History Final Exam

stagflation

a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment while prices rise

The 1970s in the US witnessed a significant period of ________, mainly due to the oil crisis of 1973 and 1979. 

• Oil Embargo: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) embargo led to sharply increased oil prices, involved cutting off oil exports to the US and other countries that supported Israel, leading to a severe energy crisis in the US and other nations

eleanor roosevelt

FDR's Wife and a New Deal supporter. She was a great supporter of civil rights and opposed the Jim Crow laws. She also worked for birth control and better conditions for working women

national recovery association (NRA)

The New Deal agency that promoted economic recovery by regulating production, prices, and wages. It was important because it aimed to stabilize the economy during the Great Depression

Huey Long

As a senator in 1932 of Washington preached his "Share Our Wealth" program. Critics say that FDR's New Plan is not doing enough. It is important because he pushed FDR to do something for the poor and wanted to move the New Deal further left

court packing scheme

FDR's plan was to "pack" the Supreme Court with supporters to keep his New Deal programs from being declared unconstitutional. It is important because even when it failed, it let the Supreme Court have more favor in the New Deal

social security

A federal program of disability and retirement benefits that covers most working people. It is important because it provides immediate aid to people who are elderly, unemployed, or have children and need help financially.A federal program of disability and retirement benefits that covers most working people. It is important because it provides immediate aid to people who are elderly, unemployed, or have children and need help financially.

keynesian economics

Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes, stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms. It is important because it provides the framework by using government spending to stimulate the economy during the recovery from the Great Depression.

agricultural adjustment act (AAA)

Gave farmers money to reduce crop size to reduce production and increase the value of crops. It is important because it aims to boost farming income and which provided relief during the Great Depression.

national deficits and national debt

The total amount of money the government owes, accumulated over time by past budgets, deficits, and minus/surpluses. It is important because the government at that time increased its role in the economy to battle the Great Depression.

civilian conservation corps (CCC)

A New Deal program that hired unemployed men to work on natural conservation projects. It is important because it provides economic relief and improves the environment during the Great Depression by creating jobs like reforestation and park development.

reaganomics

refers to the economic policies implemented by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, which focused on reducing taxes, particularly for individuals and corporations, cutting government spending, and promoting free market capitalism to stimulate economic growth.

This approach is often referred to as "trickle-down economics" because it was believed that tax cuts for the wealthy would lead to investment and job creation, ultimately benefiting everyone

cumulative essay question

Over the last 150 years, how have Americans regarded their government? How and why did public faith in the federal government ebb and flow, and how had this faith shape the American Experience?

What motivated Franklin Roosevelt and how did the New Deal unfold? How revolutionary, transformation or successful was the new deal in American history?

relief:

• Programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) were established to provide immediate relief to the unemployed and farmers by creating jobs

revolutionary:

• expanded the role of the federal government in the economy and social welfare. It moved away from the traditional laissez-faire approach and embraced a more active role for government in addressing economic downturns.

How did the US become involved in WWII, and how did its participation affect the nation domestically and determine the outcome of the fighting?

involved:

• after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This event unified public opinion and led Congress to declare war on Japan, with Germany and Italy subsequently declaring war on the US

impact:

• US economy experienced a significant boom as the country mobilized for war, leading to the creation of 17 million new jobs and a massive increase in industrial production

• war led to significant social changes, including the integration of women and minorities into the workforce

In what ways did the government grow and contribute to a post-WWII economic boom, and how did this activism affect American life?

contributions:

• Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill) provided returning veterans with funds for education, low-interest loans for homes and businesses, and unemployment benefits, fostering upward mobility and economic growth

• The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (interstate highways) authorized the construction of a national highway system, which stimulated the construction industry, boosted the transportation sector, and facilitated trade and travel

What caused the cold war and how did these tensions manifest in American post-war foreign policy?

stemmed from fundamental disagreements over ideology, postwar plans for Germany, and the rise of nuclear weapons

manifested:

• The development of nuclear weapons by both sides, and the subsequent race to develop more powerful and sophisticated weapons, intensified the Cold War's tension

foreign policy:

• The U.S. adopted a policy of containment, aiming to restrict Soviet influence and the spread of communism, particularly in Europe

How and to what degree did the nonviolent civil rights movement after WWII succeed in expanding minority rights?

• 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional

• The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated discriminatory practices that had not allowed African Americans to vote, leading to increased political representation

How and why did faith in government begin to erode by the 1970s?

vietnam war:

• The war's unpopularity and its perceived failure eroded public trust in government's ability to effectively manage foreign policy and military operations

• failed to achieve its primary objective of containing communism in Vietnam, resulted in significant human cost and economic strain, and damaged the US's global reputation and domestic unity

watergate scandal:

• The scandal exposed widespread abuse of power within the Nixon administration, leaving the public feeling disillusioned and distrustful of politicians and government institutions

• centered on a 1972 burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex, followed by a cover-up by members of President Nixon's administration. The investigation revealed a series of illegal activities, including obstruction of justice and abuse of power

baby boom

a cohort of individuals born in the US between 1946 and 1964, which was just after WWII in a time of relative peace and prosperity. These conditions allowed for better education and job opportunities, encouraging high rates of both marriage and fertility. It’s important because so many babies born at once impacted the society and economy

watergate

the events and scandal surrounding a break-in in the democratic national committee headquarters in 1972 and the cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment

medicare

a federal program of health insurance for persons 65+ y/o. Without it, people would need to pay their expenses, which would increase burdens financially and maybe people would need to cut their spending in expense in this category

medicaid

a federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them. These people are adults who have low income, children, pregnant women, people 65+ y/o, and people with disabilities. Without it, many will struggle to pay for private insurance, experience delays in care, and increase the burden on the emergency room

great society

a series of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, aimed at eliminating poverty, reducing racial injustice, and expanding social welfare in the US.

communism

a theory or system of social organization is based on the holding of all property in common, with actually ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state

• everything is publicly owned

civil rights act of 1964

outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was an important piece of legislation towards equality and civil rights for Americans, especially African Americans

• abolished Jim Crow and segregation laws

levittown

in 1947, William Levitt used mass production techniques to build inexpensive homes in suburban New York to help relieve the postwar housing shortage.

• became a symbol of the movement to the suburbs in the years after WWII

• revolutionized American suburban development

NSC #68

National Security Council (NSC) memo #68: US’ “strive for victory” in the Cold War, pressed for an offensive and a gross increase ($37 bill) in defense spending

• outlined a plan to counter Soviet influence and shaped US policy

SALT

negotiations between the US and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics opened in 1969 in Helsinki, designed to limit both country’s stock of nuclear weapons

• it limited the number of nuclear arms races

Roe v. Wade (1973)

legalized abortion on the basis of a woman’s right to privacy

• landmarks the Supreme Court ruling which lets the women choose to have their right to abortion

containment

American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world

• safeguards Western values

• Truman Doctrine or Marshall Plan to help contain communist countries by giving them military and economic aid

neutrality acts (1953-1937 & 1939)

series of laws passed by US Congress between 1935-1937 and 1939 to let the US be neutral and away from conflict in WWII.

• helped Allied countries by sending arms (military)

Korean war

the conflict between communist North Korea and non-communist South Korea. The United Nations (UN) led by the US helped South Korea

• marked the first military conflict between the US and USSR

• led to strengthened alliances, NATO, and increase spending in the US and global presence

Tet Offensive

a series of surprise attacks by North Vietnam to South Vietnam, the US, and its allies during the Tet Holiday (Lunar New Year) in 1968.

• major turning point in the war

• impacted public opinion of North Vietnam and withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam

Betty Friedan

important women in the Civil Rights movement specifically fighting for women’s rights and challenge gender stereotypes. She had a famous book called “The Feminine Mystique” which sparked a second wave of feminism and highlights discontent women felt with limited societal expectations

• co-founder of the NOW

• fought for equal rights, equal pay, and reproductive rights

Ho Chi Minh

during the Vietnam War, he was the president of North Vietnam and an important figure in the Vietnam War. He leads the communist forces against the US, South Vietnam, and its allies.

• symbolizes the Vietnam Resistance from the French, US, and allies in the war

• fought to gain Vietnam’s independence

NAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement was implemented to promote trade among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The agreement, which eliminated most tariffs on trade among the three countries, went into effect on Jan. 1, 1994. Numerous tariffs, particularly those related to agricultural products, textiles, and automobiles

Black Monday

occurred on October 19, 1987, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost 22.6% in a single day. The event marked the beginning of a global stock market decline, and became one of the most notorious days in financial history

blitzkrieg

a military tactic used primarily by Nazi Germany during WWII, involves a swift and focused offensive strategy that combines mobile forces, armored tanks and air support, to achieve quick victories and create psychological shock in enemy forces

• aimed to disrupt the enemy’s weaker points while maintaining speed and surprise