1960

Iron Curtain – A term coined by Winston Churchill referring to the division between Eastern (Soviet-controlled) and Western (democratic) Europe during the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine – A U.S. foreign policy initiative under President Harry Truman that aimed to contain the spread of communism by providing political, military, and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism (e.g., Greece and Turkey).

Marshall Plan – An American initiative to aid Western Europe in rebuilding after WWII by providing economic assistance to prevent the spread of communism.

Berlin Airlift – A military operation in 1948-1949 where the Allies supplied West Berlin with food and fuel via air after the Soviet Union blockaded the city.

Korean War – A war between North Korea (backed by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (backed by the U.S. and the UN) from 1950-1953, with the conflict eventually resulting in a stalemate and the establishment of the DMZ.

Douglas MacArthur – A U.S. general who played a key role in the Pacific Theater during WWII and led U.N. forces in the Korean War until he was dismissed by President Truman for insubordination.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) – A U.S. Congressional committee that investigated alleged communist influence in the U.S. government, entertainment industry, and other sectors during the Cold War.

Hollywood 10 – A group of film industry professionals who were blacklisted after refusing to testify before HUAC, citing their First Amendment rights.

Lavender Scare – A period of time in the 1950s when the U.S. government aggressively purged suspected homosexuals from government positions, fearing they were security risks or communists.

Alger Hiss – A former U.S. State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy and convicted of perjury in 1950.

Rosenbergs – Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American citizens convicted of espionage for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. They were executed in 1953.

McCarthyism – The practice of making unsupported accusations of communism in the 1950s, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy, who led investigations into alleged communist infiltration of the U.S. government.

Sputnik – The first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, sparking fears in the U.S. about Soviet technological superiority and leading to the Space Race.

Eisenhower Doctrine – A U.S. foreign policy statement under President Dwight Eisenhower that promised U.S. economic and military assistance to countries in the Middle East facing communist threats.

U-2 – A U.S. spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, leading to the U-2 incident, which worsened U.S.-Soviet relations.

1956 Hungary – A nationwide revolt against Soviet control in Hungary, which was crushed by Soviet forces, highlighting the power of the USSR in Eastern Europe.

1956 Poland – A period of unrest in Poland, where workers and intellectuals sought more freedom and reform, leading to a temporary thaw in Soviet control.

CIA activities in the '50s – The CIA was involved in covert operations to counter communist influence, including coups in Iran (1953) and Guatemala (1954), as well as psychological warfare.

Hydrogen bomb – A powerful thermonuclear weapon developed by the U.S. in 1952, marking a significant escalation in the arms race with the Soviet Union.

Brinkmanship – A foreign policy approach where the U.S. would push a dangerous situation to the edge of war (the brink) in order to achieve its goals, particularly during the Cold War.

Dixiecrats – A political faction in the U.S. that split from the Democratic Party in 1948 due to disagreement with the civil rights platform and supported segregation.

Levittown – The first mass-produced suburban community built by William Levitt in the late 1940s and 1950s, symbolizing post-WWII suburban growth and the rise of homeownership.

White flight/urban poor – The migration of white middle-class families to suburban areas, often leaving behind poorer, minority communities in urban centers.

Franchise – A business model where a company allows others to use its brand and sell its products or services, becoming widespread in the 1950s (e.g., McDonald’s).

Conglomerate – A large corporation made up of smaller companies in diverse industries, often formed in the 1950s as businesses sought to diversify and reduce risks.

Consumerism – The belief that personal happiness can be achieved through the purchase of goods and services. Post-WWII America saw a boom in consumer products and advertising.

Beatniks – A group of writers, artists, and intellectuals in the 1950s who rejected conventional society, advocating for personal freedom, and often associated with counterculture movements.

Duck and Cover – A civil defense tactic taught to children during the Cold War, instructing them to duck under desks and cover their heads in the event of a nuclear attack.

Warsaw Pact – A military alliance of communist countries in Eastern Europe, led by the Soviet Union, created in response to NATO in 1955.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – A military alliance formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries to counter Soviet expansion.

GI Bill – A law that provided WWII veterans with benefits like education, home loans, and unemployment insurance, helping many to achieve the American Dream.

Betty Friedan/Feminine Mystique – Betty Friedan’s 1963 book that challenged the traditional roles of women in society, sparking the second-wave feminist movement.

50s conformity – The social trend in 1950s America emphasizing uniformity in lifestyle, consumer habits, and values, especially in the suburban middle class.

Rock and roll – A genre of music that became popular in the 1950s, associated with youth rebellion and the emergence of new cultural and social attitudes.

Loyalty Review Boards – A series of investigations set up by the U.S. government to root out communist sympathizers, often targeting federal employees during the Cold War