APUSH Unit 8

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam from 1955 to 1975, representing a direct application of Cold War containment and the domino theory.

Tet Offensive

A major turning point in the Vietnam War occurring in 1968, contradicting government claims of imminent victory.

The Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative launched in 1948 to provide economic aid to Western European countries after WWII.

Great Society

A set of programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson aiming to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Hernandez v. Texas (1954)

A Supreme Court case that recognized Mexican Americans as a distinct class entitled to equal protection under the law.

Civil Rights Sit-Ins

Nonviolent protests against racial segregation that began in 1960, notably at Woolworth's lunch counters.

Sun Belt Migration

Population movement from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and Southwest after WWII.

Rust Belt

Region in the Midwest marked by industrial decline and economic downturn.

Economic Justice

Martin Luther King's focus on economic equality as vital to achieving racial equality, particularly in his later years.

Economic Self-Determination

Malcolm X's belief in the need for African Americans to own businesses and become economically independent.

Vietnam War and Global Context

King's linking of the civil rights struggle to global decolonization movements and opposition to imperialism.

Economic Boom of the 1950s

A period of unprecedented growth and consumerism in the U.S., marked by increased purchasing power.

Federal Response to Integration Resistance

Escalating federal measures to enforce school integration after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 Congressional resolution granting President Johnson the authority to escalate military involvement in Vietnam.

Flexible Response

A Cold War military strategy expanding containment to include conventional military interventions.

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

A 1962 book highlighting the dangers of pesticide use and marking the start of the modern environmental movement.

First & Second Red Scares

Two periods of intense anti-Communism in America, marked by government investigations and civil liberty violations.

Chicano Movement

A movement advocating for the rights of Mexican Americans, sharing parallels with the African American Civil Rights Movement.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. senator known for his aggressive accusations of Communist infiltration in government during the Cold War.

Brown v. Board of Education

The landmark Supreme Court case that desegregated public schools by declaring 'separate but equal' unconstitutional.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A committee that investigated alleged Communist influence and disloyalty in the U.S. during the Cold War.

Economic Disparities in the 1950s-1960s

Growing economic inequality despite national prosperity, especially affecting minorities and women.

Equal Rights Amendment

A proposed amendment aimed at guaranteeing equal legal rights regardless of sex; influential in the 1970s feminist movement.

War Powers Act of 1973

Legislation that reasserted Congress's powers regarding military action and presidential war-making authority.

Watergate Scandal

A political scandal involving illegal activities by the Nixon administration leading to his resignation in 1974.

Levittowns

Suburban housing developments symbolizing postwar America, aimed at affordable housing for middle-class families.

Environmental Pollution Causes (1960s-70s)

Factors such as industrial expansion and synthetic chemicals contributing to increasing pollution and environmental crises.

Differences Between King and Malcolm X

Contrasting approaches to civil rights, with King advocating nonviolence and Malcolm X emphasizing self-defense.

Vietnam vs. Korean Wars

Differences in international support, warfare style, public opinion, and outcomes between the two conflicts.

Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs

Key figures in the Cold War espionage fears, with Hiss accused of being a spy and the Rosenbergs executed for espionage.

Phyllis Schlafly

Conservative activist who opposed the ERA, promoting traditional gender roles and family values.

The Hollywood Ten

Group of filmmakers who refused to testify about their political affiliations before HUAC and faced blacklisting.

Containment Policy

U.S. foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of Communism during the Cold War.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations.

SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)

Civil rights organization formed to coordinate nonviolent protests for voting rights and racial equality.

Kent State shootings

A tragic event in 1970 during anti-war protests that led to widespread public outrage against the Vietnam War.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Military alliance formed in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion and promote collective defense.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy aimed at containing Communism through economic and military assistance to countries resisting Soviet influence.

Economic Component of Containment

The Marshall Plan's role in preventing Communist sympathy through economic stability in Western Europe.

Black Panther Party

A revolutionary organization formed in 1966 advocating for African American rights and community empowerment.

Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. government agency established in 1970 to enforce environmental regulations and protect public health.

Clean Water Act

Legislation aimed at regulating water pollution and ensuring safe water quality standards in the U.S.

Cuyahoga River Fire

A significant environmental disaster in 1969 that raised awareness about pollution and led to environmental reforms.

Alger Hiss Case

A pivotal espionage case that heightened fears of Communist infiltration in the U.S. government.

Rosenberg Execution

Execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage in 1953, reflecting Cold War tensions.

Sedition Act of 1918

Legislation that imposed penalties on individuals advocating against U.S. involvement in WWI, part of the First Red Scare.

McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

Law that restricted the activities of Communists and was part of the Second Red Scare.

Racial Tensions and Suburbanization

Factors contributing to suburban growth in the 1950s and the decline of urban centers.

Feminine Mystique

Betty Friedan's critique of 1950s women's roles, sparking feminist discourse in the late 20th century.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam initiated under the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts fought indirectly through support of opposing factions or governments, characteristic of Cold War strategy.

GI Bill

Legislation that provided benefits to World War II veterans, facilitating education and home ownership.

Elimination of Protective Legislation

Phyllis Schlafly's argument against the ERA, fearing it would erase laws seen as protective for women.