Transcript Unit-8-Vocab-Reviewx

COLD WAR VOCAB
1. CONTAINMENT
• Created by American diplomat George Kennan, it is the
policy of resisting further expansion of communism
around the world
• This policy recognized that Eastern Europe was
probably already lost to communism. Important to note
that we were NOT trying to destroy Communist
governments where they existed. We were simply trying
to prevent communism from spreading
2. MARSHALL PLAN
•
Program of American economic assistance to Western Europe. Secretary
of State George Marshall said: “Our policy is directed not against any
country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.”
It’s like he was saying, “Our policy is not anti-Communist in any way *wink
wink*”
This policy recognized that Eastern Europe was probably already lost to communism.
Important to note that we were NOT trying to destroy Communist governments where they
existed. We were simply trying to prevent communism from spreading
Determined not to repeat the same mistakes made after World War I, U.S.
wanted to restore war-torn nations so they could create stable democracies and
economically recover. Soviets were invited to participate but refused.
U.S. gave over $13,000,000,000 in aid to Western Europe
3. TRUMAN DOCTRINE
• Truman said “I believe that it must be the policy
of the United States to support free peoples who
are resisting attempted subjugation by armed
minorities or by outside pressures.”
• Translation: The U.S. will help any nation (like
France for example) resist against Communist
takeover. Along with containment, the Truman
Doctrine would govern American foreign policy
for decades
1. DETERRANCE
• The policy of making the military power of the
United States and its allies so strong that no
enemy would attack for fear of retaliation
• This assumes that the Soviet Union could not
build up their military to match ours. This
policy proved to be very expensive. Whenever
you build up your arms, you become tempted
to use them.
5. DOMINO THEORY
• Belief that if one country within a region falls
to communism, all of its neighbors will fall as
well
• This assumption led us to get involved in
Vietnam to try and contain communism.
6. BRINKMANSHIP
• Policy of Sec. of State John Foster Dulles. He
said in order to stay tough on communism, we
sometimes had to “go to the brink” of war
• Very risky because it backs opponents into a
corner and gives them an ultimatum.
7. CHURCHILL’S “IRON CURTAIN”
SPEECH
• Winston Churchill warned that an Iron Curtain
had descended over Eastern Europe.
• We can neither break through nor see what is
going on behind the iron curtain.
• This speech helped to escalate the Cold War and
strike further fear into the hearts of Americans
about the threat of the Soviet Union.
8. THE BERLIN AIRLIFT
• Soviets blockade travel from East to West
Berlin, hoping it would force the Allies to give
up Berlin altogether.
• Truman orders a massive airlift of food and
supplies to West Berliners to keep them from
starving. West Berlin remained divided from
East Berlin.
9. NATO
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization – an attack
on one is an attack on all (defensive military
alliance)
• NATO also partitioned Palestine into Jewish
and Arab states. The new state of Israel is
created in 1948.
10. WARSAW PACT
• the Soviet response to NATO. Its purpose was
to influence the countries of Eastern and
Southern Europe
• Made up of countries like Czechoslovakia, Poland,
and Hungary.
11. KOREAN WAR
• Communist North Korea vs. Democratic South Korea.
Was divided at the 38th parallel. North Koreans invade
South, US intervenes, pushes them back across the 38th
parallel.
• UN forces led by Douglas MacArthur push the North
Koreans all the way back to the Yalu River, Chinese
intervene, push us back over the 38th parallel, stalemate
occurs. 38th parallel continues to divide the country
today. No peace treaty is signed, both NK and SK are
technically still at war.
12. SUEZ CRISIS
• Egyptian General Nasser sought to play US
and Soviet forces against each other. US wants
French and English to back off Suez Canal and
allow Egyptians to nationalize it.
• Suez Canal turned over to Egyptian ownership.
We were trying to cultivate Arab friendships yet
angered French, British, and Israeli forces.
• Soviets take credit for ending the crisis anyway.
13. SPUTNIK
• The first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviets.
Terrified many Americans because if the Soviets could use a
rocket to launch a satellite into space, they could also hit the
US with a nuclear missile
• This policy recognized that Eastern Europe was probably already lost to
communism. Important to note that we were NOT trying to destroy
Communist governments where they existed. We were simply trying to
prevent communism from spreading
• Sparked the space race between the US and the Soviets.
Instead of going to war we decided to compete with the
Soviets through “peaceful” means.
14. SECOND RED SCARE
• A renewal of anti-communist feelings in America
following World War II. Joseph McCarthy
capitalized on American fears and paranoia of a
communist takeover in America
• Penetrated every aspect of society. Even actors
and screen writers in Hollywood were questioned
about their alleged communist affiliations. Lives
and reputations were ruined just by the accusation
of communism.
15. TAFT-HARTLEY ACT OF 1947
• Meant to take power away from unions.
Banned the closed shop but allowed a union
shop. Banned strikes by federal employees,
made union leaders take an oath that they were
not members of the Communist party.
• Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act, but
Congress overrode the President’s veto. This
rarely happens.
16. THE FAIR DEAL
• Truman’s extension and enlargement of New
Deal programs already in place: higher
minimum wage, broadening of Social Security,
rent controls, farm price supports, public
housing programs, rural electrification.
• Republican Congress refused to pass Truman’s
more liberal reforms: civil rights bills, national
health insurance, federal aid to education, etc.
17. MCCARTHYISM
• Witch hunts of suspected communists by
Joseph McCarthy. He used people’s fears,
rational or not, to gain fame.
• McCarthy never uncovered a single Communist
infiltrator in the U.S. government. Recent
studies show that they had infiltrated the
federal government, but not to the extent that
McCarthy claimed.
18. MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL
COMPLEX
• Eisenhower warned in his farewell address that
the cooperation between the government, the
military, and arms industries could lead to a
suppression of liberties.
• This fear goes back to our traditional dislike of
a large standing army during peacetime.
19. THE SPACE RACE
• Struggle between the United States and the
Soviet Union to ultimately put a man on the
moon.
• Advances in rocket science allowed the Soviets
to put Sputnik and the first man into the earth’s
orbit. Towards the end of the space race a US
crew met up with a Soviet crew in space
20. U-2 INCIDENT
• Soviet missile brings down American spy plane
in a recon flight over USSR. Eisenhower takes
personal responsibility for incident.
• US was not supposed to be flying recon flights
over the USSR. Soviets rightfully angry with
US, capture pilot and keep him in prison for 2
years for espionage.
21. BAY OF PIGS INVASION
• Authorized by JFK, it was a failed invasion of
Cuba by 1,500 anti-Castro Cuban rebels. JFK
hoped it would inspire other Cubans to rebel.
• Poorly executed plan that was doomed from
the start. Really needed American troops
involved to have any success.
22. CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
• As a result of Bay of Pigs, Khrushchev supplies
Castro with nukes to protect Cuba from future
American-sponsored invasions. (We also had
missiles placed in Turkey aimed at the USSR)
• Kennedy authorizes a blockade of Cuba
(technically an act of war), in order to force the
Soviets to shoot first. They back off, remove the
missiles from Cuba if we pledge not to invade
Cuba.
23. CONSTRUCTION OF THE
BERLIN WALL
• A symbol of eroding relations between the US
and the USSR, divided West and East Berlin.
Erected in 1961.
• When the Berlin Wall finally falls in 1989, it is
seen as the symbolic end to the Cold War.
24. THE LIMITED TEST BAN
TREATY
• Prohibited nuclear tests in the atmosphere,
outer space, or under water.
• One of the first steps towards disarmament
and limiting nuclear weapons.
25. GULF OF TONKIN
RESOLUTION
• Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) claimed that two US
destroyers were attacked by North Vietnamese
vessels in the Tonkin Gulf.
• Resolution authorized LBJ to “take all
necessary measures to repel any armed attack
against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent
further aggression.”
26. VIETNAM WAR
• Complex war where we tried to contain
communism by preventing South Vietnam
from falling to communism (kind of like South
Korea)
• The only war we have ever “lost,” Vietnam and
the turbulent 1960s paved the way for antigovernment sentiment and proved to be the
defining event for the baby boomer generation.
27. THE TET OFFENSIVE
• Massive surprise attack of North Vietnamese and
Vietcong against American positions in Vietnam.
Though we organized a major counterattack and
“defeated” the Vietcong in the Tet Offensive, the
damage was done on the American home front.
• After Tet, many Americans believed that the war
in Vietnam was unwinnable and that we were not
making significant progress. This was the first war
fought in the American living room.
28. MY LAI MASSACRE
• Mass killing of hundreds of Vietnamese
civilians by American troops.
• Led to a global outrage and contributed to
American opposition at home to the war.
29. NIXON’S VIETNAMIZATION
• Nixon’s policy of sharply reducing American
ground forces and letting the South
Vietnamese do most of the fighting.
• Effort to get us slowly out of the war. We
withdraw in 1973, South Vietnam is overrun in
1975 and becomes Communist – containment
failed.
30. OPERATIONS IN CAMBODIA
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR
• Under the table, Nixon ordered expanded
bombing campaigns in Cambodia of suspected
Communist sanctuaries.
• Americans angry because it is seen as
expanding the war, not withdrawing.
31. WAR POWERS ACT
• In response to Vietnam, this requires the
president to notify Congress within 48 hours
of committing armed forces to military action.
Forces cannot be anywhere longer than 60 days
without congressional approval.
• A measure to curb the power of the president.
He can no longer have indefinite “police
actions” with no end.
32. NIXON’S SILENT MAJORITY
• Nixon’s term for a large majority of people in
a country that do not express their opinions
publicly.
• This was a response to the counterculture and
more liberal movements of the 1960s and 70s
33. DETENTE
• A relaxation of tensions. De-escalation of the
Cold War through more orderly and restrained
competition.
• Popularized by Nixon and his Sec. of State
Henry Kissinger. Instead of confrontation,
more peaceful coexistence.
34. POLAND’S SOLIDARITY
MOVEMENT
• Anti-Communist movement that spread to
other Eastern European countries and helped
bring about an end to the Cold War.
• Mikhail Gorbachev could have used force to
crush these movements like Khrushchev did
with the Hungarian uprising. He did not.
35. STRATEGIC DEFENSE
INITIATIVE (STAR WARS)
• a missile defense system that would use lasers
to shoot incoming missiles down from space.
• Reagan claimed that SDI was a shield, used to
defend America from Soviet attacks.
Gorbachev thought it was a sword, used to
destroy the USSR then neutralize the counterattack.
36. INTERMEDIATE RANGE
NUCLEAR FORCES TREATY
• Eliminated intermediate range ballistic missiles
from use.
• Key step in disarmament.
37. STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTION
TREATIES
• Placed a ceiling on how many nuclear weapons
could be produced by the US and USSR
• Another step in disarmament, though we
already had enough nuclear weapons to pretty
much destroy the world like 10 times over at
this point
38. GLASNOST
• Increased openness and transparency in the
Soviet Union between Soviet people and their
government.
• Meant to curb abuses of power in the USSR
and clean up the government.
39. PERESTROIKA
• Restructuring of the Soviet political and
economic system, weeding out the aspects of
communism that did not inspire growth.
• Led to the end of the Cold War as the Soviets
focus more on domestic issues and less on
foreign issues.
40. TIANANMEN SQUARE
• Student-led demonstrations against the Chinese
Communist government. Shows growing
resentment in Communist rule. The Communists
respond with oppressive force, killing or injuring
hundreds in the ensuing violence.
• Made popular by Tank Man, an unidentified
Chinese man who, carrying shopping bags, stood
in the pathway of the tanks.