(final) Unit 4 us history

Tet Offensive

In January 1968 a massive coordinated attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces shocked the public and was widely broadcast by the media while eroding trust in official optimistic reports

Counterculture

A 1960s–1970s movement resisting mainstream society and epitomized by events like Woodstock that reshaped social norms and challenged traditional values

Servicemens Readjustment Act

1944 law providing WWII veterans with benefits (tuition, housing, loans) to ease their transition to civilian life and boost the post-war economy

The Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension (c. 1947–1991) between the U.S. and the USSR marked by ideological conflict, an arms race, and proxy wars

Containment

A U.S. Cold War strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism by supporting allies and intervening in regional conflicts

Domino Theory

The idea that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow, justifying U.S. intervention in regions like Southeast Asia

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 policy pledging U.S. support to countries resisting communism, launching American Cold War intervention efforts

Euro Recovery Program

Also known as the Marshall Plan (1948), a program providing economic aid to rebuild Western European economies and prevent communist influence

Berlin Blockade

In 1948 the USSR blocked access to West Berlin to force Allied withdrawal, an act that backfired with the subsequent airlift

Berlin Airlift

A 1948–1949 operation where Western Allies flew supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet blockade, symbolizing resistance to communism

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established in 1949 as a military alliance for collective defense against potential Soviet aggression

Executive Order 9835

Issued in 1947 it established a loyalty program to root out communist influence in the U.S. government during the early Cold War

Military-Industrial Complex

A term warning of the close, influential relationship between the military, government, and defense industry that may drive excessive spending

Sputnik

The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957, which spurred the U.S. to accelerate its investment in science and technology

Accelerated Suburban Growth

The rapid post-WWII expansion of suburbs reflecting economic prosperity, increased housing demand, and changing lifestyles

Great Society

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1960s set of programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice through reforms in education, healthcare, and civil rights

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation outlawing segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin to advance equality

Civil Rights Act of 1968

Also known as the Fair Housing Act it prohibited discrimination in housing, expanding access and opportunities for minorities

24th Amendment

Ratified in 1964 it abolished the poll tax in federal elections, removing financial barriers to voting

Bloody Sunday

The 1965 Selma, Alabama event where peaceful civil rights marchers were violently confronted, galvanizing support for voting rights reform

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Critical legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices, significantly expanding ballot access for African Americans

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A 1964 congressional resolution granting President Johnson authority to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam following alleged attacks

Vietnamization

A 1969 policy under President Nixon to shift combat responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces in an effort to reduce American troop involvement

Antiwar Movement

A growing opposition in the late 1960s and early 1970s marked by events such as the Kent State and Jackson State shootings that united diverse groups against the Vietnam War

Pentagon Papers

A 1971 leaked classified study exposing decades of U.S. government missteps in Vietnam that fueled debate on transparency and deepened public distrust

End of U.S. Engagement in the Vietnam War

The 1973 Paris Peace Accords that signaled a costly retreat from Vietnam and reshaped U.S. military strategy

Korean War

A 1950–1953 conflict sparked by North Korean communist aggression that prompted U.S. intervention under the containment policy and set a precedent for Cold War actions

McCarran Act

A 1950 law requiring the registration of communist organizations and imposing strict measures against suspected activities that deepened Cold War mistrust

in god we trust

The 1954 adoption of a national motto using religious language to counter communist atheism while reinforcing American identity and unity

Space Race

A late 1950s competition between the U.S. and USSR to achieve space exploration milestones that accelerated scientific innovation and symbolized ideological rivalry

Arms Race

A 1950s–1960s competition to develop superior nuclear and conventional weapons that escalated global tensions and shaped Cold War military strategies

Rust Belt

Declining industrial centers in the Northeast and Midwest that experienced economic downturn after World War II

Sun Belt

Economically dynamic and warmer Southern regions that attracted post–World War II migration and spurred regional growth

Rural to Urban

The postwar trend of moving from rural areas to cities in search of better jobs and modern lifestyles that accelerated urban growth and modernization

Baby Boom

The dramatic surge in birth rates from 1946 to 1964 that fueled suburban expansion and transformed America’s social and economic landscape

Beat Generation

A 1950s literary movement embracing nonconformity and spontaneous expression that challenged mainstream norms and inspired future cultural revolutions

Rock and Roll

A 1950s music genre that fused rhythm and blues with country and became a symbol of youthful rebellion and innovation

American Pop Culture

The global spread and influence of American cultural products during the Cold War that reshaped societal norms and reinforced soft power

Kitchen Debate

The 1959 exchange between Nixon and Khrushchev using a model kitchen to symbolize consumer modernity and ideological contest

American Dream

The Cold War vision of prosperity and success underscored by consumer culture and suburban living as markers of freedom

Nikita Khrushchev

The Soviet leader from 1953 to 1964 known for his role in Cold War politics and for engaging in public exchanges that contrasted Soviet and American policies

Viet Minh

An early anti-colonial movement led by Ho Chi Minh that fought French colonial rule and evolved into a Cold War proxy force

Viet Cong

Communist guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam determined to overthrow the American‑backed regime during the Vietnam War

My Lai Massacre

The 1968 atrocity in which U.S. troops killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in South Vietnam that intensified antiwar protests and moral outrage

Credibility Gap

The late 1960s discrepancy between official government statements and the grim realities of the Vietnam War that eroded public trust

Tinker vs Des Moines

The 1969 Supreme Court decision upholding students’ First Amendment rights and empowering youth activism amid political dissent

War Powers Act

The 1973 law that limited the President’s ability to deploy military forces without Congressional approval, reasserting legislative control over war-making

Army Master Sgt Raul “Roy” Perez Benavidez

A celebrated Vietnam War hero awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary valor under fire that symbolized personal sacrifice amid conflict

Silent Majority

A term coined in 1969 describing the large, unexpressed group of Americans who supported government policies, reflecting deep political divides

Franklin D Roosevelt

The U.S. President from 1933 to 1945 whose New Deal reforms transformed federal intervention in society during the Great Depression

Lyndon B Johnson

The U.S. President from 1963 to 1969 who launched the Great Society by enacting sweeping reforms in civil rights, healthcare, and education

New Deal

A series of 1933 programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery during the Great Depression that redefined the federal government’s role

Medicare

The 1965 federal health insurance program for seniors that increased access to healthcare and improved quality of life

Medicaid

The 1965 joint federal-state program providing health coverage to low-income individuals and families that reduced economic barriers to healthcare

Immigration Act of 1965

The law that abolished racially based quotas, modernizing U.S. immigration policy and diversifying the nation’s demographics

Democratic Convention of 1968

A contentious event marked by fierce debates over the Vietnam War and social change that underscored deep societal divisions

26th Amendment

Ratified in 1971 to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, expanding democratic participation and empowering young voters

Selective Service System

The reinstated draft during the Vietnam War that required U.S. males to register for military service and sparked widespread protest

Mario Savio

The influential figure of the 1964 Berkeley Free Speech Movement known for impassioned speeches advocating student rights and civil liberties

Young Americans for Freedom

The conservative youth organization founded in 1960 that promoted traditional values and free enterprise while contributing to ideological polarization

Students for a Democratic Society

The radical student group from the early 1960s that advocated for participatory democracy and social justice, fueling antiwar and civil rights movements

Summer of Love

The 1967 event in San Francisco where thousands embraced peace, music, and alternative lifestyles as a symbol of countercultural unity

Weathermen

The radical faction of leftist activists formed in 1969 that adopted militant tactics against government policies, highlighting divisions within the protest movement