"The American Pageant," Vocabulary from Chapters 36-37

This list focuses on the Cold War and the Eisenhower Era (1945-1960).

Here are links to all the chapters in Part Six, Making Modern America: Chapters 36-37, Chapters 38-39, Chapters 40-42

Here are links to all the parts of the textbook published by Houghton Mifflin: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. forestall
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
  2. appropriation
    money set aside for a specific purpose, as by a legislature
  3. enigma
    something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
  4. unresolved
    not explained or answered
  5. intention
    an anticipated outcome that guides your planned actions
  6. superpower
    a country that can influence events throughout the world
  7. anxiety
    a vague unpleasant emotion in anticipation of a misfortune
  8. suspicion
    doubt about someone's honesty
  9. skepticism
    doubt about the truth of something
  10. resemble
    be similar or bear a likeness to
  11. rivalry
    the act of competing as for profit or a prize
  12. nuclear
    deriving destructive energy from releasing atomic energy
  13. ominously
    in a manner suggesting something bad will happen
  14. dismantle
    take apart into its constituent pieces
  15. containment
    political strategy to check the expansion of a hostile power
  16. bolster
    support and strengthen
  17. polarize
    become divided in a conflict or contrasting situation
  18. communism
    a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
  19. preempt
    take the place of or have precedence over
  20. coalition
    an organization of people involved in a pact or treaty
  21. radioactive
    exhibiting or caused by emissions in nuclear decay
  22. undermine
    weaken or impair, especially gradually
  23. subversion
    the act of overthrowing or destroying, as a government
  24. domino
    a small rectangular block used in playing a game
  25. preponderance
    superiority in power or influence
  26. era
    a period marked by distinctive character
  27. transistor
    a semiconductor device capable of amplification
  28. circuit
    an electrical device providing a path for current to flow
  29. idyllic
    charmingly simple and serene
  30. feminist
    of or relating to or advocating equal rights for women
  31. stifling
    forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
  32. leisure
    time available for ease and relaxation
  33. affluence
    abundant wealth
  34. service
    an act of help or assistance
  35. sector
    a group that forms part of society or the economy
  36. franchise
    a business authorized to sell a company's goods or services
  37. opulence
    wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
  38. squalor
    sordid dirtiness
  39. negotiation
    a discussion intended to produce an agreement
  40. commander
    an officer in charge of a military unit
  41. demagogue
    a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
  42. purge
    rid of impurities
  43. integration
    incorporating a racial or religious group into a community
  44. conservatism
    belief in preserving tradition and opposing radical change
  45. repatriate
    send someone back to his homeland against his will
  46. termination
    the act of ending something
  47. equipped
    carrying weapons
  48. petroleum
    a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
  49. missile
    a rocket carrying a warhead of explosives
  50. aeronautics
    the theory and practice of navigation through air or space
Created on Tue Nov 22 12:49:27 EST 2016 (updated Tue Dec 06 15:47:48 EST 2016)

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