APUSH Chapter 36
Yalta Conference
1945 Meeting with US president FDR, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and and Soviet Leader Stalin during WWII to plan for post-war; Divided Germany into 4 zones
Harry S Truman
33rd President who took over after the death of Roosevelt and led the country during the last few months of World War II. He is best known for his controversial decision to use two atomic bombs against Japan and for implementation of the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine. Significance was that the Marshall Plan rebuilt Europe and his Truman Doctrine helped to contain communism.
NSC-68
A document that recommended quadrupling the money spent on defense in America. This is significant, because it allowed Truman to build up the American military way more than what was needed to handle Korea. It marked a great militarization of America, but also gave a sense that anything can be possible.
Reconstruction of Japan
Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur led a huge amount of reforms not unlike those of the New Deal. A democracy was established to rule for the people, with reforms ranging from political, economic, and even the military. Significant because this was the first time a foreign country had reconstructed another country.
United Nations
During WWII, Roosevelt initiated talks about an agency much like the League of Nations. It was established with 51 countries on October 24, 1945 with the intention of preventing another world war. Significant because it is still active today and many more countries have joined.
Chiang Kai-Shek
General and leader of Nationalist China after 1925. He became a military dictator whose major goal was to crush the communist movement led by Mao Zedong. His significance is he expelled Chinese communists from the party and led a successful unification of China.
Strom Thurmond
He was nominated for president on the States Rights Party, and split the Southern democrats because of Truman's view on Civil Rights. He is significant, because he stood in opposition of Civil Rights, and he split the democratic party because of the issue with Civil Rights.
Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech
In 1946, Churchill gave a speech to Westminster College about an "iron curtain" that divides the continent. It is significant because it changed the way the Democratic West viewed the Communist East, it popularized the term "iron curtain", and it is viewed as the start of the Cold War.
Election of 1948
In the 1948 election, Truman defeated Dewey with a surprising upset. People believed that Dewey would win because of the split in the democratic party over the issue of civil rights. The election is significant, because it is seen as the greatest presidential upset in history.
Marshall Plan
Introduced by Secretary of State George G. Marshall in 1947, he proposed massive and systematic American economic aid to Europe to revitalize the European economies after WWII and with the purpose to help prevent the spread of Communism. About $5.3 billion in mostly raw materials, food and fuel.
Potsdam Conference
July 26, 1945 - Allied leaders Truman, Stalin and Churchill met in Germany to set up zones of control and to inform the Japanese that if they refused to surrender at once, they would face total destruction.
The firing of MacArthur
MacArthur was the leading UN General in the Korean war, and successfully pushed past the 38th parallel. However, MacArthur underestimated the power of the Chinese and was humiliated and forced into a stalemate at the 38th parallel. MacArthur argued with Truman and his idea of "limited war", and was fired for his insubordination. This is significant, because it made Truman appear to be ignorant and communist friendly but MacArthur returned to America viewed as a hero.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country. 28 countries total are involved. Significant because treaties were one of the reasons the war had started in the first place.
Creation of Israel
One of the many things the UN did to preserve peace was to create the state of Israel. This was significant because it offered a homeland for the Jews.
Dennis v The United States
Supreme Court ruling that held "advocating or teaching" revolution was a "clear and present danger" to the United States. Communist Dennis did not have right of free speech if the act was to overthrow the government.
Truman's "Fair Deal" Program
The "Fair Deal" was a plan that called for social help. Some of the things it intended to do was improve housing, raise minimum wage, support farm pricing, and add an extension of social security. It is significant, because it effectively raised minimum wage, provided public housing in the form of the Housing Act of 1949, and provided more old-age insurance.
Nuremberg Trial
The Allies tried twenty-two German nazi leaders for their crimes against humanity. Twelve were hanged and seven got severe sentences. It was significant because it held them accountable for what they did during the Holocaust.
Mao Tse-tung
The Communist leader in China. He established his regime the people's Republic of China but the US refused to recognize it and continued to support the nationalist govt in Taiwan. significance is that he moved china towards western democracy, to help the Chinese people.
HUAC
The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was an investigating committee which investigated what it considered unAmerican propaganda. This of course was at a time of Communist uprising and the influential Cold War approaching, a scary time in American history.
"Dixiecrats"
They are southern democrats that removed themselves from the party because of opposition to civil rights for African Americans. They are significant, because they strongly opposed civil rights and stood in the way of blacks gaining equality.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
They were accused and convicted of giving atomic bomb data to the Soviet Union. They were executed, and are significant, because they committed treason against America. Also, they gave away secrets that could have potentially led to the Soviets beating the Americans in the Cold War.
Alger Hiss
Was accused of being a communist, and was forced to defend against Nixon and the Un-American Activities Committee. Hiss is significant, because he was convicted of perjury and brought about a realization of potential communist spies in America.
1947 National Security/National Security Council
a major restructuring act of the US government's military and intelligence agencies after World War 2. It created the National Security Council to coordinate foreign policy and defense policy, and to reconcile diplomatic and military commitments and requirements. Significance was that it was the first major reconstruction of the government.
Dr. Benjamin Spock
a pediatrician and author of "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Childcare" that instructed parents on modern child rearing and replacing traditional means of passing along such knowledge. He was significant because his book changed widely held attitudes toward raising children.
UNESCO
a relief-based agency of the UN, it is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It is significant because it brought many different kinds of benefits to people all over the world.
Division of Germany (and Berlin)
after WWII, the Allies wanted to prevent Germany from rearming. So, they split it into four sections and assigned each of them to the U.S., Britain, USSR, and France. West Germany was a democracy and the east was communist. The capital, Berlin, was split into east and west by the Berlin wall. Significant because it later created a conflict in which the Soviet Union blocked off all the railways to Berlin, but the U.S. flew in supplies to West Berlin, and the wall was later knocked down.
Baby Boom
an increase in the national birth rate that occurred during 1946-1964 and an estimated 78.3 million Americans were born during this time period. Significance was that it led to a 20% population increase and led to increasing consumer demand.
Smith Act of 1940
first anti sedition law since 1798 -- , made it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the US government by force or violence. Significant because it was made at a time of tremendous tension before World War 2.
George Kennan
he issued a "containment doctrine" that stated America's position toward Russia. It said that the USSR was expansionist by nature, but U.S. would hold it in check. Significant because it led to the Truman Doctrine.
Sunbelt
includes the states from Florida to California and they had warmer climates, lower taxes, and economic opportunities that prompted families uprooted by the war to move to these areas. Significance was that it showed the movement of people after WWII.
UNRRA
international relief agency, representing 44 nations (but largely dominated by the US), part of the United Nations. The purpose was to arrange for the administration of relief of victims of war in any area controlled by the United Nations of basic necessities
Truman Doctrine
it made the containment policy official. In it, he asked Congress for 400 million dollars to aid Greece and Turkey because they were feeling communist pressures. It is significant because it was later broadened to say the U.S. could stop communism anywhere it was trying to spread, which influenced foreign policy for the next four decades.
Berlin Airlift
it was America's response to the Berlin blockade. The U.S. flew supplies to West Berlin. Significant because it worked and the Soviet Union eventually ended the blockade.
"White Flight"
large scale migration of whites from racially mixed urban regions to white suburbs and exburbs. Significance was that it occurred partly from the Great Migration and it showed the constant racism of the some people.
"Voice of America"
official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. This government agency was created to make radio (and later TV) broadcasts of news and entertainment into foreign countries, especially into those controlled by communists.
United Nations Security Council
one of the "categories" of the UN, it dealt with conflict and war. It had 11 member nations, 5 permanent (U.S., Britain, France, U.S.S.R., and China). Significant because it ended up being really influential and active in world affairs.
Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944
provided for college or vocational education for returning WWII veterans, one year of employment compensation, and provided loans for them to buy homes and start businesses. Significant was that veterans were finally rewarded like they should have been in WWI.
World Bank
provided loans for reconstruction of Europe and developing Third World countries. its significance is that it promotes economic and social progress in developing countries by helping raise productivity so that their people may live a better and fuller life.
Richard Nixon
republican president and vice president who led the hunt of communists in America. He was significant, because he was a leader in anti-communism and exposed the real danger of Soviet spies in America.
Taft-Hartley Act of 1947
restricted the activity and power of labor unions. It also made labor unions liable for damages that resulted from jurisdictional strikes and required union leaders to take a non-communist oath. Significance was that it checked the growing power of labor unions.
International Monetary Fund
stabilize currencies and provide a predictable monetary environment for trade, mostly US dollars. Significance is it keeps prices low, and it avoids unfair foreign exchange.
CIO
the Congress of Industrial Organizations that was proposed by John L. Lewis and was a federation of unions that organized unskilled workers in industrial unions. Significance was that it organized the unskilled workers since the AFL was reluctant to organize them.
Berlin Blockade
the Soviet Union cut off the railway to West Berlin, hoping to starve it out enough so they would have to give themselves to East Berlin. Significant because the Soviet Union's efforts did not work.
H-Bomb
the hydrogen bomb, 1000 x more powerful than the atomic bomb. The first was detonated in 1952, and the soviets responded in 1953. Thus started the nuclear arms race and the cold war.
The "Fall of China"
two forces rose and fought, the Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. Through a couple years of fighting, the Republic of China moved to Taiwan as the Peoples Republic of China stayed in the mainland.
Levitowns
utilized mass production techniques to build inexpensive homes in suburban NY to relieve post war housing shortage. Significance was that it provided homes for lower middle class families and the fast and easy production of homes allowed rapid recovery of costs.
Veterans Administration
was an agency of the federal government created to provide a loan guarantee program, which enabled qualified veterans to finance real estate purchases with a higher loan to value ratio than is normally possible with conventional financing. Significance was that it is still used today and provides veterans with benefits.
Federal Housing Administration
was created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934 that insured loans made by banks and other private lenders for home building and home buying. Significance was that it improved housing standards and home buying, provided an adequate home financing system through insurance of mortgage loans and it helped to stabilize the mortgage market.
Council of Economic Advisors
was established by the Employment Act of 1946 to confer with the president and formulate policies for maintaining employment, production, and purchasing power. Significance was that it advised the president of the U.S. on economic policy.
"Operation Dixie"
was the fueled effort by the CIO after WWII to unionize Southern workers, especially in textile factories. Significance was that the campaigns defeat led to the CIO merge with the AFL.