Unit 7 FINAL EXAM: U.S. Social and Economic Change (1945-Present)

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A protest against segregated buses in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest; led by Martin Luther King Jr.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional; overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public places and employment.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Banned literacy tests and other barriers to Black voting rights; gave federal government power to enforce voting laws.

March on Washington

Massive civil rights rally where MLK delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech to demand equality and civil rights legislation.

Sit-ins / Freedom Rides

Nonviolent protests where students sat at segregated counters; Freedom Riders rode interstate buses to challenge segregation.

Little Rock Nine

Nine Black students who integrated a white high school in Arkansas with federal troop protection after backlash and riots.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Leader of the Civil Rights Movement who promoted nonviolence and civil disobedience; led SCLC and famous for his speeches.

SCLC

Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by MLK; focused on nonviolent protests and church-based organizing.

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; student-led civil rights group known for sit-ins and grassroots activism; later shifted to more radical stances.

Malcolm X

Civil rights activist who advocated for Black empowerment and self-defense; critical of nonviolence early in his activism.

Black Power

Movement emphasizing racial pride, economic empowerment, and self-determination for Black Americans (e.g., Black Panthers).

LGBTQ+ Rights

Movement for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people; grew after the Stonewall Riots (1969).

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed amendment to guarantee equal rights regardless of sex; passed Congress but not ratified by enough states.

Phyllis Schlafly

Conservative activist who opposed the ERA, arguing it would hurt traditional family values and women's roles.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Militant group that fought for Native American rights, sovereignty, and the honoring of treaties.

Asian American Movement

Coalition of Asian American activists in the 1960s-70s demanding civil rights, ethnic studies, and community empowerment.

Cesar Chavez

Labor leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) and led nonviolent strikes for farmworkers' rights.

Dolores Huerta

Co-founder of the UFW; powerful organizer and advocate for labor rights and Hispanic communities.

Environmentalist Movement

A movement in the 1960s-70s to protect the environment, leading to laws like the Clean Air Act and the founding of the EPA.

Disability Rights

Movement that led to laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), requiring equal access and accommodations.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide based on the right to privacy.

Title IX

Federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal funds.

Vietnam War

Conflict between North (communist) and South Vietnam; the U.S. supported the South. Highly controversial and unpopular war.

Anti-War Protests

Large student-led demonstrations against U.S. involvement in Vietnam; included draft resistance and mass rallies.

The Silent Majority

Term used by Nixon to describe Americans who supported traditional values and the Vietnam War but weren't vocal.

Watergate Scandal

Political scandal where Nixon's campaign was caught spying on opponents; led to Nixon's resignation in 1974.

United States v. Nixon

Supreme Court case that forced Nixon to turn over White House tapes; confirmed that not even the president is above the law.

Religious Right

Conservative Christian political movement that rose in the 1980s, focused on family values, opposition to abortion, and prayer in schools.

Ronald Reagan

40th President; promoted conservative values, strong military, and free-market economics ("Reaganomics").

Reaganomics

Economic policy involving tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending to encourage business growth.

New Democrats

Centrist Democrats in the 1990s who embraced some conservative economic policies while supporting liberal social issues.

Clinton Administration

Led by Bill Clinton; focused on economic growth, welfare reform, and balancing the federal budget.

Welfare Reform Act

Law signed by Clinton that placed limits on welfare and encouraged work for recipients; shifted control to the states.