Political party that believes each individual has the right to control his or her own body, action, speech, and property.

working people own and control the means of production and distribution 

conservative political party favoring decreased taxes & decreased spending by the government.

One of the two major political parties in the United States. Considered to be more liberal, the party supports a stronger role for the federal government in providing social programs.

 One of the two major political parties in the United States. Considered to be more conservative, the party supports reducing the power of the federal government in providing social programs.

having two main political parties

Organizations of people with common interests who try to influence government policies and decisions.

Seeking to influence a politician or public official on an issue.

The part of a special interest group that collects voluntary contributions from members to fund political candidates and political parties that the interest group favors.

A group of people who act as protectors of other citizens against illegal, inefficient and unethical practices in government. They closely monitor how things are done by politicians and draw attention to anything that is not done properly.

An attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting over any other

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Used often in political campaigns to sway voters.

 Ideas used to influence people's thinking or behavior.

  public policy which concerns laws, government programs, and administrative decisions which are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation's borders.

  A country's plan for dealing with other countries of the world.

Highest-ranking officials representing a government in a foreign country.

 The art of dealing with foreign governments.

A person appointed by a country to conduct diplomacy with another country or international organization.

Official of the federal government heading the U.S. Department of State, principally concerned with foreign affairs.

A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.

Private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development.

Designed to remove tariff barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Security alliance to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

Organization that acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people around the world.

Organization that promotes peaceful coexistence and worldwide cooperation. Currently has 192 permanent member countries.

 A United Nations program that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

Judicial branch of the UN. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes between member countries.

 International trade agreement - its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. 159 countries are members.

Unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba in 1961 by U.S. sponsored troops.

The invasion was a major embarrassment for U.S. foreign policy.

13 day confrontation over the Soviet Union building missile bases in Cuba. The United States decided on a military blockade - they would not permit offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba. U.S. and Soviet Union (with UN's help) came to an agreement to avoid nuclear war.

A diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981), after a group of Iranian students took over the US Embassy in Tehran.

In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.S. and 15 other members of the UN helped defend South Korea. In 1953, the conflict reached a stalemate. Tensions still remain high between the two countries.

Controversial war to stop the spread of communism in SE Asia. The U.S. sent economic and military aid to help the non-communist southern half.

The First Persian Gulf War, Jan.-Feb., 1991, was an armed conflict between Iraq and a coalition of 39 nations including the United States. It was a result of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. The Second Persian Gulf War, also known as the Iraq War, Mar.-Apr., 2003, was a largely U.S.-British invasion of Iraq. It started in part because the Iraqi government failed to cooperate fully with UN weapons inspections in the years following the

first conflict.

U.S. takes a neutral position until the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. End of the war led to the formation of the United Nations. United States is finished trying to isolate (isolationism) itself from the rest of the world.

U.S. initially tried to remain neutral, but German submarines attacked U.S. merchant ships making this impossible. The U.S. entered the war as an "associated power", rather than a formal ally of France and the United Kingdom, in order to avoid "foreign entanglements".