interstate Highway System A vast network of roads built to
facilitate quick travel between
different regions of the US, with a
focus on safety and speed.
Developed in 1956.

Baby Boom Families that had waited to have
children (depression & WWII) no
longer waited and the US
experienced unexpected and
unprecedented population growth.
Rock & Roll A genre of popular music developed
in the 1950s which has a strong beat
and is played on electrical
instruments.
Nikita Khrushchev The leader of the Soviet Union
following Stalin ruling from 1953-
1964. He favored a peaceful co-
existence with the west.
Jonas Salk Creator of the Polio Vaccine -
Refused to make a large profit by not
patenting the vaccine.
Harry Truman First President during the Cold War
who initiated a policy of containment.
John F. Kennedy
(1960 - 1963)
35th President. Created the "Flexible
Response" strategy that meant a
variety of military options dependent
on the situation (not just nuclear).
Julius & Ethel Rosenberg This couple was executed for
conspiracy to commit espionage
under the U.S. Espionage Act of
1917. As members of the communist
party, they were convicted of passing
secret information about the atomic
bomb to the Soviet Union in 1945.
Joseph McCarthy US Senator in the 1950s known for
leading campaigns against alleged
communist infiltration in the US
government. His tactics were later
discredited, and he was censored by
the Senate in 1954 - also referred to
as McCarthyism.