APUSH UNIT 8.1-8.7 KEY TERMS

Baby Boom - Definition

A significant increase in birth rates following World War II, leading to demographic and economic shifts.

Baby Boom - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It brought postwar economic prosperity and led to a sharp rise in birth rates.

Suburbanization - Definition

The mass movement of Americans from urban areas to the suburbs, driven by housing policies, economic prosperity, and the expansion of highways.

Suburbanization - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It caused a shift in how and where Americans lived.

Sun Belt - Definition

The region in the southern and western U.S. that experienced rapid population growth due to economic opportunities, defense industries, and warmer climates.

Sun Belt - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It altered the political and economic landscape of the U.S.

Containment - Definition

U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism, primarily through economic and military aid.

Containment - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It shaped U.S. foreign policy and led to U.S. involvement in numerous international conflicts during the Cold War

Domino Theory - Definition

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow, justifying U.S. intervention in places like Vietnam.

Domino Theory - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It allowed the U.S. to intervene with foreign nations

Détente - Definition

A period of relaxed Cold War tensions during the 1970s, marked by diplomatic efforts such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).

Détente - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time - It led to significant diplomatic agreements with foreign nations

McCarthyism - Definition

A campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s, marked by aggressive investigations and accusations of communism.

McCarthyism - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It spread fear of communism and led to false accusations that ruined many lives

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) - Definition

A congressional committee that investigated suspected communist influence in the U.S., particularly in Hollywood.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - Their investigations led to fear and suspicion about communism

Loyalty Oaths - Definition

Required pledges of allegiance to the U.S. government, particularly for federal employees, to root out suspected communists.

Loyalty Oaths - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - They were used to root out communists in the U.S. government

GI Bill (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) - Definition

A bill that provided educational and housing benefits to World War II veterans, fueling economic growth.

GI Bill (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It boosted the economy by providing education housing benefits to veterans

Interstate Highway System - Definition

A network of highways initiated by President Eisenhower to support suburban expansion and national defense.

Interstate Highway System - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It spurred growth of suburban areas and national defense

Defense Spending - Definition

Continued high levels of military expenditure, especially during the Cold War, which contributed to economic growth.

Defense Spending - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It contributed to national economic growth during the Cold War

White Flight - Definition

The movement of white Americans from urban centers to suburban areas, often in response to racial integration.

White Flight - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It marked a major demographic shift of white Americans moving to suburban areas.

Bracero Program - Definition

A guest worker program that allowed Mexican laborers to work temporarily in the U.S.

Bracero Program - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It brought Mexican laborers to the U.S., affecting immigration and labor.

American Indian Movement (AIM) - Definition

A Native American advocacy group that sought to address issues like treaty rights and discrimination.

American Indian Movement (AIM) - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time - It made changes in Native American rights and redirected the nature of activism

Rock and Roll - Definition

A new music genre that became a symbol of youth culture and rebellion in the 1950s and 1960s.

Rock and Roll - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It shaped youth culture and challenged traditional norms.

Television - Definition

Became the dominant form of mass media, influencing political campaigns and consumer culture.

Television - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time - It transformed the intake of information and entertainment in the U.S. and reshaped American culture

Counterculture - Definition

A movement that rejected mainstream values, exemplified by groups like the hippies.

Counterculture - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - The movement rejected mainstream values and influenced social changes

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - Definition

The Supreme Court decision that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It ended racial segregation in public schools, making advancements in African American civil rights

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) - Definition

A protest led by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. against racial segregation in public transportation.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - It sparked the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) - Definition

An organization founded by Martin Luther King Jr. that promoted nonviolent civil rights activism.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time - It promoted nonviolent activism which shaped future civil rights strategies

The Marshall Plan - Definition

A U.S. program that provided economic aid to rebuild European nations after World War II, aiming to prevent the spread of communism.

The Marshall Plan - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It contributed to Europe’s recovery and helped contain the influence of the Soviet Union.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) - Definition

A military alliance formed in 1949 to counter Soviet influence.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) - Historical Thinking Skill

Comparison - It reflected a shift in U.S. foreign policy from isolationism to active involvement in global affairs.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) - Definition

A Cold War confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time - It marked a turning point toward diplomatic efforts in foreign conflicts, leading to a shift toward easing Cold War tensions.