Key Historical Concepts from the Lecture

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key historical events, figures, and concepts from the lecture.

Bakke v. University of California

Court ruling that quotas in college admissions were illegal, but race could still be considered.

Brezhnev, Leonid Ilyich

Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1964 to 1982.

Camp David Accords

A peace agreement between Egypt and Israel facilitated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1978.

Clean Air Act

A law aimed at reducing and controlling air pollution in the U.S., originally enacted in 1963.

Détente

The easing of hostility or strained relations between countries, especially during the Cold War.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Agency created by President Nixon to protect human health and the environment in response to air pollution.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed amendment aiming to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex, passed by Congress in 1972.

Gerald Ford

President who succeeded Nixon and pardoned him after the Watergate scandal.

Harvey Milk

First openly gay man elected to public office in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Henry Kissinger

U.S. Secretary of State who believed in supporting South Vietnam to maintain U.S. global power.

Hostage Crisis in Iran

Event where Iranian citizens stormed the U.S. embassy and held hostages for 444 days.

Khmer Rouge

Extreme communist party that controlled Cambodia, leading to genocide under Pol Pot.

Love Canal

Site of a toxic waste disaster in Niagara Falls, New York, highlighted by activist Lois Gibbs.

Malaise Speech

President Carter's address regarding the energy crisis and national lack of confidence.

McGovern

Democratic nominee for president in 1972, known for opposing the Vietnam War.

National Energy Act

Legislation passed in 1978 to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil and promote energy conservation.

New Federalism

Nixon’s plan to return power and funding to states by cutting back on Great Society programs.

Nixon to China

Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, which aimed to split communist powers and pressure North Vietnam.

OPEC Oil Embargo

OPEC raised oil prices by 50% in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel, causing an energy crisis.

Panama Canal Treaty

Agreement to gradually transfer control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to Panama by 1999.

Pol Pot

Leader of the Khmer Rouge, responsible for genocide and authoritarian rule in Cambodia.

Realpolitik

Practical power politics strategy focusing on major powers and ignoring smaller states.

Fall of Saigon

North Vietnam's capture of Saigon in April 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War.

Roe v. Wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion and granted women the constitutional right to choose.

SALT I

Treaty with the Soviet Union that limited the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) each country could possess.

SALT II

Agreement aiming to limit missile delivery systems and MIRVs, never ratified but mutually respected.

Saturday Night Massacre

Nixon's order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox during the Watergate scandal, leading to multiple resignations.

Stagflation

Economic condition during the 1970s characterized by rising inflation and unemployment in the U.S.

Three Mile Island

Site of a partial meltdown in a nuclear plant that raised public concern for nuclear energy safety.

Title IX

Legislation preventing sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Vietnam War Legacy

The aftermath of the Vietnam War that resulted in loss, political division, and public mistrust.

Watergate

Scandal involving Nixon's campaign caught spying on the Democratic Party, leading to Nixon's resignation.

Woodward and Bernstein

Reporters who exposed the Watergate scandal, contributing to public awareness and earning a Pulitzer Prize.

Yom Kippur War 1973

Conflict where Israel fought against Egypt and Syria, resulting in U.S. involvement and the OPEC oil embargo.