The 1960s and Early 1970s: Key Historical Events

Flashcards covering key events and concepts from the 1960s and early 1970s, focusing on political, social, and environmental developments.

Tonkin Gulf Incident

A 1964 event that escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, leading to the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

A congressional resolution that gave President Johnson broad powers to wage war in Vietnam.

Kent State Shootings

A tragic event on May 4, 1970, during which four students were killed by National Guardsmen during a protest against the Vietnam War.

Pentagon Papers

A secret Department of Defense study leaked in 1971 revealing the U.S. government's misleading actions regarding the Vietnam War.

Chicano activism

The movement among Mexican-Americans in the United States during the 1960s advocating for civil rights and justice.

Cesar Chavez

Leader of the United Farm Workers (UFW), known for advocating for the rights of farm workers.

American Indian Movement

A movement that began in the late 1960s focused on the rights and issues of Native Americans, including the occupation of Alcatraz.

Counterculture

A social movement in the 1960s characterized by a rejection of mainstream values, including the hippie movement.

Second wave feminism

A feminist movement that expanded the fight for women's rights during the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on issues like workplace equality.

Stonewall riots

A series of protests in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, considered a catalyst for the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Rachel Carson

An author and environmentalist known for her book 'Silent Spring,' which highlighted the environmental impact of pesticides.

Earth Day

First celebrated on April 22, 1970, marking a significant moment in the modern environmental movement.

Richard Nixon

U.S. President from 1969 to 1974, known for his foreign policy achievements as well as the Watergate scandal.

Watergate Scandal

A major political scandal involving President Nixon's administration, which led to Nixon's resignation in 1974.

Fall of Saigon

The capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces in 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War.

American trust in government

A significant decline during the 1960s and 1970s due to events such as the Vietnam War, Watergate, and various scandals.