APUSH Period 8 Terms

Quiz Date 4/2/25

GI Bill

Law passed after WWII providing benefits to returning veterans such as financial assistance for education, housing, and starting a business. Helped fuel postwar economic boom and suburbanization.

Levittown

Planned suburban communities developed after WWII that featured affordable, standardized homes and were built to accommodate large influx of returning vets. Became a symbol of suburbanization trend that reshaped American society.

Sunbelt

Southern/southwestern regions of US which experienced significant population/economic growth after WWII because of industrial expansion, migration, and aerospace/military industries.

Taft-Hartley Act

1947 Law restricting power of labor unions, making it more difficult to organize strikes and imposed other limitations on union activities. It was controversial and seen by labor unions as setback to their rights.

Dixiecrats

Southern Dems who opposed Pres. Harry Truman's support for civil rights/racial equality. They split from Dem. Party in 1948 Presidential Election, forming their own party and contributing to regional polarization over civil rights.

Bretton Woods Conference

International conference held in 1944 that established a new monetary system based on the US dollar as primary currency and created International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. Aimed to promote international cooperation and stability post-WWII.

Fair Deal

Pres. Harry Truman's domestic policy agenda, which focused on social/economic reforms such as increased minimum wage, expanded Social Security, and national health insurance. While some of these proposals were passed, others faced significant opposition in Congress.

Iron Curtain

Term describing ideological/physical division between Eastern Europe, under USSR, and Western Europe, following WWII.

United Nations

International organization established post-WWII to promote peace/cooperation. Served as forum for discussion and resolution of international disputes over various wellbeing issues.

Containment Policy

US foreign policy strategy during Cold War aimed at preventing communist spread by supporting communist governments/rebel groups that opposed Soviet influence.

Truman Doctrine

Policy announced by President Harry Truman (1947) pledging US support to any nation threatened by communist subversion/aggression.

Marshall Plan

US economic aid program after WWII to help rebuild Western Europe and prevent communist spread. Named after Secretary of State George Marshall.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Military alliance formed by several Western European nations, the United States, and Canada in 1949 to defend Soviet aggression threat.

Berlin Airlift

Cold War operation in which US and United Kingdom airlifted supplies to West Berlin after Soviet Union blockaded the city.

NSC-68

National Security Council document issued in 1950 recommending significant increase in US military spending/preparedness to counter perceived Soviet threat.

House Un-American Activities Committee

US House of Reps committee that investigated alleged communist infiltration of US government and other institutions. Its activities were often characterized by McCarthyism.

McCarthyism

Term used to describe practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or communism without substantial evidence associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy and his investigations during Cold War.

Highway Act

Federal Law (1956) authorizing massive investment in construction of interstate highway system, significantly improving transportation infrastructure across US.

Brinksmanship

Foreign policy involving pushing dangerous events to the brink of disaster to achieve favorable outcomes and show resolve; popular during the Cold War where nations engaged in high-stakes to create climactic tension.

Domino Theory

President Dwight D. Eisenhower's theory that spread of communism in one region would inevitably lead to its spread to neighboring countries, like dominoes falling one after another.

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 Supreme Court ruling that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning "separate but equal" doctrine from Plessy v. Ferguson

Beat Generation

Literary movement of 1950s rejecting mainstream values and embracing the unconventional lifestyles/spirituality from Baby Boomer Generation

New Frontier

Domestic agenda of President John F. Kennedy responding to Cold War and Civil Rights Movement which included initiatives like Peace Corps, social security expansion, and federal aid to education.

Cuban Missile Crisis

13-Day Confrontation (1962) where US and USSR nearly went to nuclear war over Soviet missile deployments in Cuba, prompting US naval blockade and negotiated resolution.

Berlin Wall

Stark symbol of Cold War's division between communist East and capitalist West in Berlin, representing ideological struggle between US and Soviet Union.

Bay of Pigs

Failed US-backed invasion attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro and his government in Cuba occurring during Cold War.

Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson's ambitious domestic policy initiatives, aimed at eliminating poverty, reducing inequality, and improving quality of life for all Americans, expanding government's role in addressing social issues.

War on Poverty

LBJ set of programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, Civil/Voting Rights Acts, etc. as a part of his "Great Society" Inspired by Michael Harrington's The Other America (1962)

Civil Rights Act of 1964

LBJ legislation that banned segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Created Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce civil rights.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

LBJ legislation that eliminated literacy tests and other discriminatory practices used to disfranchise Black voters in South. Authorized federal oversight of voter registration in areas with voter discrimination history.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Supreme Court case ruling Sixth Amendment guarantees rights to a lawyer, even for defendants who can't afford one. Stemmed from Clarence Gideon's denial of a lawyer and forceful self-defense in court. Strengthened due to Warren Court.

Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court Case that established Miranda Rights, requiring police to inform suspects of their right to remain silent and to an attorney. Stemmed from Ernesto Miranda's confession under coercion, reinforcing Fifth and Sixth Amendments.

Feminine Mystique

Book by Betty Friedan criticizing societal expectation that women should only find fulfillment as housewives, sparking second-wave feminist movement leading to activism for workplace, reproductive, and ERA equality. Inspired NOW.

Tet Offensive

Major North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attack on South Vietnamese and US forces during Vietnam War on Vietnamese New Year (Tet)

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Gave LBJ broad military powers in Vietnam without formal declaration of war after Gulf of Tonkin, where US ship was allegedly attacked by North Viet forces, marking escalation of US involvement in Vietnam (Criticized for giving pres. too much power).

Pentagon Papers

Top secret government study on US involvement in Vietnam leaked by Daniel Ellsberg to press. Revealed government had misled public about Vietnam War's progress and likelihood of success, strengthening public distrust in government and anti-war.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case legalizing abortion nationwide, ruling woman's right to choose was protected under right to privacy. Sparked controversy with pro-life vs. pro-choice debate.

Watergate

Political scandal involving President Richard Nixon's administration after break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters at Watergate complex. Cover-up led to Nixon's resignation (1974), leading to greater govt. skepticism and reforms like War Powers Act.

Malaise Speech

Address by Pres. Jimmy Carter officially known as Crisis of Confidence Speech, urging Americans to overcome materialism and regain confidence in government amidst energy/economic crises. Came across as blaming Americans for nation's problems, leading to political backlash.

Iranian Hostage Crisis

52 American diplomats and citizens held hostage for 444 days after Iranian revolutionaries seized the US embassy in Tehran. Crisis triggered by US allowing Shah of Iran (former ally) to receive medical treatment in US. Hurt President Carter's re-election chances; hostages released minutes after Ronald Reagan takes office (1981).