Flashcards: Cold War flashcards

Secretary of State under President Harry Truman from 1949-1953, Acheson carried forth the policies of his predecessor, George C. Marshall, supporting the European Recovery Plan and representing the United States at the conference on the creation of NATO. After leaving his official duties in 1953, Acheson served in an advisory capacity to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

Nations that fought together in World War II. The major Allied Powers were Great Britain, France, the United States of America, and eventually, the Soviet Union. artifact: Object made by human workmanship that is of importance to archaeology or history.

Huge increase in the number of babies born during and after World War II.

American POW of Japanese who made a United States flag from parachutes that dropped food and supplies into the camp where he was being held. The flag is on display in the Presidential Years Exhibit.

The first prime minister of the new state of Israel in 1948.

Internationally acclaimed artist who designed and painted the mural in the main lobby of the Truman Presidential Museum & Library. Benton was born in Neosho, Missouri, in 1889, and died at his Kansas City residence in 1975.

The power struggle between the democracies (U.S., Britain and France) and Russia for control of Berlin resulted in a Soviet blockade of roads and railroad crossings from East Berlin to West Berlin. This meant that West Berliners would not be able to get the 4,000 tons of food, fuel, and other supplies that they needed. Further, the Russians shut off West Berlin’s electrical supply. Announcing that “We are going to stay—period,” Truman authorized the airlifting of food and other necessities to the people of West Berlin. For the next 11 months, American, British, and French pilots would make more than 277,000 flights to deliver more than two million tons of supplies to West Berlin. Stalin was not able to weaken West Berlin as he had hoped. The blockade ended in May 1949.

A town or city that is closed off from others or isolated by enemy forces.

Truman’s secretary of state from 1945 until January 1947.Brynes began his political career in the House (1910-24) and in 1930, was elected to the United States Senate. A strong supporter of Franklin Roosevelt, he helped to push New Deal legislation through Congress. He was appointed to the United States Supreme Court by FDR but resigned after one term to become the president’s economic advisor. Brynes was present at Yalta and his handwritten notes are the only verbatim record of Roosevelt’s last meeting with Churchill and Stalin. In his role as secretary of state, Brynes was given a great deal of latitude when meeting with foreign ministers after the war’s end. When Truman reasserted his control as the foreign policy chief, Brynes resigned rather than accept the role of subordinate. In the 1948 presidential campaign, he supported the Dixiecrat candidate, Henry Wallace. In 1950 Brynes was elected the governor of South Carolina. James Brynes retired from public life in 1955.

A person who waits on customers at a drive-in restaurant or movie theater serving foods and beverages. Drive-ins were popular during the fifties and early sixties with teens as not only a place to eat, but to socialize.

A truce or temporary agreement by both sides in a conflict to stop hostilities in order to try to negotiate a settlement.

Leader of the Chinese Nationalist forces, Chiang struggled to gain control of the mainland of China. He and his followers were forced to flee to the island of Formosa when Mao and the Communists took control of China in 1949.

Equal division of governmental powers among three branches. Each branch has a method of restricting the power of the other two so that no one branch can become more powerful than the others. Examples of checks and balances would be the presidential veto, the impeachment power of Congress, and the right of the Supreme Court to interpret laws passed by Congress.

Prime Minister of Great Britain during most of World War II who, with his stirring words, inspired his countrymen as they stood alone against Hitler’s mighty war machine. Along with Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, Churchill was one the “Big Three” leaders of the Allied nations. In 1945, President Truman, Churchill, and Stalin, met in Germany at the Potsdam Conference. It was at the invitation of President Truman that Churchill came to Fulton, Missouri, to Westminster College where he delivered the famous “Iron Curtain” Address.

Freedoms guaranteed to the people of the United States by the Bill of Rights, Amendments 13 and 14, and acts of Congress, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender or race.

In 1944 Clay became deputy director of the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion but left that position in 1945 to become deputy chief of the United States military government in Germany. He was named commander of America’s forces in Europe in 1947 and as such, he directed U.S. military affairs during the Soviet blockade of Berlin. General Clay retired from the army in 1949; however, he returned to public service in

Special adviser to President Truman on matters of foreign policy, military affairs, and labor issues from 1946-50. Clifford gave input on the Truman Doctrine and the bill that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Defense Department. He also was Truman’s 1948 campaign strategist.

A term used to describe the tensions that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union after WWII. Their opposing political and economic ideologies led to a war of words and ideas causing great fear among their peoples that another deadly war was imminent

The welfare of the majority of people in a state or nation; the national interest.

Official philosophy of the former Soviet Union that extols a belief in complete government ownership of land and the means of production. A single party holds all of the power and suppresses individual rights.

Politically speaking, a person who tends to oppose change favoring a small federal government and opposes most entitlement programs.

The specific actions that each branch of government can perform according to the United States Constitution.

The idea that the United States and its allies would keep communism in check and prevent its spread initiated with an official in the Department of State named George F. Kennan. Containment was the idea inherent in the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO and will be the cornerstone of America’s foreign policy for decades.

A condition or situation that exists in actual fact or reality.

Process of disbanding or releasing from military duty.

One of the two major political parties in the United States and the oldest. The Democratic Party of today was formed from the Democratic-Republican Party of President Andrew Jackson in 1828.

The Governor of New York who ran as the Republican candidate for the presidency in 1948 against the Democratic candidate, Harry S. Truman.

To show partiality or preference for one person(s) or group(s) over others.

Issues or concerns relating to one’s own nation.

A civil defense routine practiced by school children in the 1950s that supposedly would protect them in the event of a direct nuclear attack. Students were to take shelter under a desk or table, shield their eyes and cover their heads; in other words, “duck and cover.”

President of the United States from 1953-1961 and Supreme Allied Commander of Allied forces in World War II.

Spying on or gathering information about an enemy in a secretive manner.

The branch of the United States government that enforces laws and oversees government departments. The president is the head of the executive branch.

An order signed by the president that does not need Congressional approval.

Truman’s 1948 campaign platform. Some of the programs Truman pledged to work for were civil rights, national health insurance, a higher minimum wage, and more federal money for education.

Presidential railroad car used by President Truman in his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign. Traveling aboard the Ferdinand Magellan, President Truman covered almost 22,000 miles in 30 states making hundreds of speeches in his bid for the presidency.

Relations between one country and another country or countries.

An area in a town or city usually enclosed by a wall or fence, where minority groups are forced to live because of discrimination or oppressive measures by the majority rule.

An enlisted person or veteran of the armed forces; abbreviation for “Government Issue.”

A member of an irregular army that uses the element of surprise to undercut an enemy in an occupied region.

Acting Army Chief of Staff in Washington, General Thomas C. Handy signed the final authorization to drop the atomic bomb on one of four targeted cities: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Niigata or Kokura. The order specified that the bomb be dropped after August 3rd when weather permitted. The authorization was sent to Gen. Carl Spaatz, commander of the Strategic Air Forces to be carried out.

Harriman served as ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1943-46 and was Commerce Secretary from 1946-48. He was the United States representative abroad for the Marshall Plan in 1948. From 1951-53, Harriman was head of the Mutual Security Agency which coordinated all military, economic, and technical aid to foreign countries.

Emperor of Japan who, on August 15, 1945, announced to his people that the time had come to “bear the unbearable” meaning that Japan was going to surrender to the United States.

The first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. Hiroshima was targeted by American military command because of its location and it was a regional headquarters for the Japanese army. It is estimated that 130,000 people died from the initial blast and the effects of radiation. The impact of the bomb destroyed 4.4 square miles of the city.

Accused by Whittaker Chambers in sworn testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities of being a Soviet spy, Alger Hiss’s guilt of espionage was never conclusively proven at the time. But Hiss was convicted of perjury for lying to a congressional committee and sentenced to five years in prison. He served 44 months. In 1996, Soviet documents revealed information that gave support to the charge that Alger Hiss did pass information to the Russians. The Congressional investigation of Alger Hiss gave Richard Nixon the opportunity to advance to the national stage politically.

Highly systematic and extreme plan by the Nazi to exterminate the Jews and other groups thought to be undesirable.

Established in 1938 as a special Congressional committee, HUAC became a permanent group in 1948. The purpose of the committee was to investigate any person suspected of disloyalty to the United States of America. Many people would be falsely accused of communist party leanings and suffered personally and professionally as a result.

A jury that cannot agree on a verdict. inflation: The steady rise of consumer prices resulting in a decline in consumer purchasing power.

Policy of avoiding political, economic, or military alliances with foreign nations.

The branch of the United States government that interprets laws and judges the constitutionality of laws.

A policy-planner with the Department of State, Kennan would become an important adviser to Dean Acheson, Truman’s Secretary of State. In 1952, he was appointed U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union but due to remarks that the Soviet government found objectionable, he was quickly recalled. Kennan left public service in 1953 to accept a professorship at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey, a position that he held until 1974. Kennan was the architect of Truman’s Soviet foreign policy—containment. The basic premise was to “contain” communism where it already existed and use U.S. strength to counter Soviet pressure to other countries. Kennan published his views in the prestigious Foreign Affairs in 1947. Containment became the basis of America’s foreign policy decisions for decades.

A bomber commander in Europe and the 20th Air Force in the Pacific during the World War II, LeMay became commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1948.

Military chief of staff and the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for both FDR and Harry Truman. He urged Truman to give aid Iran, Greece, and Turkey in 1947.

In the political sense, liberal refers to attitudes, ideas, and policies that approve of reform, change, and toleration.

Military activity that is localized or contained in a specific area and does not involve the use of nuclear weapons.

Allied commander of the Southwest Pacific in WWII, General MacArthur was appointed Commander in chief of the United Nations forces in Korea by President Truman. The differences between the President and the General over what kind of war to fight in Korea and MacArthur’s public criticism of Truman’s policies in the Far East, led to his dismissal in April 1951. The firing of the popular war hero was one of Truman’s most controversial decisions.

Leader of the Chinese Communist Revolution, Mao announced a communist government in China in 1949. His forces had successfully defeated the Chinese

Army Chief of Staff during World War II, George C. Marshall served President Truman as secretary of state, president of the American Red Cross, and secretary of defense. Marshall proposed the European Recovery Program (the Marshall Plan) in 1947 in a speech at Harvard University. Congress appropriated over $13 billion in aid to the war-torn countries of Europe to enable them to recover. Marshall agreed with Truman that a limited war should be fought in Korea and that MacArthur should be relieved of his command in the Far East. In 1953 the Nobel Peace Prize was award to General Marshall, the only military man to receive the honor.

Concern with or desire to acquire money and all of the things money can buy.

A candelabrum with seven branches each is representative of a day of the Creation. A

A staunch supporter of Joseph Stalin, Molotov served in several powerful positions in the Communist party before becoming Soviet foreign minister in 1939. After Hitler invaded Russia in 1941, Molotov was instrumental in securing aid from the Allies. He helped with the creation of the U.N. As a negotiator, Molotov rigidly and tenaciously upheld Communist party policies.

One person or one group that controls a product or service.

The second Japanese city to be hit by an atomic bomb on August 9, 1945, Nagasaki was a heavily populated industrial center. Estimates put the death toll between 60,000 to 70,000 people. On August 10, the Japanese government sent word via the Swiss embassy that Japan would accept the Potsdam Declaration. Washington already had this information as the message had been intercepted by MAGIC.

Created in 1947, the National Security Council consists of the president and his advisors on matters of defense and security.

National Security Council secret document, authored by Paul Nitze, that proposed increasing defense spending from $13 billion to $50 billion annually. The report warned that America was woefully unprepared to stave off the threat of Soviet domination. The policy of containment was no longer enough. The “grave” peril that the United States faced necessitated a massive, hugely expensive military build-up. Realizing that he would need time to sell Congress and the public on the idea of such enormous expenditures, Truman sent the paper to the National Security Council for study. Within a short time however, an international crisis would necessitate massive sums of money be appropriated for defense and fear of Soviet military capability consumed America.

Germany, from 1933 until 1945, under the totalitarian leadership of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party or Nazi for short.

Franklin Roosevelt’s 1932 campaign platform consisting of programs and policies to be implemented by the federal government to deal with the economic crisis of the Great Depression. After taking office in January 1933, Roosevelt called Congress into a special session that lasted one hundred days and resulted in the creation on many government agencies designed to relieve the sufferings of all segments of the populace.

Senator Richard Nixon charged that President Truman and his administration were sheltering communist party members employed by the federal government. In a 1952 campaign speech, vice presidential candidate Nixon, came very close to calling Harry Truman, Dean Acheson, and Adlai Stevenson, traitors to America. He asserted that the president thwarted the work of the House Committee on Un-American Activities when they were investigating Alger Hiss. For his part, Truman did not like or trust Nixon.

Giving false testimony under oath.

The ultimatum issued by President Truman, Chiang Kai-shek (China), and Winston Churchill (Great Britain) to Japan in 1945 to surrender unconditionally or face “prompt and utter destruction.”

Leaders of the executive departments of the governments who give advice to the president.

United States military decoration given to a member of the armed forces who was wounded or killed in action.

Director of the laboratory at Los Alamos where the first atomic bombs were built, Robert Oppenheimer became chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1947.

A person who leaves his/her native country usually because of persecution or invasion by an outside force.

The legislative body in Germany.

A form of government in which the highest authority rests with the people who elect representatives to govern on their behalf and in the interest of the common good. Every citizen has the right to participate either directly or indirectly in the governmental process. Usually the head of state is elected.

Formed in 1854 to oppose the extension of slavery, the Republican party is generally viewed as being more conservative than the Democratic party. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican to be elected to the White House in 1860.

Considered the leading Airborne commander during World War II, Ridgway replaced MacArthur as commander of United Nations forces in Korea in 1951. He was one of the most highly regarded field officers to ever have served in the United States Army. Personable, knowledgeable and courageous, Ridgway had the ability to turn difficult units into disciplined and successful soldiers.

The first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 until 1956.

American artist who designed the cover of the Saturday Evening Post for 40 years.His perception of America as depicted in his art earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.

President of the United States from 1932-1945. FDR led the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II. He died April 12, 1945, shortly before the Germans surrendered. His Vice-President, Harry S. Truman, became the 33rd President.

To isolate or set apart.

Situation in which neither side in a conflict is able to gain the advantage.

Head of the Soviet Union, Stalin came to power in the 1924 after the death of Lenin. In order to have complete control over the Russian people, he instituted forced labor, seized land, controlled the courts of law, and denied freedom of expression. Anyone suspected of disloyalty or who dared to openly challenge his rule was exiled or murdered. Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Germany in 1939 and the two countries divided Poland. It was therefore, a shock to Stalin when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. Stalin, as the wartime leader of his country, attended conferences in Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam. Joseph Stalin died in 1953.

Conditions as they exist at a given time.

Secretary of War from 1940 until his retirement in September 1945. Stimson informed President Truman about the Manhatten Project in late April 1945. Information on the development of an atomic weapon by a team of scientists led by Leslie Groves had not been shared with Vice-President Truman.

In an attempt to gain better working conditions and/or higher wages, workers stop

Money given, usually by a government, to help support or aid a group, a business, or another government.

Son of President William Howard Taft, and conservative Republican senator from Ohio, Robert Taft was an unrelenting critic of the Truman administration. He co-sponsored the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act which was passed over President Truman’s veto. The Taft-Hartley Act allowed the president to send striking workers back to work for a period of eighty days if the interests of the nation were affected. This “cooling off” period gave time for the government to both sides of the situation and make recommendations to end the impasse.

South Carolina senator since 1954, Thurmond was the presidential candidate of the State’s Rights Democrats (Dixiecrats) in 1948. Objecting to the civil rights plant of the party platform, and refusing to support Harry Truman for president, Southern Democrats bolted from the party. Strom Thurmond won 39 electoral votes. He still holds the Senate record for the longest filibuster. He spoke against a civil rights bill for more than 24 hours in 1957.

The Torah is the first five books of Hebrew Scripture. The term Torah may also be used to refer to the scroll containing the literature, oral traditions, and laws sacred to the Jewish faith used in the temple service.

Addressing a joint session of Congress in 1947, President Truman urged the United States “to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.” Providing aid to such countries would the basis of the “Truman Doctrine” and the cornerstone of America’s foreign policy for decades to come. In 1947, Congress implemented the Truman Doctrine by approving $400 million to support Greece and Turkey in their quest to remain independent of Soviet control.

A peacekeeping organization formed in 1945 by the fifty-five victorious allies of World War II. The headquarters is in New York City.

May 8, 1945,”Victory in Europe Day,” celebrated the end of World War II in Europe. President Truman proclaimed this date as the celebration day because General Eisenhower had received the German surrender at his headquarters in Reims, France on May 7.

September 2, 1945, was declared “Victory Over Japan Day” by President Truman. On this date, Japanese delegates representing Emperor Hirohito signed the terms of surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Central Pacific coral atoll where President Truman met General MacArthur for the first time face-to-face. It would be the only time the two men would be together. The purpose of the Wake Island meeting was for the president and the general to reach some kind of rapport; however, that would not be the end result of the conference.

Henry Wallace served as Franklin Roosevelt’s Vice President from 1940 until 1944 when he became Secretary of Commerce. Wallace remained in that position until 1946 when he was asked to resign because he criticized President Truman’s policy toward the Soviet Union. In 1948, dissatisfied with the Democratic party platform, the liberals formed the Progressive Party. Henry Wallace was their presidential candidate running against Harry Truman. The Progressives attacked the Marshall Plan, and favored disarmament. Wallace polled over one million popular votes but carried no states.

Two-time president of the World Zionist Organization, Weizmann became Israel’s first president 1948 and served until 1952. His academic training was in science (chemistry). He founded the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Held in February 1945, this will be the last meeting that President Roosevelt will attend with Churchill and Stalin. The purpose was to discuss postwar Europe. FDR had three goals: creation of a peacekeeping organization; a Soviet declaration of war against Japan; and a decision on the question of Poland’s future. Stalin agreed to declare war against the Japanese two or three months after Germany surrendered in exchange for Soviet control of Manchuria, Mongolia, half of the Sakhalin and Kurile Islands, a zone of occupation in Korea, and veto power (along with Britain, France, China and the U.S.) in the United Nations. Germany would be jointly occupied by the “Big Three” Allied powers and the French. The United States and Great Britain agreed to acknowledge Soviet influence in Poland with the understanding that free elections would be held at the earliest possible date. The Polish question will help to fuel Cold War tension between the Soviets and Americans for years to come.