APUSH Chapter 27 Study Guide

  • Harry Truman: The 33rd President of the United States who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt and implemented policies including the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.

  • Josef Stalin: The leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, known for his totalitarian regime and significant role in World War II and the Cold War.

  • Soviet Union: A socialist state that existed from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991, comprising multiple republics, with Moscow as its capital; key player in the Cold War.

  • Totalitarianism: A political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

  • Communism: An ideology advocating for a classless society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

  • Cold War: The period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

  • Iron Curtain: The term used to describe the division between the communist nations of Eastern Europe and the capitalist nations of Western Europe during the Cold War.

  • Containment Policy: A U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

  • George Kennan, “Long Telegram”: A 1946 telegram in which U.S. diplomat George Kennan outlined his views on the Soviet threat and proposed the policy of containment.

  • Truman Doctrine: A policy established in 1947 to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism, particularly Greece and Turkey.

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

  • Marshall Plan: An American initiative that provided extensive financial aid to Western European countries for post-war recovery starting in 1948.

  • West and East Germany: The division of Germany into West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (German Democratic Republic) from 1949 until reunification in 1990.

  • Berlin Airlift: A military operation in 1948-1949 in which the Allies supplied West Berlin by air, following the Soviet blockade.

  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): A military alliance established in 1949 between North American and European countries for mutual defense against aggression.

  • National Security Act of 1947: Legislation that reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence services, leading to the creation of the National Security Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The U.S. federal agency responsible for intelligence and counterintelligence activities worldwide.

  • Israel: A Middle Eastern country established in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people, leading to ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

  • GI Bill of Rights: A law passed in 1944 that provided various benefits to returning World War II veterans, including education and housing assistance.

  • Baby Boom: A significant increase in birth rates in the United States from 1946 to 1964, following World War II.

  • Taft-Hartley Labor Act: A 1947 federal law that restricted the activities and power of labor unions in the U.S.

  • Fair Deal: A set of proposals by President Truman aimed at expanding social welfare programs and civil rights after World War II.

  • Election of 1948: A surprising election in which President Harry Truman won re-election against Thomas E. Dewey, despite widespread predictions of his defeat.

  • Dixiecrats, Strom Thurmond: A breakaway faction of the Democratic Party in 1948 that supported states' rights and segregation, led by Strom Thurmond.

  • Communist China, Mao Zedong: Refers to the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 under the leadership of Mao Zedong, marking the rise of communist rule in China.

  • Soviet atom bomb: The successful detonation of the first Soviet atomic bomb in 1949, ending the United States' monopoly on nuclear weapons and intensifying the arms race.

  • NSC-68: A key U.S. policy document from 1950 that recommended a significant increase in military spending to combat the Soviet threat.

  • Korean War: A conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea (and its communist allies) and South Korea (supported by the UN, primarily the U.S.), ending in an armistice.

  • North and South Korea: The division of Korea into two separate states after World War II, with North Korea being communist and South Korea being a capitalist state.

  • UN Security Council: A principal organ of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security, actively involved during the Korean War.

  • “Police Action”: The U.S. government’s term for the Korean War, reflecting hesitance to formally declare war.

  • Douglas MacArthur: A U.S. general during World War II and the Korean War, known for his leadership and controversial statements advocating for an aggressive approach against communism.

  • Second Red Scare: A period in the late 1940s and early 1950s marked by heightened fears of communist influence in the U.S. and led to political repression.

  • House Un-American Activities Committee: A congressional committee that investigated allegations of subversive activities by private citizens, public employees, and organizations.

  • Hollywood Ten: A group of screenwriters and directors who were blacklisted in Hollywood for refusing to testify about their alleged communist affiliations.

  • Alger Hiss: A former State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy, whose conviction for perjury was a major event linked to the Red Scare.

  • Joe McCarthy, McCarthyism: A U.S. senator who became infamous for making unsubstantiated accusations of communism against various individuals in government and other sectors, epitomizing the era of McCarthyism characterized by fear and repression.

  • “Witch Hunts”: A term describing the aggressive and often baseless pursuit of individuals suspected of being communists during the Red Scare.

  • McCarran Act: A 1950 U.S. law aimed at protecting national security, which restricted the rights of alleged communists, including requiring them to register with the government.

Short Answers to Essential Questions

  1. Cold War Development: The Cold War developed due to ideological conflicts (communism vs. capitalism) and power struggles after WWII. The U.S. and USSR had strategic interests in Europe, leading to tensions over influence. The development of atomic weapons intensified this conflict, heightening fears of nuclear war and leading to an arms race.

  2. Impact of U.S. Containment Efforts: Truman's presidency saw the implementation of containment policies, like the Truman Doctrine, which aimed to stop the spread of communism. Long-term consequences included the U.S. commitment to international alliances, military interventions, and a significant increase in military spending, setting a precedent for future U.S. foreign policy.

  3. International Developments (1940s-1950s): Key developments included the establishment of NATO, the Korean War, and the division of Germany. These events shifted U.S. foreign policy from isolationism to active involvement in global conflicts, positioning the U.S. as a leading power in international affairs.

  4. Truman's Expansion of the New Deal: Truman expanded New Deal policies with the Fair Deal, aiming to continue social welfare programs and civil rights initiatives. His policies intended to address economic inequalities and prevent the post-WWI recession from reoccurring. However, the Fair Deal faced political opposition, limiting its effectiveness.

  5. Race and Racism Post-WWII: Race and racism remained central to U.S. politics, with civil rights leaders advocating for change against significant opposition. Efforts by activists (like NAACP) sought justice but faced resistance from conservative factions. Issues of race reshaped political alignments, with Democrats embracing civil rights and Southern Democrats (Dixiecrats) opposing them.

  6. Second Red Scare: The Second Red Scare began post-WWII as fears of communist infiltration surged, fueled by events like the Soviet atom bomb and China's communist revolution. This led to anti-Communist sentiment impacting American politics through witch hunts (e.g., McCarthyism). Consequences included civil liberties violations, increased political polarization, and lasting societal fear of communism.