Kennedy and Later US History

Flashcards reviewing the Kennedy era, the Vietnam War, civil rights movement, and subsequent presidencies through the Obama administration.

Camelot

President Kennedy's favorite musical, which he used to describe his administration's glamorous vibe.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Failed invasion of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles, approved by Kennedy, leading to embarrassment for the U.S. and strengthened ties between Cuba and the Soviet Union.

Berlin Wall

A wall constructed in August 1961 by the USSR, heightening Cold War tensions.

Operation Mongoose

Secret U.S. plan by Kennedy for actions against Castro, including assassinations and sabotage.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A confrontation in 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the presence of missile sites in Cuba; Kennedy announced a naval blockade and demanded removal of the missiles.

Vietcong

Viet Minh units that stayed in the south and were instructed to form secret cells.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Committee founded by black college students in 1960 to provide a focus for the sit-in movement.

Freedom Ride

Civil rights protest in which activists rode buses into the South to challenge segregation.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Document written by Martin Luther King Jr. explaining why he and his followers can’t wait any longer for justice.

Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson's program to reduce poverty and racial injustice and promote a better quality of life in the United States.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation in 1964 that banned job discrimination based on race or gender, outlawed segregation in public places, and protected Black voting rights.

Vietnamization

Policy used by Nixon to build up South Vietnamese armed forces so that American troops could pull out without South Vietnam being overrun by communists.

Cambodian 'Incursion'

Nixon's term for sending American troops into Cambodia to attack enemy bases, which shocked the anti-war movement.

My Lai Massacre

Massacre in 1968 where hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians were killed by U.S. soldiers.

Paris Peace Accords

Accords signed in January 1973 which declared that U.S. troops would leave Vietnam and North Vietnamese troops could remain in the South.

Constant Decency

Foreign policy promoted by Carter to prioritize Human Rights over other concerns.

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) II

Treaty signed with Soviet Union in 1979 but withdrawn from Senate ratification due to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Camp David Accords

1978 Agreements between Egypt and Israel, brokered by President Jimmy Carter, that led to a peace treaty between the two nations

Reagan Revolution

Term for when Reagan aimed to shift U.S. policy by cutting federal spending, reducing the deficit, and giving more power to states.

Reaganomics

Economic policy where Reagan pushed for a 30% income tax cut, claiming it would boost investment and eventually increase tax revenue.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Reagan’s missile defense plan using space-based tech, also known as Star Wars.

Junk Bonds

High-risk, high-reward investments that fueled corporate mergers and takeovers in the 1980s.

Afghan Policy

Policies which supported U.S. funds for mujahideen fighters during the Soviet invasion.

Drug Czar

George H.W. Bush’s government role that coordinated anti-drug efforts.

Support for New Governments

Federal legislation and efforts led by President Bush to support diplomatic and financial initiatives for new governments and reduce nuclear missiles.

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose nations limited production, causing oil prices to increase.

Stagflation

The economic crisis of 1973, which was unusual because inflation stayed high despite rising unemployment.

Election of 1980

The election that pitted Carter against Reagan and resulted in a Republican victory.

1965 Immigration Act

1965 Immigration Act ended ethnic quotas; favored skills and family reunification

The Feminine Mystique

Book that helped launch the modern women’s liberation movement.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case in 1973, where it was ruled that women could get abortions in the first six months.

HIV

Virus in the late 1970s that attacks the immune system.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964)

Discrimination of gender in employment was banned.

Don't ask, don't tell

Military policy enacted in 1992 to permit gays to serve, but they had to stay quiet about the matter.

Prison Population Boom

Explosion in prison population in the late 20th century, rising from 200,000 in 1973 to 2 million in 2004.

Crack Cocaine

Drug that emerged in the 1980s sold as a cheaper alternative to cocaine and led to an increase in violent crime.

Crime Rhyme

Famous rappers like Ice-T used this term to reflect the real street life.

Greying of the Boomers

Law made known on January 1, 2011 where the first Baby Boomer turned 65, making nearly one-seventh of the U.S. population over 65.

Whitewater Scandal

Scandal associated with Bill Clinton's Ozark investments; McDougal illegally used a savings and loan he owned to cover debts, costing the federal government $60 million.

Al Gore

Bill Clinton's VP candidate in 1992

Hilary-Care

Bill Clinton’s health care plan, the plan was too complicated and expensive, leading Congress to never vote on it.

Contract with America

A plan that promised to cut federal debt and income taxes, but also turn welfare over to the states and remove some environmental rules.

The Economic Boom and the Internet

New technologies helped benefit the 1990s economy, these technologies included cell phones, genetic engineering, and the internet.

George W. Bush

President during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Osama bin Laden

Wealthy Saudi that issued a fatwa (religious order) calling on Muslims to kill Americans and their allies.

General Petraeus

General that led an increase of U.S. troops called the surge focused on clearing insurgents, holding areas securely, and building trust with locals.

Hurricane Katrina

A storm that hit the Golf Coast, especially New Orleans and caused major physical/economical devastation.