Unit 5 KT

  1. Yalta Conference: A meeting with the Big Three Allied leaders meant to discuss post-war reorganization of Europe and the formation of the United Nations. It was important in shaping the post-war world but also contributed to the tensions of the Cold War

  2. Cold War: Tensions between the US and USSR. Both engaged in various forms of political, economic, and ideological competition without any military conflict.

  3. Bretton Woods Conference:  AKA United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference to establish financial order after WWII. Promoted international economic cooperation and stabilize exchange rates. Also created International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Monetary Fund (IMF)

  4. United Nations: International organization aimed to promote peace, security, social progress, and better living standards worldwide.

  5. Nuremberg Trials: Prosecuted Prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It established a precedent for international law and the prosecution of war crimes

  6. Berlin Airlift: Response to Berlin Blockade imposed by the USSR. Allies organized a massive airlift to supply West Berlin with necessities.

  7. “Iron curtain speech”: AKA “The Sinews of Peace”, delivered by Churchill 1946. It addresses the growing threat of Soviet communism and called for greater cooperation between US and GB to combat this to ensure stability post-war.

  8. Containment doctrine: Strategic foreign policy by US during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism. Shaped U.S. Foreign Policy throughout Cold War.

  9. George Kennan: Most known for contributing to the Containment Doctrine, aiming to support countries resisting communist influence and to rebuild Europe.

  10. Truman Doctrine: Truman’s foreign policy. Response to growing threat of Soviet communism. Requested support for Greece and Turkey, and further supported policy of containment.

  11. Marshall Plan: AKA European Recovery Program (ERP), U.S. sponsored initiative aimed to provide economic aid to Western Europe.

  12. Palestine: A part of a conflict with Israel. USSR supported Arab States (opposed Israel), and US supported Israel. Shaped regional politics and conflicts in Middle East.

  13. National Security Act: Aimed to reorganize US military and intelligence agencies after WWII. Created Sec. of Defense, National Security Council, and CIA.

  14. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Coordinated intelligence activities and operations

  15. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Response to the threat posed by the USSR after WWII to provide collective defense for member states.

  16. Mao Zedong: Chairman of Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Provided support to North Korea during Korean War

  17. National Security Council Memorandum Number 68 ( NSC-68): Secret policy paper presented to President Truman which discussed the threat of Soviets and development of atomic weapons, promotion of increase in US military to combat threat and increase military aid to allies, and reinforcing the strategy of containment.

  18. Korean War: War between North Korea (supported by China and USSR) and South Korea (supported by UN, primarily US). Demonstrated global struggle between communism and democracy.

  19. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): Forme to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on communist influences during the Cold War. Raised concerns about 1st amendment violations

  20. McCarthyism: AKA 2nd Red Scare. The period led to many people being blacklisted and losing their jobs due to unfounded accusations.

  21. Army-McCarthy hearings:  Series of televised hearings that investigated accusations between Senator Joseph McCarthy and the U.S. Army. It exposed McCarthy’s aggressive tactics

  22. Executive Order 9981: Order that mandated desegregation of the U.S. armed forces. Also established President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services.

  23. Taft-Hartley Act : AKA Labor Management Relations Act. Regulates the activites and powers of labor unions.

  24. Operation Dixie: campaign launched by the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in May 1946 to unionize industries in the Southern United States

  25. Employment Act of 1946: laid responsibility of economic stability, including managing inflation and unemployment, onto the federal government

  26. GI Bill: Servicemen’s readjustment act of 1944; designed to provide a range of benefits to World War II veterans to help them reintegrate into civilian life

  27. Dixiecrats:  AKA States' Rights Democratic Party. breakaway faction of the Democratic Party in response to President Harry S. Truman's civil rights initiatives, including the desegregation of the military

  28. Fair Deal: Aimed at expanding new deal reforms

  29. Sunbelt: Region in the United States that stretches across the Southeast and Southwest; became strategically important due to heavy federal investment in defense and aerospace industries. This led to significant economic growth, a population boom

  30. Levittown:  name given to several large suburban housing developments created by William J. Levitt and his company Levitt & Sons after World War II. promoted economic stability, cultural impact, and racial exclusion

  31. Baby boom: Significant increase in births in US following WWII