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| Conflict between the communist Soviet Union and the capitalist United States following WWII. While the two countries never directly fought one another (hence the name "cold"), they struggled to exert their influence around the globe leading to decades of tension and fear. |
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| Yalta Conference (February, 1945) |
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| Meeting of the "Big Three" - US, UK, and USSR - before the end of WWII in which it was decided that after Germany surrenders, it would be split up among the three countries plus France. This results in the splitting of Germany into two countries later on. |
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| Created post WWII to improve on the League of Nations and to stop future conflicts between countries. |
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| A phrase used by Winston Churchill, it refers to the area in Europe behind which is controlled by the Soviet Union. |
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| U.S. policy created by George Kennan to stop any communist expansion. |
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| After WWII, President Truman promises aid to Greece and Turkey to help halt communist revolutions in those countries. This succeeds. |
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| Massive economic aid package to areas hurt by war in Europe. This hopes to stop another post war depression such as the one after World War I. It is largely successful. |
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| With the UK, US, and France in control of West Germany and the Soviets in control of East Germany, the USSR blocks all ground travel to West Berlin on June 24, 1948. |
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| UK and US fly food and supplies into West Berlin for 10 months until Soviets finally back down in May, 1949. |
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| Political system in which the government controls all businesses and the goal is equality for everyone. Its weakness is the lack of motivation of the citizens. |
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| Political system in which citizens are permitted to own and control their own businesses. Its weakness is that strong business owners can acquire too much power and take advantage of workers/citizens. |
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| Created in 1947 as a homeland for the Jewish faith, its creation was controversial because of many displaced people in Palestine. A strong U.S. ally. |
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| Chairman Mao Zedong leads a communist revolution in 1949. |
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| U.S. fears influence of communism within our own borders. Leads to blacklisting and panic |
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| Julius and Ethel Rosenberg |
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| This husband and wife were accused of selling secrets to the Soviets, hastily tried, and put to death in the electric chair. Evidence against Ethel was weak, showing the U.S. fear of communists in the Cold War. |
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| Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to know of communists in the federal government between 1950 and 1954. He was proven to be a fraud, but not before ruining the reputation of many who challenged him. |
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| Provided soldiers returning from WWII with low cost loans for college, to set up businesses, or buy homes. |
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| After communist North Korea invades capitalist South Korea, the United States leads a United Nations action to repel the attack. After chasing the North Koreans back over the 38th Parallel, China entered to defend its communist ally. The conflict ends back at the 38th Parallel where it started. Communism was contained. |
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| Abbreviation for the Demilitarized Zone, the area between North and South Korea. |
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| A line of latitude and roughly the border between North and South Korea (DMZ). |
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| Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower |
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| President from 1952 to 1960. Responsible for ending the Korean War and building the Interstate Highway System. |
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| US and USSR build up number of nuclear weapons in order to show power to their rivals and prevent war. |
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| USSR and US complete to show technological superiority in space exploration |
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| USSR creates this first man-made satellite in 1957. US concerned that the Soviets are technologically superior, so the US creates NASA and focuses on math and science education. |
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| The large number of births in the US from 1946 to 1964. This group of people creates a large demand for goods and services. |
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| Whites leave cities to move to suburbs as cars become easier to own. Creates a problem for cities and average wage of residents drop. |
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| Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and others rebel against what they view as a shallow, consumer driven middle class America. |
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| Kennedy's program wherein the U.S. volunteers would work in underdeveloped nations to help local communities by serving as teachers, health workers, farming advisor, etc. |
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| Communist leader who took control of Cuba in 1959. |
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| Wall constructed splitting West and East Berlin that lasts until 1989. Symbol of the Cold War. |
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| Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) |
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| USSR built missile sites in Cuba and the US decides to blockade Cuba until the USSR agreed to remove the missile bases. As close as we've ever come to war with the U.S.S.R., Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev narrowly avoid war. |
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| Lunar Landing (July 20, 1969) |
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| The U.S. successfully lands on the moon, showing American success in the "space race" with the U.S.S.R. |
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| Causes of the Vietnam War |
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1) Communist Viet-Cong threaten to take over capitalist South Vietnam
2) Containment - U.S. seeks to stop spread of communism |
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| Citizens, especially college students, protest the war due to concerns of being drafted and concerns that U.S. shouldn't step into a civil war in another country. |
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| After students burn a military building on campus, 3000 troops sent by Ohio's governor. Two students are shot and killed on campus. Create massive anti-war reaction. |
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| Treatment of Returning Troops from Vietnam |
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| Troops, many of whom were drafted into service, were treated poorly upon their return to the U.S. This anti-troop sentiment tears the nation apart and creates a permanent stain on this part of U.S. history. |
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1) U.S. pulls out and troops treated poorly
2) Vietnam unifies under a communist government
3) U.S. spends $150 billion and loses 58,000 troops with 300,000 wounded
4) Bitter feelings surround this conflict to this day. |
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