America as a World Power (College Board AP® US History): Flashcards
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Why did the US want to keep communism out of Latin America?
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Cards in this collection (21)
Why did the US want to keep communism out of Latin America?
Latin America was so close to home.
What was a negative consequence of US anti-communism in Latin America?
It often led the US to support corrupt or dangerous dictators.
What happened in Guatemala in 1954?
The CIA helped overthrow Guatemala's socialist-leaning government, which threatened US business interests.
True or False?
In Latin America, Johnson cared more about whether nations were committed to democracy than whether they were against communism.
False.
Johnson cared more about nations being against communism than committed to democracy, so in 1964 the US supported a military coup against communist leadership in Brazil.
Why did Johnson send troops to the Dominican Republic in 1965?
Johnson sent troops to the Dominican Republic to prevent a communist overthrow of the government.
What challenges did the new nations of Africa and the Middle East face?
They lacked political and economic stability.
Define Third World (Cold War usage).
The Third World was the US term for newly independent, politically and economically unstable nations that emerged from colonial rule.
How did the destination of US foreign aid change in the 1950s?
Until 1952, most went to Europe; by 1960, 90% went to Third World nations.
Define Eisenhower Doctrine (1957).
The Eisenhower Doctrine pledged US economic and military support to any Middle Eastern country threatened by communism.
What prompted the Eisenhower Doctrine?
The USSR's growing influence in Egypt and Syria prompted it.
Define nonalignment.
Nonalignment was the policy of new nations, such as India and Egypt, that refused to choose democracy or communism, even while accepting foreign aid.
Why did US intervention in the Congo (1960) cause resentment among African nationalists?
They saw it as another example of white colonialism.
In April 1961, President John F. Kennedy authorized the failed invasion of Cuba by CIA-trained Cuban exiles.
In April 1961, President John F. Kennedy authorized the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by CIA-trained Cuban exiles.
Why did supporters argue nuclear weapons made the US safer?
Having the deadliest weapons acted as a deterrent to Soviet aggression.
How could nuclear weapons save the US money?
With weapons for massive, long-distance retaliation, the US could reduce its standing military and its costs.
How did stockpiling nuclear weapons fuel an arms race?
It encouraged the Soviet Union to build even more damaging weapons, forcing the US to increase its own capabilities.
What was the financial drawback of nuclear stockpiles?
Creating and maintaining nuclear stockpiles was hugely expensive.
True or False?
A US first strike would have removed the risk of nuclear retaliation.
False.
Even if the US attacked first, there was still the risk of mutual assured destruction.
Define military-industrial complex.
The military-industrial complex is the big business of manufacturing weapons in the United States and its ties to government and military officials.
At the end of his presidency, warned Americans about the dangerous influence of the military-industrial complex.
At the end of his presidency, Dwight Eisenhower warned Americans about the dangerous influence of the military-industrial complex.
What did Eisenhower fear about the military-industrial complex?
He feared officials would make policy decisions based on business relationships, not on what was best for the country and the world.
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