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hist 274
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38
History
Undergraduate 2
05/11/2009

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Term
Neocolonialism in Latin America
Definition
neo- a policy whereby a major power uses economic and political means to perpetuate or extend its influence over underdeveloped nations or areas.
Gave up right to inetvene in Cube but kept Guantanamo
Term
CIA
Definition
Created in 1947 to replace the Office of Strategic Services. Pros: national security, more bang per buck. cons: police state, big government. It became a civilian agency responsible only for foreign intellegence and it was also under presidential control with minimal Congressional oversight. They assisted anti-communists in Poland and Hungary, engaged in psychological warfare (Bay of Pigs), recruited the Meo to fight the Panthet Lao- lost hundreds of thousands of people. Spent $32 million in covert ops in the Angolan civil war following independence. Inflitrated US organizations. There have been many hits and misses of Vietnam but ultimately there are too ways to look at the CIA- either they did a lot of good that had to be hidden in secrecy or they tarnished the American democracy and helped to prolong incompetence and political pandering.
Term
Bay of Pigs
Definition
1961- The unsuccessful attempt of the US to overthrow the Castro regime by sending in american trained Cuban Exiles. Kennedy prohitted US troops from entering but also approved the plans without consulting Congress. 1400 commandos landed at Bahia de Cochinos with some US air cover- they failed to take over Cuba. This is important because it shows how far and willing Kenendy was to beat the Cubans and although it should have been a red flag that this war would not be successful, it only gave Kennedy more motivation.
Term
Kent State Protests
Definition
1970- Shootings that occurred at Kent State University and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard. The Guardsmen shot into the crowd 67 times for 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis. Some of the students were protesting the American invasion of Cambodia but others were simply passing by. This is important becasue it showed college students as a foreign relations force and it also had such a nimpact that hundreds of schools closed in the US due to student strikes. This added to an already unstable and divided nation.
Term
The Missile Crisis
Definition
1962- Intermediate rang ballastic missiles could reach targets in the eastern and central US in less than 8 minutes from Cuba- instead of 25 from USSR)- the US had misiles in Turkey. The end of the confliuct was the removal of missiles from Cuba and -secret- removal in Turkey. End of quarentine and no invasion of Cuba. Important becasue it stopped an all out nuclear war and it also used Cuba as a pawn between the two super powers of USSR and US.
Term
NATO
Definition
1949- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a military alliance in which its members promised collective defense in the event of an attack by any external party. The Warsaw Pact was derived in response to this by the Soviets and their allies. This explains why the Cold War was more than just a battle between the US and the USSR, instead, alliances had been formed.
Term
Geneva Conference
Definition
1954- was a conference between many countries that agreed to end hostilities and restore peace in French Indochina and Vietnam. The declaration stated that each member undertakes to respect the soverneignty, the independence, and refrain from interferring in the foriegn affairs of Vietnam. This is important because US refused to suport the records and still gave about $250 million a year of overt aid to the Republic of Vietnam which ultimately lead to their involvement in the Vietnam War.
Term
Agent Orange
Definition
To deny the enemy food and expose hideouts, American defloliation teams sprayed this on crops and forests during the Vietnam War. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of death and children being born with birth defects. It also inadvertantly exposed GI's to it- many GI's tried to sue the government. This is important because it shows that the devestating effects of the Vietnam War reach beyond destroying the country and the economic imposition- it also took the lives of many Americans.
Term
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Definition
Established in 1944 with the goal of facilitating the world trade by helping with the balance of payment issues. It stablized exchange rates through currency loan to countries with either balance-of-payment deficit, large national debt, unstable monetary policy, or high levels of public spending. It could impose conditions for loans- US dominated institution- the Soviets practiced a state-controlled trade and finance and did not sign on. This is important because it added to the already sour relations between the US and the USSR.
Term
World Bank
Definition
It extended loans for reconstruction and development to promote private investment, and to promote long-term international trade. The US contributed 1/3 of the funds so got 1/3 of the votes. After the 1950's, it concentrated mostly on developing countries. US dominated institution- the Soviets practiced a state-controlled trade and finance and did not sign on. This is important becasue it put the US as the main superpower
Term
Peace Corps
Definition
1961- Launched by JFK, it was designed to permit Americans to excercise their responsibility to the common cause of world developement. There is no salary and its members were expected to live alongside the nationals of the country. This is important because it was good PR for america- while they were helping people in 3rd World countries, they were also building alliances with these people and preventing the spread of communism.
Term
The Kitchen Debates
Definition
1959- Nixon travled ti Moscow to attend the opening of the American National Exhibition- an effort to reduce Cold War tensions- he and Soviet Premier Khruschev toured to model US house and ended up arguing about washing machines and more specifically who was more advanced. This is important becasue although many accredit military spending to the non-communist victory in the Cold WAr, it is significant to take into account the appeal of American-style consumer culture (butter). This US-style capitalism had an enormous appeal to people around the world during the Cold War era.
Term
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Definition
About 25000 members- important because it was the first time that there were people that had actually fought in the war protesting it.
Term
Globalization
Definition
This is the spread of products, culture, and funds from a national point to the world. This has been made possible by technology and modernization. For consumers this means lower costs because factories are being moved to third world countries with less work restrictions but it also means that jobs are moving out of the US. While some people argue that this is injuring and killing unskilled workers, others say that it is modernizing and helping their nation. This also means less governmental control and more of an emphasis on world market for profit. Tariffs were drastically reduced and the containers at sea increased drastically. This is important because it is revolutionizing the way we live and produce things.
Term
Duck and Cover
Definition
1950- US propaganda about the atomic bomb telling children that ducking under a desk and covering their neck will keep them from harm during an atomic attack. This is important because it shows how inaccurate the information that the American public recieved was. Americans also started to support defense programs out of fear of this attack. This also led to a crackdown on suspected Communists.
Term
The Vietnamese Declaration
Definition
1945- Declares Vietnam a free independent country by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The document enforeces many of the negative aspects of US imperialism and foriegn relations. It is important because it highlights exactly what the Vietnamese were fighting for.
Term
Iran-Contra scandal
Definition
1987- A covert project in which the National Security Council traded arms to Iran in return for the release of US hostages being held in Lebanon. The schemes (which also involved aiding Nicaraguan contras) occured in total disregard of Congress. Lt. North diverted profits from the Irian gun sales to the contras. Later, Reagan was portrayed as completely out of the loop however there are records that he made basic decisions without maonitering them. In the end, some 190 Reagon officials were indicted or convicted of illegal activities. ***
Term
Tet offensive
Definition
1968- The Vietcong had attacked the US embassy in South Vietnam in hopes that the US would negotiate withdrawl. Instead they fought back for three weeks. The communists ultimately left leaving 100,000 refugees and thousands dead. This is important because Walter Cronkite marked the war as a stalemate at this point. LBJ knew that if he lost Cronkite he would lose the support of the public. This shows how important media was in the first war the was broadcast in people's living rooms. soon after, LBJ started moving toward peace negotiations.
Term
Detente
Definition
As the war escalated in Vietnam to contain communism, Johnson tries to deescalate conflict with the Soviets*******
Term
Cambodiazation
Definition
In 1971, communists controlled about half of Cambodia and in 1975, they controlled all of it. Nixon decided to bomb communist sancionaries-secretly so that Congress and the American people did not know. The events in Cambodia prompted Nixon to expand his war and he sent troops in. Eventually the Cooper-Church ammendment was passed to cut off funds for the operations in Cambodia. While the op did slow communist momentum, it also widened war, caused the sanctuaries to spread out,and it further bloodied Cambodia.
Term
Laoszation
Definition
In 1971 Nixon authorized South Vietnamese troops to wipe out communist sanctionaries in Laos. Each minute the Nixon was in office, the US dropped a ton of bombs.
Term
SALT-I
Definition
1969- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks- In 1972 SALT I was signed. It ended the race to develop a defensive antiballistic missile system (AMB), which Nixon had supported becasue of its value as a bargaining chip. It called for a freeze on the number of nuclear missile- 1600 for the Soviets, 1054 for US. One US submarine with MIRVs could inflict 160 Hiroshima blasts (had over 30).
Term
SALT-I
Definition
1969- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks- In 1972 SALT I was signed. It ended the race to develop a defensive antiballistic missile system (AMB), which Nixon had supported becasue of its value as a bargaining chip. It called for a freeze on the number of nuclear missile- 1600 for the Soviets, 1054 for US. One US submarine with MIRVs could inflict 160 Hiroshima blasts (had over 30).
Term
SALT II
Definition
1972- Reduced nuclear arms launchers on each side to 2400, with no more than 1320 to have MIRVs. It was signed in 1979 and withdrawn from Senate consideration by Carter after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan.
Term
Marshall Plan
Definition
1947- It eventually channeled $13 billion to Western Europe- spraking industrial production and an anti-communist shift in W. Europe. It did however force Europe to be dependent on US aid. This also contributed to the ability of European countries to wage conterinsurgent wars on Asian nations.
Term
Truman Doctrine
Definition
1947- It must be the policy of the US to support free people who are resisting attempted subjegation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. The doctrine opposed armed minorities on the left but not the ones of the right, which included the European colonists who ruled much of the world.
Term
Operation Mongoose
Definition
Operation Mongoose was a secret program of sabotage against Cuba to remove Castro from power; this removal was a prime focus of the Kennedy administration. IT heightened Cuban fears and led to the crystalization of plans for a Cuban-Soviet nuclear defense
Term
NSC-68
Definition
1950- Advocated building a hydrogen bomb and increasing conventional forces, resulting in a four fold increase in defense spending (and taxes to pay for this)

Containment “seeks by all means short of war to (1)
block future expansion of Soviet power, (2) expose the
falsities of Soviet pretensions, (3) induce a retraction of
the Kremlin’s control and influence and (4) in general,
so foster the seeds of destruction within the Soviet
system that the Kremlin is brought at least to the point
of modifying its behavior to conform to generally
accepted international standards.”
Term
Bandung Conference
Definition
1955- 29 Asian nations sent representative- repping 1/4 of the world's population. The delegates deplored European colonialism and US racism. The non-aligned movement meaning that they considered themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power. This was the first international conference of colored people. This is important because US became fearful that these nations would adopt communism. This is when the US economic assistance shifted from Europe to developing countries.
Term
US response to decolonialization
Definition
African Americans opposition to imperialism: council for African Affairs (1937), Paul Robeson******
Term
Vietminh
Definition
Supporters of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) and Ho Chi Minh in the North. Fighting for independence.
Term
Arms Race
Definition
A competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the United States, the Soviet Union, and their respective allies during the Cold War. This is important because they were always trying to stay ahead and a lot of money was going into military spending. This arms race threatened the stability of the world.
Term
Sputnik
Definition
1957- The Soviets launched the world's first artificial space satelite. It was a display of Soviet scientific prowess and a blow to American pride. It was a reminder that the Soviet missile program was excelling. Although Eisonhower knew that this was not a threat, he was forced to spend more on missiles and improving technology. Sputnik led to the launch of Explorer I, the creation of NASA, financed research at top universities, and boosted secondary education so that more children had a chance to get a better education for their future.
Term
Modernization Approach- Kennedy Administration
Definition
Less emphasis on military adi- more on economic aid, increased spending by 1.5 bil/ year, created Peace Corps, AID (Agency for International Development), and alliance for progress
Term
Body Count
Definition
Since the goal of the Vietnam war was to secure S. Vietnam not conquer N., the US army used body counts to show that the US was winning the war. This shows why the American public was continually told that they were winning the war when in fact that was not the case. The North claimed that no matter how many more men the US killed, they would still win the war and this eventually became the case.
Term
Operation Rolling Thunder
Definition
An ariel bombardment campaign on the North by the US and the South in hopes of getting the North to stop trying to enter the South, destorying their transporation and to boost morale. This ended up being the most intense air/ground battle strike during the Cold War and achieved none of its goals.
Term
Search and Destroy
Definition
A common military practice with the US troops during the Vietnam war in which the troops would be sropped in a hostile enviornment find the enemy, destory him and then exit immediately.
Term
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Definition
1964- In response to a naval scuffle between Vietnamese torpedo boats and two Navy destroyers, Congress passed this resolution which gave LBJ authorization, without a formal declaration of war by Congress, for the use of military force in Southeast Asia. LBJ used this to begin his rapid involvement in the Vietnam war.
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