APUSH Unit 8

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act

also known as the GI Bill, provided education and training benefits, unemployment compensation, and loans for veterans, stimulating post-war economic growth and facilitating the reintegration of millions of returning servicemen into civilian life

Containment

articulated by diplomat George F. Kennan in the late 1940s, aimed to prevent the spread of communism by containing Soviet influence and expansion through diplomatic, economic, and military means, shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War

Truman Doctrine

announced in 1947, pledged U.S. support for nations threatened by communist aggression, marking a departure from isolationism and laying the foundation for American interventionism in global affairs during the Cold War

Eisenhower Doctrine

introduced in 1957, pledged U.S. military and economic aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communist aggression, reflecting a commitment to containing Soviet influence in the region following the Suez Crisis and the rise of Arab nationalism

Brown v. Board of Education

a landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and catalyzing the civil rights movement

Second Red Scare

occurring in the late 1940s and 1950s, was characterized by heightened fear of communist infiltration in American society, leading to widespread paranoia, government investigations, and the persecution of suspected communists, known as McCarthyism

Cuban Missile Crisis

was a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war before a negotiated settlement was reached

Counterculture

movement of the 1960s, characterized by opposition to mainstream values, embraced ideals of peace, love, and social justice, advocating for civil rights, environmentalism, feminism, and opposition to the Vietnam War

Great Society

initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, aimed to combat poverty and racial injustice through a series of domestic programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Voting Rights Act, significantly expanding the role of the federal government in social welfare and civil rights

NOW

founded in 1966, is a prominent feminist organization advocating for women's rights, including reproductive rights, equal pay, and an end to gender discrimination

Joseph McCarthy

a Republican senator from Wisconsin, led a campaign of anti-communist hysteria in the early 1950s known as McCarthyism, accusing numerous individuals of being communists or communist sympathizers without substantial evidence, which ultimately led to his censure by the Senate

John F. Kennedy

the 35th President of the United States, led the nation during the early 1960s, advocating for civil rights, space exploration, and a more assertive foreign policy, before his assassination in 1963

Richard Nixon

the 37th President of the United States, implemented policies such as the Vietnamization of the Vietnam War and détente with the Soviet Union, but resigned from office in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, becoming the first president to do so

Martin Luther King Jr.

a prominent civil rights leader, advocated for nonviolent protest and played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement, leading campaigns for desegregation, voting rights, and economic justice until his assassination in 1968

Rachel Carson

an environmentalist and author, published "Silent Spring" in 1962, exposing the dangers of pesticides such as DDT and sparking the modern environmental movement and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency

Big Picture Idea #1

After WWI, America became a global superpower and experienced cultural development and economic prosperity. 1950’s society was dominated by a culture of conformity, rising consumerism, and a rise in population known as the Baby Boom.

Big Picture Idea #2

Post-war tension between America and the Soviet Union developed into the Cold War with conflicts such as the arms race and the proxy war in Korea. This led to communist witch hunts known as the Second Red Scare.

Big Picture Idea #3

African American activists sought rights through boycotts and protests, gaining support when non violent strategies were met with violent opposition. This led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Big Picture Idea #4

Eisenhower’s Domino Theory caused America to become involved in the Vietnam War. The war was unpopular at home, especially following the implementation of the draft and the release of the Pentagon Papers.

Big Picture Idea #5

The Civil Rights movement energized other social reformers. Women demanded rights, including an Equal Rights Amendment while Latinos and other minorities sought equality. Activists like Rachel Carson also supported environmental protection.