US history Unit 7 Chaminade

Domino Theory

The idea that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow like a chain reaction — used to justify U.S. intervention in Korea and Vietnam.

Berlin Wall

Physical wall built by East Germany in 1961 to stop citizens from fleeing to democratic West Berlin; became the ultimate symbol of Cold War division until it fell in 1989.

Vietnam War

Prolonged U.S. military involvement (1955–1975) in Southeast Asia to prevent communist North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam; deeply unpopular at home.

Geneva Accords (1954)

Agreements that ended French colonial rule in Vietnam and temporarily divided the country at the 17th parallel into communist North and non-communist South.

Ho Chi Minh

Communist revolutionary leader of North Vietnam who fought for Vietnamese independence from France and then against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Anti-War Movement

Widespread American protest movement against the Vietnam War, especially among college students; included marches, draft card burnings, and the Kent State tragedy.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy of gradually withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam while training and equipping South Vietnamese forces to fight on their own.

Richard Nixon's Silent Majority

Nixon's term for the large group of Americans who he claimed quietly supported the war and traditional values but didn't protest — used to counter the anti-war movement.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

Congressional committee that investigated suspected communist activity in the U.S., most famously targeting Hollywood actors, writers, and government employees during the Red Scare.

Bobby Seale & Huey Newton

Co-founders of the Black Panther Party in 1966; organized armed community patrols, free breakfast programs, and advocated for Black self-defense and empowerment.

Warren Court

The Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953–1969), known for landmark decisions expanding civil rights and civil liberties (Brown, Loving, Hernandez, etc.).

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Federal agency created in 1970 (under Nixon) in response to growing environmental concerns partly sparked by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring; regulates pollution and environmental standards.

Elementary & Secondary Education Act

Great Society law (1965) that provided federal funding to public schools, especially in low-income areas, to improve educational quality and reduce inequality.

Water Quality Act (1965)

Great Society legislation that set water quality standards for interstate waters and required states to create pollution control plans.

Housing & Urban Development Act

Great Society law that funded public housing, urban renewal, and rent subsidies to address poverty and inadequate housing in American cities.

Head Start

Great Society program providing early childhood education, nutrition, and health services to low-income children to help close the achievement gap before kindergarten.

Medicare & Medicaid

Great Society health programs (1965): Medicare provides health insurance for Americans 65+; Medicaid provides health coverage for low-income individuals and families.

Chicano Movement

Mexican-American civil rights movement of the 1960s–70s fighting for farmworkers' rights (led by Cesar Chavez), bilingual education, and an end to discrimination.

Asian-American Movement

1960s–70s movement for Asian-American civil rights, fighting stereotypes, demanding ethnic studies programs, and building pan-Asian solidarity inspired by the broader CRM.

Gay Liberation Movement

Movement for LGBTQ+ rights that gained momentum after the 1969 Stonewall Riots in NYC; fought against criminalization, discrimination, and social stigma.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Native American civil rights organization (founded 1968) that fought for treaty rights, sovereignty, and cultural preservation; known for the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights regardless of sex; passed Congress in 1972 but was never ratified by enough states, partly due to opposition from Phyllis Schlafly.