Cold War Strategies and Events

US policy to contain the spread of communism.

Policy to prevent the expansion of communism.

US aid program to rebuild Western Europe after WWII.

Soviet attempt to isolate West Berlin from Allied forces.

Allied response to the blockade, supplying West Berlin by air.

Period of geopolitical tension between the US and the Soviet Union.

Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia without democratic elections.

Importance of oil-rich areas to geopolitical power.

Western nations (allied with the USA) formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949.

The communist bloc's response to NATO, formed in 1955.

Nationalists (supported by US) lost to communist forces led by Mao Zedong, resulting in China becoming communist and nationalists fleeing to Taiwan (Formosa).

International body with 5 permanent members (US, Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, China) that determines actions on issues.

North Korea's invasion of South Korea (crossing the 38th parallel) in 1950, aiming for unification under communism.

The UN security council responded to North Korea's aggression by sending troops, the US leading the effort, along with other nations.

Over 33,000 American soldiers died and over 103,000 were wounded during the Korean War (1950-1953).

The Soviet Union developed the atomic bomb in 1949.

The period after World War II in America (roughly the 1950s) marked by significant economic growth and prosperity.

A measure of a nation's economic health, calculated by the total value of goods and services produced within a country.

A period of unusually high birth rates, peaking in 1957, in the US, directly following World War II.

A movement of people from rural areas (countrysides) to urban centers (cities) in search of jobs.

Increased spending on consumer goods like TV sets, cars, and appliances leading to a growing middle class.

Rapid growth of suburban areas surrounding cities in the 1950s, driven by new housing developments.

Significant increase in car manufacturing during the 1950s due to economic growth and suburban living.

Larger-scale construction of highways accompanied the rise of suburbia.

A secret network of paths used by the Viet Cong to transport weapons, supplies, and personnel from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem's lack of support from the South Vietnamese people due to his authoritarian rule, discrimination against Buddhists, and failure to address poverty.

Peaceful demonstrations by Vietnamese Buddhists against Diem's regime, often featuring self-immolation (setting themselves on fire) as a form of protest.

President Kennedy's growing frustration with Diem's ineffective leadership, human rights abuses, and failure to win the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese people.

A military overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem's government in South Vietnam, supported by the United States, ultimately leading to his assassination.

Johnson's Southern roots, experience in Congress, and admiration for Roosevelt shaped his political perspective and policies.

Lyndon B. Johnson felt like an outsider during Kennedy's presidency, partly due to his Southern background and perceived lack of charisma.

Lyndon B. Johnson's ambitious social programs, modeled after Roosevelt's New Deal, aimed to improve the lives of disadvantaged Americans, particularly minorities.

The federal government funded 90% of the cost to build 60,000 kilometers of highways, leading to increased spending on infrastructure and the rise of suburban sprawl.

A social trend where people prioritized fitting in, following societal expectations, and working for large corporations. This was evident in both work and home life during this time.

Women were expected to stay home, care for children, manage the household, and conform to traditional gender roles. This social pressure often led to a feeling of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

Popular establishments that combined entertainment, food, and convenience, serving as a symbol of consumerism and suburban life.

A new genre of music that emerged in the 1950s, associated with youth culture, rebellion against conformity, and a sense of liberation.

A landmark Supreme Court decision in 1954 which ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, a crucial step towards ending segregation.

A protest organized by Rosa Parks and the NAACP against racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery, Alabama, lasting for over a year.

The legal doctrine that allowed for segregation as long as facilities provided were deemed 'equal' for Black and white people. This doctrine was challenged and overturned by Brown vs. Board of Education.

A major attack launched by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against South Vietnam and American forces in January 1968. It was a turning point in the Vietnam War.

The Tet Offensive significantly lowered public support for the Vietnam War in the United States. Americans questioned the war's purpose and the government's claims of progress.

The media played a major role in shaping public opinion about the Vietnam War by showing uncensored images of the war's brutality. These images shocked many Americans.

The Vietnam War was extremely expensive, with a staggering cost per enemy killed. This further fueled anti-war sentiment in America.

The Vietnam War saw the emergence of a powerful anti-war movement in the US. Groups like SDS and FSM organized protests and demonstrations.

Some American men, opposed to the Vietnam War, fled to Canada to avoid being drafted into the military.

President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek re-election in 1968 due to the deteriorating situation in Vietnam and declining public support.

The Vietnam War left a lasting mark on American society. It sparked debate about the limits of military intervention, the role of the media, and the government's accountability to the public.