Unit 8 DE US History Vocab

Cold War- a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting from 1947 to 1991.

United Nations- an international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

World Bank- an international financial institution and a key player in global development, providing loans, grants, and technical assistance to developing countries to reduce poverty and boost prosperity.

Iron Curtain- a political, ideological, and military barrier that separated Western Europe from Eastern Europe, particularly the Soviet Union and its communist allies, during the Cold War

Cold War & U.S. Foreign Policy

• Containment Policy: The U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism by supporting countries resisting Soviet influence.

• Truman Doctrine: A 1947 policy declaring U.S. support for countries resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey.

• Marshall Plan: A U.S. program (1948–1951) providing over $15 billion in aid to Western Europe to rebuild after World War II.

• Berlin Airlift: A 1948–1949 operation where the U.S. and allies supplied West Berlin by air after the Soviet blockade.

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): A military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations to provide collective defense against aggression.

• Warsaw Pact: A 1955–1991 alliance of Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries, created in response to NATO.

• Eisenhower Doctrine: A 1957 policy stating U.S. economic and military support for Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.

• Domino Theory: The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: A 1964 law allowing the U.S. president to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

• Vietnamization: The process of transferring combat roles from U.S. troops to South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War.

• War Powers Act: A 1973 law limiting the president's ability to send U.S. troops into combat without congressional approval.

Space Race & Technology

• Sputnik: The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the Space Race.

• Military-Industrial Complex: The relationship between a country's military and the defense industry, which may influence public policy.

Civil Rights & Social Change

• Brown v. Board of Education: The 1954 Supreme Court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

• Civil Rights Movement: A 1950s–1960s movement aiming to end racial discrimination and gain equal rights for African Americans.

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: A law prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

• Voting Rights Act of 1965: A law eliminating voting barriers for African Americans, such as literacy tests.

• 24th Amendment: A 1964 amendment abolishing poll taxes in federal elections.

• March on Washington: A 1963 event where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech advocating for civil rights.

• National Organization for Women (NOW): A 1966 organization advocating for women's rights and equality.

• Equal Pay Act of 1963: A law requiring equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.

• Title IX: A 1972 law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

• Equal Rights Amendment: A proposed amendment aiming to ensure equal rights under the law, regardless of sex.

Postwar Society & Economy

• GI Bill: A 1944 law providing benefits to World War II veterans, including education and housing assistance.

• Baby Boom: A significant increase in birth rates from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.

• Levittown: Mass-produced suburban communities built after World War II, offering affordable housing.

• Sun Belt: A region in the southern U.S. experiencing population growth due to its warm climate and economic opportunities.

• 22nd Amendment: A 1951 amendment limiting U.S. presidents to two terms in office.

• Stagflation: An economic condition of high inflation combined with high unemployment.

• Great Society: A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s aiming to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

• Medicare & Medicaid: Government programs established in 1965 to provide healthcare for the elderly (Medicare) and low-income individuals (Medicaid).

• Immigration Act of 1965: A law eliminating national origin quotas, promoting more diverse immigration.

Cold War Conflicts & Events

• Bay of Pigs: A failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro.

• Berlin Wall: A barrier built in 1961 dividing East and West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War divide.

• Cuban Missile Crisis: A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

• Detente: A period of eased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s.

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): A congressional committee investigating suspected communist activities in the U.S.

• McCarthyism: The practice of making unsubstantiated accusations of communism, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy.

• New Left: A political movement in the 1960s advocating for civil rights, anti-war policies, and social reforms.

• Counterculture: A movement in the 1960s