AP US History Unit 9 Postwar America Key Terms

These flashcards cover key concepts from Unit 9 of AP US History regarding postwar America, the Civil Rights Movement, Cold War events, and significant political figures.

Fair Deal

Truman's legislative program, largely an extension of the New Deal with little success in Congress.

Taft-Hartley Act (1946)

Anti-labor law allowing the president to impose an 80-day cooling off period for striking workers.

Strom Thurmond

Democratic governor of South Carolina who led the States' Rights Party and ran against Truman in 1948.

Thomas Dewey

Twice-defeated Republican presidential candidate known for his overconfidence, which led to Truman's upset victory in 1948.

Federal Highway Act (1956)

Eisenhower's law creating over 40,000 miles of highways at a cost of $25 billion, establishing the interstate system.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court decision overturning 'separate but equal' doctrine, ruling that racial segregation in schools is unconstitutional.

Earl Warren

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969, known for progressive rulings on civil rights and criminal justice.

Thurgood Marshall

Attorney for NAACP during Brown v. Board, later the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Civil rights leader known for nonviolent protests and advocacy for African American rights, assassinated in 1968.

Rosa Parks

NAACP member whose arrest for violating Jim Crow laws sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Malcolm X

Militant black leader who called for a more aggressive defense of civil rights, associated with the Nation of Islam.

Sit-ins

Protests by black students refusing to leave segregated lunch counters, significant in the civil rights movement.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart–Celler Act)

Abolished the National Origins Formula and removed de facto discrimination in U.S. immigration policy.

Freedom rides

Civil rights campaign where activists rode buses to desegregate bus stations, leading to federal intervention.

John Lewis

Civil rights activist involved in sit-ins and the Freedom Rides, known for leading the Selma to Montgomery marches.

George Wallace

Alabama governor running on a segregation platform; paralyzed after an assassination attempt in 1972.

Liberalism

Political ideology in the U.S. advocating for regulated markets and the expansion of civil rights.

Great Society

Lyndon Johnson's program aiming to aid the poor and expand social welfare in the U.S.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation signed by Johnson that desegregated public facilities and enhanced federal protections against discrimination.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation protecting voters and outlawing discriminatory practices like literacy tests.

Black Power

Movement calling for political power and cultural pride among African Americans, rejecting integration.

Betty Friedan

Author of 'The Feminine Mystique', which spurred the women's movement by addressing women's societal roles.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed amendment aimed at eliminating gender discrimination, fell short of ratification.

Stonewall riots

Violent confrontations in 1969 between police and gay rights activists, marking a significant moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Cesar Chavez

Labor leader who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, advocating for rights of farm workers.

John F. Kennedy

President from 1961-1963 known for his progressive domestic agenda and confrontational approach to the Soviet Union.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba who opposed U.S. intervention and became allied with the Soviet Union.

Bay of Pigs

Failed U.S. invasion of Cuba in 1961 aimed at overthrowing Castro's government.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader responsible for the Cuban Missile Crisis, removed from power following its failure.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Confrontation between U.S. and USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to heightened Cold War tensions.

Vietnam War

Conflict between North Vietnam and U.S.-backed South Vietnam, part of the broader Cold War struggle.

Dien Bien Phu

French fortress where the French were defeated by Vietnamese forces, prompting U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh

Communist leader of North Vietnam known for fighting against colonial and foreign control of Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem

Repressive U.S. ally ruling South Vietnam until his assassination in 1963.

Lyndon Johnson

President responsible for the Great Society and escalation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)

Authorization for President Johnson to use military force in Vietnam following reported attacks on U.S. ships.

Barry Goldwater

Republican candidate in 1964 advocating for drastic changes in policy, often seen as a precursor to the conservative movement.

Tet Offensive (January 1968)

A massive assault on South Vietnam by Communist forces, leading to a shift in American public opinion about the war.

New Left

Political movement in the 1960s advocating for civil rights and against U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Vietnam.

Robert Kennedy

Political leader and advocate for civil rights who was assassinated during his campaign for the presidency.

Hubert Humphrey

Lyndon Johnson's vice president and 1968 Democratic presidential nominee, symbolizing party unity attempts.

Silent Majority

Term Nixon used to describe middle-class Americans who supported his policies during the unrest of the 1960s.

Richard Nixon

President known for his efforts to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal.

Henry Kissinger

Nixon's advisor known for his role in foreign policy and negotiations related to Vietnam.

Detente

Period of eased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union characterized by increased cooperation.

George McGovern

Democratic presidential candidate in 1972 known for advocating rapid withdrawal from Vietnam.

Watergate scandal

Political scandal involving Nixon's administration that led to his resignation over obstruction of justice.

Gerald Ford

President following Nixon's resignation, known for being the only president not elected to the office.