Cold War Strategies and Key Figures

Questions and Answers

Who sent the Long Telegram in 1946 from Moscow?

George Kennan

What policy was aimed to prevent the spread of communism?

Containment policy

What did Winston Churchill refer to as the 'Iron Curtain'?

The division between Communist and Free Nations

What policy did Harry Truman implement to provide aid to countries struggling with communism?

Truman Doctrine Signup and view all the answers

What was the Atomic Energy Commission created to oversee?

The research and production of atomic power Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the CIA?

To conduct intelligence and secret activities abroad Signup and view all the answers

What does the National Security Council do?

Advises the president on national security Signup and view all the answers

What was the Marshall Plan?

A program to rebuild Europe after WWII Signup and view all the answers

What was agreed upon in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade?

To stimulate freer trade among participants Signup and view all the answers

Who was Douglas MacArthur?

A US general who became the supreme commander in Japan Signup and view all the answers

What was the Berlin Blockade?

A Soviet blockade that prevented access to West Germany Signup and view all the answers

What is NATO?

A military alliance for mutual defense against Soviet attacks Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the Peoples Republic of China after the Civil War?

The Communists overthrew the government Signup and view all the answers

Where did the old government of China go for exile?

Taiwan Signup and view all the answers

What did NSC-68 call for?

A permanent military buildup against communism Signup and view all the answers

What triggered the Korean War?

North Korea invaded South Korea Signup and view all the answers

What is the 38th parallel?

The dividing line between North and South Korea Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Cold War?

A conflict between the US and the Soviet Union without direct war Signup and view all the answers

What was the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization?

A pact to fight communism in Asia Signup and view all the answers

What was the goal of the Central Treaty Organization?

To fight communism in the Middle East Signup and view all the answers

Who was Walter Lippmann?

A prominent journalist who objected to ideological foreign policy Signup and view all the answers

What was Truman's Fair Deal?

A plan to improve social safety nets and living standards Signup and view all the answers

What did Operation Dixie aim to achieve?

Labor unionization in the South Signup and view all the answers

What did the GI Bill provide for returning WWII soldiers?

Help for mortgages, business, and education Signup and view all the answers

What was the Taft-Hartley Act aimed at?

Reversing gains made by organized labor Signup and view all the answers

Who was Jackie Robinson?

The first black player in Major League Baseball Signup and view all the answers

What did the States Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrats) oppose?

Desegregation Signup and view all the answers

Who was Hubert Humphrey?

A young mayor supportive of civil rights Signup and view all the answers

Who was Strom Thurmond?

The presidential candidate from the Dixiecrats Signup and view all the answers

What did 'To Secure These Rights' call for?

Abolition of segregation and equal treatment Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Dixiecrats?

The States Rights Democratic Party opposing racial integration Signup and view all the answers

Who was Henry A. Wallace?

Former Vice President and advocate for social welfare Signup and view all the answers

What was the House Un-American Activities Committee's purpose?

To investigate communist influence in America Signup and view all the answers

What were the Hollywood Ten known for?

Refusing to testify about communism Signup and view all the answers

Who was Alger Hiss?

A state department official accused of espionage Signup and view all the answers

Who were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?

A couple convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets Signup and view all the answers

Who was Joseph McCarthy?

A senator known for his anti-communist pursuits Signup and view all the answers

What is McCarthyism?

The pursuit of communists without solid evidence Signup and view all the answers

What were the Army-McCarthy hearings?

Televised hearings regarding accusations of communism in the army Signup and view all the answers

Who was J. Edgar Hoover?

The director of the FBI Signup and view all the answers

What did the McCarran-Walter Act do?

Established the first major immigration policy since 1924 Signup and view all the answers

What was Operation Wetback?

A military operation to deport illegal immigrants Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

George Kennan

Authored the Long Telegram in 1946 from Moscow, highlighting the Soviet Union's unwillingness to be treated as a normal state.
Advocated for containment of communism as the primary U.S. strategy to thwart Soviet expansion.

Containment Policy

Formulated to curb the spread of communism.
Initiated by the Truman Administration and influenced by Kennan's ideas.

Iron Curtain

Coined by Winston Churchill in a Missouri speech, signifying the ideological divide between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western nations.

Truman Doctrine

Established by Harry Truman to provide support and aid to countries resisting communism.

Atomic Energy Commission

Formed in 1946 to manage research and production of atomic energy and weapons.

CIA

Created to gather intelligence and conduct covert operations outside the U.S.

National Security Council

Advises the President on matters related to national security and foreign policies.

Marshall Plan

Initiated by Secretary of State George C. Marshall, this program allocated billions to reconstruct war-torn European economies, proving to be highly effective.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Agreement among 23 Western nations to foster international trade by reducing tariffs, significantly benefiting the U.S. economy.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. General and Supreme Commander in Japan until 1948; oversaw Japan’s transition to a democratic government and disarmament.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet action in 1948-49 barring access to West Berlin, prompting the U.S. and allies to airlift supplies.

NATO

Military alliance between the U.S., Canada, and ten Western European nations, established for collective defense against Soviet aggression.

Peoples Republic of China

Established by communists under Mao Zedong; the U.S. refused to recognize this regime, supporting the ousted Nationalist government instead.

Taiwan

The island where the Nationalist government of China retreated after losing the civil war to communists.

NSC-68

A 1950 National Security Council document advocating a significant buildup of U.S. military capabilities against global communism.

Korean War

Initiated by North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950; resulted in a prolonged conflict ending in a stalemate, with no formal peace treaty.

38th Parallel

The dividing line between North and South Korea, established post-World War II.

Cold War

A prolonged geopolitical tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological, military, and cultural confrontations without direct warfare.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

Alliance formed among Western nations to collectively confront and combat communism in Asia.

Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)

Alliance aimed at countering Soviet influence in the Middle East.

Walter Lippmann

Noted journalist who cautioned against viewing foreign policy as an ideological crusade, arguing for a more pragmatic approach.

Fair Deal

Domestic policy agenda proposed by Truman to address social welfare, healthcare, housing, and education, enhancing the living standards of Americans post-WWII.

Operation Dixie

Campaign by labor unions in the South to promote unionization, targeting industries like textiles and agriculture.

GI Bill

Legislation providing veterans with benefits for education, housing, and business ventures post-WWII.

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)

Legislation aimed at curbing labor unions' powers; enforced an 80-day cooling-off period for strikes and limited union membership requirements.

Jackie Robinson

Broke Major League Baseball's color barrier as the first African American player, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

States Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrats)

Opposed civil rights and integration, advocating for states' freedoms; nominated Strom Thurmond for presidency.

Hubert Humphrey

Progressive politician from Minneapolis, significantly influencing the Democratic platform and civil rights movement in 1948.

Strom Thurmond

Leader of the Dixiecrats, ran for president advocating for states' rights and segregation.

To Secure These Rights

1948 report by the Commission on Civil Rights urging the federal government to eliminate segregation and ensure equal rights.

Dixiecrats

Southern Democrats who formed to oppose civil rights; framed their stance as a protection of state liberties.

Henry A. Wallace

Liberal former Vice President advocating for social welfare and international peace, supported by leftist factions, including communists.

House Un-American Activities Committee

Established in 1947, it conducted hearings to investigate communist influences in America, notably targeting Hollywood figures.

Hollywood Ten

A group of filmmakers who refused to testify about alleged communist ties, resulting in jail terms and blacklisting in Hollywood.

Alger Hiss

High-ranking State Department official accused by Richard Nixon of espionage; his trial was a significant event in the Red Scare.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Convicted of providing atomic secrets to the Soviets during WWII, resulting in controversial death sentences.

Joseph McCarthy

Senator notorious for unfounded accusations of communist infiltration in the U.S. government, notably within the State Department.

McCarthyism

Refers to the era of intense anti-communism led by McCarthy, characterized by baseless accusations and abuses of power.

Army-McCarthy Hearings

Televised hearings revealing McCarthy's questionable tactics and leading to his eventual discrediting.

J. Edgar Hoover

FBI Director who exploited anti-communism to expand FBI powers, surveilling numerous Americans, including political dissidents.

McCarran-Walter Act

1952 immigration law maintaining quotas and allowing deportation of individuals identified as communists, enacted over Truman's veto.

Operation Wetback

Government initiative targeting illegal immigration from Mexico, resulting in the deportation of over a million individuals.

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Description

Explore the pivotal concepts and key figures in Cold War history, including George Kennan's Long Telegram and the formulation of the Containment Policy. This quiz delves into the Truman Doctrine, the Iron Curtain, and the roles of the CIA and National Security Council in shaping U.S. foreign policy during this tense era.