APUSH Unit 8

Cold War

A prolonged period of political tension and military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological conflict between capitalism and communism from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Communism

A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Korean War

A conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by UN forces primarily from the United States.

Brown v. Board of Education

A 1954 Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A prominent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement known for nonviolent protest strategies and advocating for racial equality.

Military-Industrial Complex

A term describing the relationship between a country’s military and the defense industry, influencing national policy.

Vietnam War

A conflict from the late 1950s until 1975, where North Vietnam fought against South Vietnam and the U.S.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A significant federal legislation aimed at eliminating barriers preventing African Americans from voting.

Lyndon Johnson

The 36th president of the United States known for advancing civil rights legislation and his Great Society initiatives.

Sunbelt

A region in the Southern United States characterized by a rapidly expanding population and economy post-World War II.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance established in 1949 for mutual defense between North American and European countries.

Containment

A U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond its existing borders.

Détente

A period of easing tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Non-aligned movement

A group of states rejecting alignment with major power blocs during the Cold War in favor of independence.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts in which opposing countries support combatants that align with their interests, often in the Third World.

Guatemala-CIA

Refers to the CIA's involvement in the 1954 coup that overthrew Guatemala's democratically elected government.

Yom Kippur War

A 1973 conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria.

Liberal Consensus

A political climate in the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s characterized by agreement on liberalism and civil rights.

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. during the early 1950s, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The New Left

A political movement in the 1960s advocating for civil rights, anti-war sentiments, and social reforms.

Port Huron Statement

A 1962 manifesto by the SDS outlining a vision for participatory democracy and critiques of societal structures.

Students For a Democratic Society (SDS)

A leftist student organization founded in 1960 focused on civil rights and anti-war activism.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A 1964 congressional resolution that authorized President Johnson to use military force in Vietnam.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A 1955-1956 protest against racial segregation on public buses sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest.

Albany, GA

A site of significant civil rights activism for desegregation and voting rights in the early 1960s.

Stonewall

The 1969 uprising against police raids at the Stonewall Inn, pivotal in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

The Feminine Mystique

A 1963 book by Betty Friedan critiquing traditional women's roles and inspiring second-wave feminism.

Silent Spring

A 1962 book by Rachel Carson raising awareness about pesticide dangers and influencing the environmental movement.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

A Native American organization focused on sovereignty, treaty rights, and social justice in the 1960s and 70s.

The Other America

A 1962 book by Michael Harrington exposing poverty in the U.S. and influencing Great Society programs.

Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Johnson in the 1960s aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Barry Goldwater

A conservative politician whose 1964 presidential candidacy ignited a conservative backlash against the liberal consensus.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates following World War II leading to demographic shifts in America.

GI Bill

Legislation enacted in 1944 providing benefits to returning WWII veterans, impacting American society profoundly.

The Beat Movement

A literary and cultural movement in the 1950s rejecting conventional society and embracing arts experimentation.

Immigration Act of 1965

A significant change in U.S. immigration policy abolishing national origins quotas.

The Counterculture

A 1960s social movement rejecting traditional values and embracing alternative lifestyles and political activism.

Generation Gap

The cultural differences that arose between younger and older generations during the 1960s and 70s.

Sexual Revolution

A social movement in the 1960s challenging traditional codes of behavior relating to sexuality.

Phyllis Schlafly

A conservative activist known for her opposition to feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment campaign.

Moral Majority

A political coalition of conservative Christian groups formed in the late 1970s advocating traditional values.

Tigers win World Series in 1968

The Detroit Tigers’ victory in the 1968 World Series symbolic of a period of cultural and social upheaval in America.