Chapter 15 - Foreign Policy

Front 1

Cold War

Back 1

The ideological, political, and economic confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union following WWII.

Front 2

Containment

Back 2

A U.S. diplomatic policy adopted by the Truman administration to contain Communist power within its existing boundaries.

Front 3

Defense policy

Back 3

A subset of national security policies having to do with the U.S. armed forces.

Front 4

Détente

Back 4

A French word meaning a relaxation of tensions. The term characterized US-Soviet relations as they developed under President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Front 5

Diplomacy

Back 5

The process by which states carry on political relations with each other, settling conflicts among nations by peaceful means.

Front 6

Economic aid

Back 6

Assistance to other nations in the form of grants, loans, or credits to buy the assisting nation’s products.

Front 7

Foreign policy

Back 7

A nation’s external goals and the techniques and strategies used to achieve them.

Front 8

Foreign policy process

Back 8

The steps by which foreign policy goals are decided and acted on.

Front 9

Intelligence community

Back 9

The government agencies that gather information about the capabilities and intentions of foreign governments or that engage in covert actions.

Front 10

Isolationist foreign policy

Back 10

A policy of abstaining from an active role in international affairs or alliances, which characterized U.S. foreign policy toward Europe during most of the 1800’s.

Front 11

Monroe Doctrine

Back 11

a policy statement made by President James Monroe in 1823, which set out three principles: (1) European nations should not establish new colonies in the Western Hemisphere, (2) European nations should not intervene in the affairs of independent nations of the Western Hemisphere, and (3) the United States would not interfere in the affairs of European nations.

Front 12

Moral idealism

Back 12

A philosophy that sees nations as normally willing to cooperate and agree on moral standards of conduct.

Front 13

National security policy

Back 13

Foreign and domestic policy designed to protect the nation’s independence and political and economic integrity, policy that is concerned with the safety and defense of the nation.

Front 14

Negative constituents

Back 14

Citizens who openly opposes the government’s policies.

Front 15

Normal trade relations (NTR) status

Back 15

A status granted through an international treaty by which each member nation must treat other members at least as well as it treats the country that receives its most favorable treatment. This status was formerly known as most favored nation status.

Front 16

Political realism

Back 16

A philosophy that sees each nation acting principally in its own interest.

Front 17

Soviet bloc

Back 17

The Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries that installed Communist regimes after World War II and were determined by the Soviet Union.

Front 18

Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (SALT 1)

Back 18

A treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union to stabilize the nuclear arms competition between the two countries. SALT I talks began in 1969, and agreements were signed on May 26, 1972.

Front 19

Technical assistance

Back 19

The practice of sending experts in such areas as agriculture, engineering, or business to aid other nations.

Front 20

Truman Doctrine

Back 20

The policy adopted by President Harry Truman in 1947 to halt Communist expansion in southeastern Europe.