APUSH P8

Define “cold war”.

A conflict between two powers in which there is no direct military fighting, but tensions remain high and war is always possible.

What was the overarching US strategy during the Cold War?

The US followed a policy of containment, aiming to stop the spread of communism using economic, diplomatic, and military means.

What was the source of the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union?

The US was a capitalist democracy, while the USSR was a communist state; both wanted to spread their ideologies globally.

How did democratic/capitalist nations and communist nations align themselves?

Countries formed military alliances for collective security: NATO for democratic nations and the Warsaw Pact for communist nations.

Define “arms race”. Why didn’t nuclear war happen?

The arms race was the buildup of nuclear weapons by the US and USSR. Nuclear war didn’t happen because of mutually assured destruction (MAD), where both sides knew war would destroy everyone.

What was the Second Red Scare?

A period of intense fear of communism in the US, leading to accusations and investigations (McCarthyism, HUAC) targeting government officials and citizens.

How was the Korean War a “proxy war”?

The Korean War was fought between North (communist) and South Korea (democratic), but it represented a larger Cold War conflict, with the USSR/China backing the North and the US/UN backing the South.

What was the GI Bill?

A law that gave WWII veterans benefits like free college education and low-interest loans for homes and businesses.

What caused the demographic spike and shift after World War II? Where did people move?

The Baby Boom increased population, and many people moved to suburbs, especially in the South and West (Sunbelt).

What were two primary causes for increased mass culture?

The rise of television and expansion of advertising increased consumerism and shared cultural experiences.

What was the Beat Generation?

A literary and cultural movement that rejected conformity and consumerism through writing, lifestyle, and experimentation.

What was the decision in Brown v. Board of Education?

The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning “separate but equal.”

Describe the reaction to Brown v. Board of Education.

Southern states resisted through “massive resistance,” including the Southern Manifesto, school closures, and violence against Black students.

Describe two examples of civil disobedience used by civil rights activists.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott and sit-ins (like Greensboro) used nonviolent protest to challenge segregation.

What was the March on Washington?

A 1963 civil rights demonstration where MLK Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to hundreds of thousands.

What examples of political success did the civil rights movement have in the 1960s?

Major laws included the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Describe alternative approaches to civil rights from that of Dr. King.

Leaders like Malcolm X promoted Black nationalism and self-defense, leading to more militant movements like the Black Panthers.

How did other groups approach the issue of civil rights?

Groups like Chicanos, Native Americans, LGBTQ+ activists, and others used similar protest tactics to demand equality and rights.

Describe the women’s rights movement during this period.

The movement pushed for gender equality, workplace rights, and legal protections; the Equal Rights Amendment failed due to conservative opposition.

What was the counterculture movement?

A youth movement rejecting traditional norms, embracing new styles, music, drugs, and ideas about freedom and sexuality.

How did the Supreme Court address civil liberties in the 1960s?

The Court expanded rights through cases like Baker v. Carr (redistricting) and Engel v. Vitale (banning school prayer).

Who was Fidel Castro? How did the US respond to his actions?

Castro was a communist leader of Cuba; the US tried to remove him through the Bay of Pigs invasion and opposed him during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

What actions did the US take in the Middle East?

The US used the CIA to overthrow governments like Iran’s (Mossadegh) to protect its interests and stop communism.

What caused the Vietnam War?

The spread of communism in Vietnam led to conflict between North (communist) and South (democratic), with US involvement based on the domino theory.

What escalated American involvement in Vietnam?

The Gulf of Tonkin incident led Congress to pass a resolution allowing increased US military involvement.

Describe the outcome of the Vietnam War.

The US withdrew in 1973 after heavy casualties and protests; North Vietnam eventually took over the South.

What was the Great Society?

A set of programs by Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at reducing poverty and improving education, healthcare, and civil rights.

Describe 3 significant Great Society acts of legislation.

Medicare (healthcare for elderly), Medicaid (healthcare for low-income individuals), and the Immigration Act (ended quotas).

What was stagflation?

A period of slow economic growth combined with high inflation in the 1970s.

What was the Roe v. Wade decision?

The Supreme Court ruled that abortion is protected under the constitutional right to privacy.

What effect did this decision have on society?

It sparked major political and religious debates and mobilized conservative groups like the New Right and Moral Majority.

What was the Watergate Scandal?

A political scandal where Nixon’s administration spied on Democrats; he resigned to avoid impeachment.

What was the EPA?

A federal agency created to regulate pollution and protect the environment.