1. Cold War A struggle over political differences between the United States (Democracy and Capitalism) and the Soviet Union (Communism and Socialism) in which both countries lived on the brink of nuclear war until the collapse of the Soviet Union in A struggle over political differences between the United States (Democracy and Capitalism) and the Soviet Union (Communism and Socialism) in which both countries lived on the brink of nuclear war until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993.

2. Korean Conflict (War) This conflict was fought from 1950 – 1953 in a country being armed by Soviet Union who urged the population to adopt communism. President Truman sited the “Domino Theory” sending troops to help. After three years of bitter fighting, the struggle ended in a stalemate. This conflict was fought from 1950 – 1953 in a country being armed by Soviet Union who urged the population to adopt communism. President Truman sited the “Domino Theory” sending troops to help. After three years of bitter fighting, the struggle ended in a stalemate.

3. Vietnam Conflict (War) This conflict was fought from 1955 – It was the longest and bloodiest Cold War conflict. The U.S. intervened in this country to help stop the spread of communism into Vietnam. The conflict met with bitter protest in the U.S. & the conflict ended in a cease-fire agreement. It was a crushing & embarrassing defeat for the United States. This conflict was fought from 1955 – It was the longest and bloodiest Cold War conflict. The U.S. intervened in this country to help stop the spread of communism into Vietnam. The conflict met with bitter protest in the U.S. & the conflict ended in a cease-fire agreement. It was a crushing & embarrassing defeat for the United States.

4. Cuban Missile Crisis This was the most dangerous Cold War dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1962 the S.U. allied themselves with the Cuban communist dictator, Fidel Castro, and placed atomic missiles pointed strait at the U.S. in Cuba. Soviet Premier Khrushchev refused to remove the missiles, so President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba to stop any supplies from going in or out. After 13 tense days, the Soviets backed off and dismantled the missiles.

5. Bay of Pigs On April 17, 1961, 1,500 CIA trained Cuban exiles & American troops landed at the Bay of Pigs in southern Cuba with the intent of capturing & removing Fidel Castro from power. Wanting to keep the mission low-key, President Kennedy called off air support without the knowledge of the commanders on the ground. Poorly planned, within days, Cuban forces crushed the invasion & captured the survivors. On April 17, 1961, 1,500 CIA trained Cuban exiles & American troops landed at the Bay of Pigs in southern Cuba with the intent of capturing & removing Fidel Castro from power. Wanting to keep the mission low-key, President Kennedy called off air support without the knowledge of the commanders on the ground. Poorly planned, within days, Cuban forces crushed the invasion & captured the survivors.

6. Embargo An order, usually proclaimed by a president or the government of a country, to prohibit trade with another country. An order, usually proclaimed by a president or the government of a country, to prohibit trade with another country. Ex: After Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to place missiles trained on the U.S., President Kennedy placed an embargo on their country which lasted for several years Ex: After Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to place missiles trained on the U.S., President Kennedy placed an embargo on their country which lasted for several years.

7. “Baby Boom” A marked increase in the birthrate, especially in the US following WWII. A marked increase in the birthrate, especially in the US following WWII.

8. Universal Declaration of Human Rights Eleanor Roosevelt was the first woman to represent a country when she was sent to represent the United States at the newly created United Nations following WWII. Eleanor played a vital role in expanding the rights of people all around the world when she was given the position of “Chairman” over a committee that would write this important U.N. document still cited today. Eleanor Roosevelt was the first woman to represent a country when she was sent to represent the United States at the newly created United Nations following WWII. Eleanor played a vital role in expanding the rights of people all around the world when she was given the position of “Chairman” over a committee that would write this important U.N. document still cited today.

9. G.I. Bill of Rights As soldiers returned home following WWII, the government began discussing ways to help them. First known as the servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, this bill offered money for college or job training, low or no interest loans to buy homes or businesses, and unemployment benefits to military veterans. As soldiers returned home following WWII, the government began discussing ways to help them. First known as the servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, this bill offered money for college or job training, low or no interest loans to buy homes or businesses, and unemployment benefits to military veterans.

10. Capitalism An economic system based on private property and free enterprise. An economic system based on private property and free enterprise.

11. Communism An economic system in which all goods are owned jointly; in the Soviet Union, this developed into a government in which all social and economic policy decisions were made by a single party. Free speech was not allowed. An economic system in which all goods are owned jointly; in the Soviet Union, this developed into a government in which all social and economic policy decisions were made by a single party. Free speech was not allowed.

12. Containment Theory (of Communism) The policy or process of preventing the expansion of a hostile power (mainly communism). The policy or process of preventing the expansion of a hostile power (mainly communism). The US wanted to stop the Soviet Union’s expansion through limited military and non-military means in areas of the world that were of strategic importance to the US. This policy caused the United States to become involved in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. The US wanted to stop the Soviet Union’s expansion through limited military and non-military means in areas of the world that were of strategic importance to the US. This policy caused the United States to become involved in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

13. Blockade To cut off an area or country by means of troops or warships to stop supplies or people from coming in or going out; to close off a country’s ports. To cut off an area or country by means of troops or warships to stop supplies or people from coming in or going out; to close off a country’s ports. Ex: In order to enforce the embargo the U.S. placed on Cuba, for allowing Soviet missiles to be placed in their country, the U.S. created one of these with our navy ships. Ex: In order to enforce the embargo the U.S. placed on Cuba, for allowing Soviet missiles to be placed in their country, the U.S. created one of these with our navy ships.

14. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) On April 1949, the U.S., Canada, and 10 Western European Nations signed a pact establishing this pact of member nations. Stating an armed attack against one (of member nations) shall be considered an attack on all. To defend against a possible Soviet invasion of Western Europe, these countries created a large military force. On April 1949, the U.S., Canada, and 10 Western European Nations signed a pact establishing this pact of member nations. Stating an armed attack against one (of member nations) shall be considered an attack on all. To defend against a possible Soviet invasion of Western Europe, these countries created a large military force.

15. Warsaw Pact This organization was established in 1955 by mutual defense treaties (mostly in response to the formation of NATO). The Soviet Union controlled a military force under this agreement and pledged to aid communist nations. With the creation of this organization, Europe was divided into two armed “camps.” This organization was established in 1955 by mutual defense treaties (mostly in response to the formation of NATO). The Soviet Union controlled a military force under this agreement and pledged to aid communist nations. With the creation of this organization, Europe was divided into two armed “camps.”

16. Berlin Wall After WWII, Germany was partitioned into zones which were occupied in the West by democratic and capitalist nations and in the East by the communist Soviet Union. Berlin was also partitioned into like zones. After WWII, Germany was partitioned into zones which were occupied in the West by democratic and capitalist nations and in the East by the communist Soviet Union. Berlin was also partitioned into like zones. In the years following, a steady flow of people fled from East Germany to West Germany hoping to escape Soviet oppression. However, on August 13, 1949, East Germany’s government closed the border between East & West by building a wall of concrete blocks and barbed wire around the capital. In the years following, a steady flow of people fled from East Germany to West Germany hoping to escape Soviet oppression. However, on August 13, 1949, East Germany’s government closed the border between East & West by building a wall of concrete blocks and barbed wire around the capital. Soviets posted armed guards along the wall to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West and cut off communication and trade between to the Eastern portion of the German capital. Soviets posted armed guards along the wall to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West and cut off communication and trade between to the Eastern portion of the German capital.

17. Iron Curtain The symbolic metaphor given to describe the political and military barrier that isolated Soviet controlled countries of Eastern Europe from the rest of the world following WWII. The symbolic metaphor given to describe the political and military barrier that isolated Soviet controlled countries of Eastern Europe from the rest of the world following WWII.

18. United Nations On June 26, 1945 in San Francisco, California 50 Nations, including Soviet Union, signed a charter creating this organization. It was hoped this organization would settle disputes between nations and prevent future wars through negotiations and by use of “peace keeping” forces. On June 26, 1945 in San Francisco, California 50 Nations, including Soviet Union, signed a charter creating this organization. It was hoped this organization would settle disputes between nations and prevent future wars through negotiations and by use of “peace keeping” forces.

19. George Marshall The United States instituted this man’s plan, The Marshall Plan, after WWII. It provided for massive financial aid to rebuild European economies and prevent the spread of communism. The United States instituted this man’s plan, The Marshall Plan, after WWII. It provided for massive financial aid to rebuild European economies and prevent the spread of communism.

20. Eleanor Roosevelt Her life reflected her commitment to public service in our country and throughout the world. Married to FDR, she became known as the First Lady of the World. She served a delegate to the United Nations and kept on with her humanitarian work; always fighting racial injustice, women’s equality, and working tirelessly for social reform. Her life reflected her commitment to public service in our country and throughout the world. Married to FDR, she became known as the First Lady of the World. She served a delegate to the United Nations and kept on with her humanitarian work; always fighting racial injustice, women’s equality, and working tirelessly for social reform.