US History YAWP Chapters 26 - 29

US History II Final

Fulgencio Batista (Who)

Cuban military officer and authoritarian ruler

Fulgencio Batista (When)

1952–1959

Fulgencio Batista (Where)

Cuba

Fulgencio Batista (What)

Batista ruled Cuba as a dictator supported by U.S. economic interests. His regime was marked by corruption, repression, and dramatic inequality between rich and poor.

Fulgencio Batista (Why)

His dictatorship created widespread opposition among Cubans. This resistance directly led to the Cuban Revolution and the rise of Fidel Castro.

Moncada Barracks (Who)

Fidel Castro and revolutionary followers

Moncada Barracks (When)

July 26, 1953

Moncada Barracks (Where)

Santiago de Cuba

Moncada Barracks (What)

The Moncada Barracks were attacked in a failed uprising against Batista’s government. Though unsuccessful militarily, the event gained national attention.

Moncada Barracks (Why)

The attack became a symbolic starting point for the Cuban Revolution. It helped Castro gain recognition and support for future revolutionary efforts.

Fidel Castro (Who)

Cuban revolutionary and communist leader

Fidel Castro (When)

1959–2008

Fidel Castro (Where)

Cuba

Fidel Castro (What)

Castro led a successful revolution that overthrew Batista and created a communist government. He aligned Cuba closely with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Fidel Castro (Why)

His leadership brought communism to the Western Hemisphere. This permanently altered U.S. foreign policy and intensified Cold War tensions.

The Granma (Who)

Fidel Castro and Cuban revolutionaries

The Granma (When)

1956

The Granma (Where)

From Mexico to Cuba

The Granma (What)

The Granma was the yacht that transported Castro and his followers back to Cuba. Its landing launched guerrilla warfare against Batista.

The Granma (Why)

The journey made the revolution logistically possible. It became a lasting symbol of Cuban revolutionary identity.

The Cuban Revolution (Who)

Cuban revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro

The Cuban Revolution (When)

1953–1959

The Cuban Revolution (Where)

Cuba

The Cuban Revolution (What)

The revolution overthrew Batista and replaced his government with a communist regime. It dramatically changed Cuba’s political and economic systems.

The Cuban Revolution (Why)

It brought Cuba into direct conflict with the United States. The revolution led to events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis.

John F. Kennedy (Who)

35th President of the United States

John F. Kennedy (When)

1961–1963

John F. Kennedy (Where)

United States

John F. Kennedy (What)

Kennedy led the nation during major Cold War confrontations and early civil rights efforts. His presidency emphasized youth, idealism, and global leadership.

John F. Kennedy (Why)

His handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis prevented nuclear war. His assassination increased public support for civil rights reforms.

Bay of Pigs (Who)

CIA‑backed Cuban exiles and U.S. government

Bay of Pigs (When)

April 1961

Bay of Pigs (Where)

Cuba

Bay of Pigs (What)

The Bay of Pigs was a failed invasion intended to overthrow Fidel Castro. The operation ended in disaster for the United States.

Bay of Pigs (Why)

The failure strengthened Castro’s authority. It also pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union, escalating Cold War tensions.

Cuban Missile Crisis (Who)

United States, Soviet Union, and Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis (When)

October 1962

Cuban Missile Crisis (Where)

Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis (What)

The crisis occurred after the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. The two superpowers faced a tense nuclear standoff.

Cuban Missile Crisis (Why)

It resulted in arms control agreements and improved communication between the U.S. and USSR. It reshaped Cold War diplomacy.

White Resistance (Who)

White segregationists and political leaders

White Resistance (When)

1950s–1960s

White Resistance (Where)

Southern United States

White Resistance (What)

White resistance included political, social, and violent opposition to desegregation. It aimed to preserve Jim Crow segregation.

White Resistance (Why)

This resistance delayed civil rights progress. It prompted stronger federal action to enforce civil rights laws.

Emmett Till (Who)

African American teenager

Emmett Till (When)

1955

Emmett Till (Where)

Mississippi

Emmett Till (What)

Till was murdered after being falsely accused of offending a white woman. His open‑casket funeral publicly exposed racist violence.

Emmett Till (Why)

His death mobilized national outrage. It helped energize the growing Civil Rights Movement.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (Who)

African American community and civil rights leaders

Montgomery Bus Boycott (When)

1955–1956

Montgomery Bus Boycott (Where)

Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery Bus Boycott (What)

The boycott protested segregation on public buses. It relied on mass participation and nonviolent action.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (Why)

It demonstrated the power of organized protest. It launched Martin Luther King Jr. as a national leader.

Rosa Parks (Who)

Civil rights activist

Rosa Parks (When)

1955

Rosa Parks (Where)

Montgomery, Alabama

Rosa Parks (What)

Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus. Her arrest challenged segregation laws.

Rosa Parks (Why)

Her act sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She became a symbol of peaceful resistance.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Who)

Civil rights leader and minister

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (When)

1955–1968

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Where)

United States

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (What)

King led the Civil Rights Movement through nonviolent protest. He advocated racial equality and justice.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Why)

His leadership helped secure major civil rights legislation. His philosophy influenced future social justice movements.

Greensboro Sit‑In (Who)

African American college students

Greensboro Sit‑In (When)

1960

Greensboro Sit‑In (Where)

Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro Sit‑In (What)

Students staged a sit‑in at a segregated lunch counter. Their actions were peaceful and disciplined.

Greensboro Sit‑In (Why)

It inspired similar protests nationwide. It accelerated desegregation of public spaces.

Freedom Rides (Who)

Interracial civil rights activists

Freedom Rides (When)

1961

Freedom Rides (Where)

Southern United States

Freedom Rides (What)

Activists rode interstate buses to challenge segregation. Many riders faced violence and arrest.

Freedom Rides (Why)

The rides pressured the federal government to enforce desegregation laws. They increased national attention to civil rights abuses.

Albany Movement (Who)

Civil rights activists and SNCC leaders

Albany Movement (When)

1961–1962

Albany Movement (Where)

Albany, Georgia

Albany Movement (What)

The movement sought to desegregate the entire city. It faced coordinated resistance but little immediate success.

Albany Movement (Why)

It revealed weaknesses in civil rights strategy. Lessons learned influenced future campaigns like Birmingham.

Birmingham Campaign (Who)

Martin Luther King Jr. and SCLC

Birmingham Campaign (When)

1963

Birmingham Campaign (Where)

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham Campaign (What)

Protesters challenged segregation through marches and demonstrations. Violent responses were televised nationally.

Birmingham Campaign (Why)

The campaign shocked the nation. It helped push Congress toward passing the Civil Rights Act.

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (Who)

Governor George Wallace

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (When)

1963

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (Where)

University of Alabama

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (What)

Wallace attempted to block desegregation of the university. Federal authorities intervened.

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door (Why)

The event symbolized Southern resistance. It reinforced federal authority over desegregation.

March on Washington (Who)

Civil rights activists and labor groups

March on Washington (When)

August 1963

March on Washington (Where)

Washington, DC

March on Washington (What)

The march demanded civil rights and economic equality. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

March on Washington (Why)

It increased momentum for civil rights legislation. It became a defining moment of the movement.

Lyndon Baines Johnson (Who)

36th President of the United States

Lyndon Baines Johnson (When)

1963–1969

Lyndon Baines Johnson (Where)

United States

Lyndon Baines Johnson (What)

Johnson assumed the presidency after JFK’s assassination. He prioritized civil rights and social reform.

Lyndon Baines Johnson (Why)

His leadership led to landmark legislation. His policies reshaped American government involvement in daily life.