American History Key Terms and Events

These flashcards cover key terms, events, and figures from American history, particularly related to civil rights, the Vietnam War, and significant political developments.

26th Amendment

Ratified in July 1971, it lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, granting citizens aged 18 and older the right to vote in federal and state elections.

17th Parallel

Approximate line of latitude that served as the military demarcation line between North and South Vietnam following the Geneva Accords in 1954.

Bay of Pigs

U.S.-supported invasion of Cuba in April 1961 intended to overthrow Fidel Castro; it was a failed operation resulting in significant losses for the U.S. invaders.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR in October 1962 over Soviet missiles in Cuba; it resulted in a U.S. blockade and successfully forced the removal of the missiles.

Dien Bien Phu

French fortress that surrendered in 1954 to the Viet Minh, resulting in the French abandoning Indochina.

Domino Theory

Eisenhower's belief that the fall of one country to communism would lead to the eventual collapse of neighboring countries.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba who came to power in 1959 and allied with the Soviet Union, causing U.S. concern.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A Congressional authorization in 1964 empowering President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam after reported attacks on U.S. ships.

Henry Kissinger

Advisor to Presidents Nixon and Ford, architect of the Vietnam settlement, and involved in diplomatic relations with China.

Ho Chi Minh

Communist leader of North Vietnam and key figure fighting against French and American forces.

Kent State Massacre

Incident on May 4, 1970, where Ohio National Guard fired on students protesting the Vietnam War, resulting in four deaths.

My Lai Massacre

The mass killing of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, leading to public outrage when exposed.

Ngo Dinh Diem

American-supported leader of South Vietnam until his assassination in 1963; his repressive regime precipitated increased U.S. military involvement.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader from 1954 to 1964 known for aggressive policies and ultimately losing power after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Pentagon Papers

Classified report on U.S. involvement in Vietnam leaked to the press in 1971, revealing the government misled the public.

Tet Offensive

A major series of attacks by North Vietnamese forces in January 1968 that adversely affected American perceptions of the war.

Vietnamization

Nixon's policy to reduce U.S. involvement in Vietnam by transitioning combat responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces.

Bayard Rustin

Civil rights activist and organizer of the March on Washington, advocating for racial justice and equality.

Betty Friedan

Author of The Feminine Mystique, a book that sparked the women's movement in the 1960s by discussing women's roles in society.

Black Power

Movement advocating for black self-determination and the rejection of integration, prominent during the 1960s and 1970s.

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 Supreme Court decision that declared 'separate but equal' schools unconstitutional, energizing the Civil Rights Movement.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate gender discrimination, which fell short of ratification in 1971.

Fair Deal

Truman's legislative program aimed at expanding social welfare and civil rights, facing significant opposition in Congress.

Fannie Lou Hamer

Civil rights leader known for her work in voting rights and her powerful testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

Federal Highway Act (1956)

Legislation that initiated the construction of over 40,000 miles of highways, fundamentally transforming U.S. infrastructure.

Freedom rides

Civil rights campaign aimed at desegregating bus stations in the South, often met with violence and federal intervention.

Hubert Humphrey

Liberal senator and vice president who sought to unify the Democratic Party after the 1968 convention.

John Kennedy

The 35th U.S. president, noted for his progressive agenda, Cold War tensions, and assassination in 1963.

John Lewis

Civil rights leader and Congressman known for his role in the Freedom Rides and the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Lyndon Johnson

President known for the Great Society reforms and controversies surrounding Vietnam.

Malcolm X

Militant civil rights leader advocating for black empowerment and questioning nonviolent civil rights strategies.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Prominent civil rights activist known for nonviolent protests and his role in advancing African American rights.

Richard Nixon

Controversial U.S. president involved in the Watergate scandal and significant foreign policy changes.

Robert Kennedy

Attorney General under his brother John Kennedy and a civil rights advocate until his assassination in 1968.

Rosa Parks

Civil rights figure who sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her bus seat.

Sit-ins

Protests at segregated lunch counters in the early 1960s by black students, leading to increased civil rights activism.

Shirley Chisholm

First African American woman elected to Congress, known for her advocacy for civil rights and social justice.

Strom Thurmond

Leader of the States' Rights Party, known for his presidential run in 1948.

Taft-Hartley Act (1946)

Legislation limiting labor union powers and establishing regulations for strikes.

Thomas Dewey

Twice-defeated Republican presidential candidate known for losing to Truman in a political upset.