Modern World History Chapter 17 Vocab

United Nations

an international peacekeeping organization founded in 1945 to provide security to the nations of the world.

Iron Curtain

During Cold War, the boundary that separated the communist nations of Eastern Europe from the Mostly democratic nations of Western Europe.

Containment

US foreign policy adopted by President Truman in the 1940's in which the US tried to stop the spread of communism by creating alliances and helping weak countries to resist Soviet advances.

Truman Doctrine

announced by Pres. Truman in 1947, a US policy of giving economic and military aid to free nations threadtened by internal/external opponents.

Marshall Plan

A US program of economic aid to European countries to help them rebuild after WW2. (12$ Billion)

Cold War

The state of diplomatic hostility between the US and the Soviet Union in the decades following WW2

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization- defensice military alliance formed in 1949 by ten western European nations, the US and Canada.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and seven eastern Europen countries.

brinkmanship

a policy of threatening to go to war in response to enemy aggression.

Mao Zedong

This man became the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and remained its leader until his death. He declared the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and supported the Chinese peasantry throughout his life.

Jiang Jieshi

The opposing person to Mao, who was in charge of the Nationalist Party. He dominated southwestern China, however in 1949, Mao got complete control of China. This person and his people fled to Taiwan, where the USA helped them set up a nationalist governme

Commune

In communist China a collective farm on which a great number of people work and live together

Red Guards

Milita units formed by young Chinese poeple in 1966 in response to Mao Zedong's call for a social and cultural revolution.

Cultural Revolution

a 1966-1976 uprising in China led by the Red Guards, with the goal of establishing a society of peasants and workers in which all were equal.

38th Parallel

a line that crosses Korea at 38 degrees north latitude

Douglas MacArthur

(1880-1964), U.S. general. Commander of U.S. (later Allied) forces in the southwestern Pacific during World War II, he accepted Japan's surrender in 1945 and administered the ensuing Allied occupation. He was in charge of UN forces in Korea 1950-51,

Ho Chi Minh

1950s and 60s; communist leader of North Vietnam; used geurilla warfare to fight anti-comunist, American-funded attacks under the Truman Doctrine; brilliant strategy drew out war and made it unwinnable

Ngo Dinh Diem

South Vietnamese president that was catholic and strongly opposed communism. His poor leadership and corrupt government spelled doom

Vietcong

a group of communist geurillas who fought against the South Vietnamese government in the Vietnam War.

Domino Theory

the idea if a nation falls under communist control, nearby nations will also fall under communist rule.

Vietnamazation

President Nixon's stategy for enduring US involvment in the Vietnam War. Withdraw US and fill with Vietnamese Troops.

Khmer Rouge

Group o communist rebels who seized power in Cambodia in 1975.

Third World

During Cold War- developing nations not allied with US or Soviet Union

non aligned nations

independent nations that remained neutral in the Cold War competition between US and Soviet Union

Fidel Castro

led the revolution of Cuba and took control of Cuba in 1959; resented past dictators; made Cuba communist (Lawyer)

Anastasio Somoza

the dictator of Nicaragua and a US ally. His government was overthrown by leftist revolutionaries (Sandinistas) in 1979.

Daniel Ortega

leader of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. He introduced Socialist reforms in Nicaragua

Ayatollah Khomeini

Shi'ite philosopher and cleric who led the overthrow of the shah of Iran in 1979 and created an Islamic republic.

Nikita Khrushchev

ruled the USSR from 1958-1964; lessened government control of soviet citizens; seeked peaceful coexistence with the West instead of confrontation

Leonid Brezhner

the leader of the Soviet Union during the 1970's. Extremelly repressive.

John F. Kennedy

President during Bay of Pigs, and Cuban Missile Crisis. Strong image icon. Creator of Civil Rights Act.

Lyndon Johnson

the US president who privately wanted to stay out of Vietnam but sent soldiers because his goal was to stop the spread of communism

Detente

a policy of reducing Cold War tensions that was adopted by the US during the presidency of Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

he was elected to be US President after Johnson decided to not to run for US president again. He promised peace with honor in Vietnam which means withdrawing American soliders from South Vietnam

SALT

the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks- a series of meeting in the 70's in which the leaders of the US and the Soviet Unionagreed to limit their nations stocks of nuclear weapons.

Ronald Reagan

president, 1981-1989, who led a conservative movement against d�tente with the Soviet Union and the growth of the federal government; some people credit him with America's victory in the Cold War while others fault his insensitive social agenda and irresp