Key Terms from *The American Promise, Volume 1, 9th Edition*

Vocabulary flashcards for review.

1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Agreement banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater by the U.S., U.K., and USSR to reduce Cold War tensions.

1966 Adjustments to US Personnel Assignments in Vietnam

Increased U.S. troop levels and shifted roles to direct combat, escalating American involvement in Vietnam.

Albert Camus

French philosopher and writer known for works on existentialism and absurdism; influential in 1960s intellectual circles.

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

1968 murder of civil rights leader, sparking national grief and unrest.

Baker v. Carr

1962 Supreme Court case establishing "one person, one vote" in legislative redistricting.

Black Panther Party

Militant political group founded in 1966 to combat police brutality and promote Black empowerment.

Black Power Movement

Movement promoting Black pride, self-determination, and political and economic control by African Americans.

Cambodia

Neutral country bombed/invaded by U.S. in 1970 to target Vietcong sanctuaries, expanding the Vietnam War.

Civil Rights Act of 1968

Also called the Fair Housing Act; prohibited housing discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin.

Consciousness-Raising Sessions

Meetings in the women's movement to discuss personal experiences and identify systemic gender issues.

Conservative Tactics in 1980

Reagan-era push for smaller government, traditional values, and strong anti-communist stance.

Daniel Ellsberg

Former Pentagon official who leaked the Pentagon Papers, exposing government deception in the Vietnam War.

Détente

Nixon’s policy of easing Cold War tensions through diplomacy, especially with the USSR and China.

Focus of White Civil Protest

Often focused on Vietnam War, environmentalism, and campus free speech rather than racial justice.

Free Speech Movement

1964 UC Berkeley student protest demanding the right to political speech and academic freedom.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 congressional authorization for Johnson to use military force in Vietnam without declaring war.

Iran Hostage Crisis

1979–1981 event where Americans were held hostage in Tehran; undermined Carter’s presidency.

Jimmy Carter

President from 1977–1981; known for human rights focus, energy policy, and Iran Hostage Crisis.

Madman Theory

Nixon’s strategy to appear unpredictable and willing to use force to pressure North Vietnam.

Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party

Integrated group that challenged Mississippi’s all-white delegation at the 1964 Democratic Convention.

National Organization for Women (NOW)

Founded in 1966 to advocate for women’s rights through legal and political reform.

Nixon’s 3-Pronged Approach to Vietnam

Vietnamization, negotiation with North Vietnam, and intensified bombing.

Nixon’s Resignation

1974 resignation due to the Watergate scandal; first U.S. president to resign.

Operation Rolling Thunder

1965–1968 bombing campaign against North Vietnam to weaken morale and supplies.

Panama Canal

Carter signed a treaty in 1977 to transfer control to Panama by 1999, improving U.S.-Latin American relations.

Peace with Honor

Nixon’s goal of ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam while preserving American credibility.

Plumbers

Secret White House unit to stop leaks and discredit Nixon’s enemies; linked to Watergate.

Political Pendulum

Metaphor for the shifting dominance between liberal and conservative political ideologies.

Rationale for Involvement in Vietnam War

Preventing the spread of communism (containment, domino theory).

Robert S. McNamara

Secretary of Defense under Kennedy and Johnson; helped escalate the Vietnam War.

Roe v. Wade

1973 Supreme Court case legalizing abortion nationwide.

Saturday Night Massacre

Nixon’s firing of Watergate special prosecutor Cox; led to further scandal and resignations.

Soldier Morale During Vietnam War

Often low due to unclear goals, poor conditions, and lack of support at home.

Southern Strategy

Nixon’s plan to gain Southern support by appealing to conservative, often racist, values.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

Key 1960s student activist group advocating civil rights and anti-war action.

Tet Offensive

1968 surprise attack by Vietcong/North Vietnam that turned U.S. public opinion against the war.

US Anti-War Protest Movement

Mass protests against Vietnam War involving students, veterans, and civil rights groups.

Vietcong

South Vietnamese communist insurgents supported by North Vietnam.

Vietnamization

Nixon’s policy to shift combat to South Vietnamese troops while withdrawing U.S. forces.

Warren E. Burger

Chief Justice (1969–1986); presided over landmark cases like Roe v. Wade.

Watergate

Political scandal involving break-in and cover-up by Nixon’s administration; led to resignation.

Weather Underground

Radical faction of SDS using violent tactics to oppose U.S. imperialism and racism.