Cold War & Vietnam

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Arms Race

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Race between U.S. and the U.S.S.R. to develop the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons; both believed whichever nation had the largest arsenal of weapons would serve as a deterrent to those wanting to attack.

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Baby Boom

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The population explosion that occurred when soldiers returned from WWII; resulted in major economic and social changes to life in the U.S.

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Berlin Airlift

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U.S. military air operation that brought food and other needed supplies to West Berlin after the government of East Germany cut West Berlin off from supply routes; lasted 11 months.

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Blacklist

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List of entertainment professionals, who were denied employment during time of the McCarthy hearings, because of alleged association with the communist party.

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Cold War

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Political hostility between the U.S. and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies that stopped just short of open warfare; both engaged in threats and propaganda against the opposing side.

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Containment Policy

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Truman’s policy, based on the theory that communist governments would fall if they were not able to expand their influence on other countries; believed this policy was better than directly challenging them in military conflicts.

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Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

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A neutral area in which warring nations agree to remove any military forces; The 38th parallel in Korea was the DMZ and served as the boundary between North and South Korea after the partition.

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Domino Theory

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Hypothesis that if one country falls to communism it will lead to neighboring countries suffering the same consequence.

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GI Bill of Rights

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Bill passed to assist returning World War II soldiers readjust to civilian life; included unemployment assistance, money for education and occupational training programs, and low-cost loans for housing.

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H-Bomb (Hydrogen bomb)

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A nuclear bomb a 1000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb; first tested by the U.S. in 1951, quickly followed by the Soviets testing theirs; became the most sought after weapon in the arms race.