1. Post WWII Vocabulary

2. 1. “Baby Boom”
A marked increase in the birthrate, especially in the US following WWII.

3. 2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Eleanor Roosevelt was the first woman to represent a country when she was sent to represent the United States at the newly created United Nations following WWII. Eleanor played a vital role in expanding the rights of people all around the world when she was given the position of “Chairman” over a committee that would write this important U.N. document still cited today.

4. 3. G.I. Bill of Rights
As soldiers returned home following WWII, the government began discussing ways to help them. First known as the servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, this bill offered money for college or job training, low or no interest loans to buy homes or businesses, and unemployment benefits to military veterans.

5. An economic system based on private property and free enterprise.
4. Capitalism
An economic system based on private property and free enterprise.

6. 5. Communism
An economic system in which all goods are owned jointly; in the Soviet Union, this developed into a government in which all social and economic policy decisions were made by a single party. Free speech was not allowed.

7. To divide or separate into portions.
6. Partition
To divide or separate into portions.
* After WWII, Germany was partitioned into zones which were occupied in the West by democratic and capitalist nations and in the East by the communist Soviet Union. Berlin was also partitioned into like zones.
Berlin

8. 7. United Nations
On June 26, 1945 in San Francisco, California 50 Nations, including the Soviet Union, signed a charter creating this organization.
It was hoped this organization would settle disputes between nations and prevent future wars through negotiations and by use of “peace keeping” forces.

9. 8. George Marshall
This man was an important WWII general from 1939 to 1945, building and directing the largest army in history. He acted as secretary of state from 1947 to 1949, formulating the Marshall Plan and earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.

10. 9. Marshall Plan
The United States instituted this man’s plan, The Marshall Plan, after WWII. It provided for massive financial aid to rebuild European economies and prevent the spread of communism.

11. 10. Eleanor Roosevelt
Her life reflected her commitment to public service in our country and throughout the world. Married to FDR, she became known as the First Lady of the World. She served a delegate to the United Nations and kept on with her humanitarian work; always fighting racial injustice, women’s equality, and working tirelessly for social reform.