AP US History Unit 1: Rise of the Silent Majority Key Terms

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key political figures, landmark legislation, and social terminology from the Rise of the Silent Majority unit in AP US History.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A civil rights law passed in $1990$ that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.

Barry Goldwater

Unsuccessful presidential candidate against Lyndon Johnson in $1964$; he called for dismantling the New Deal, escalation of the war in Vietnam, and the status quo on civil rights. He is seen as the grandfather of the conservative movement of the $1980s$.

Bill Clinton

Democratic President of the United States from $1993$ to $2001$; his leadership represented a centrist approach with achievements including the North American Free Trade Agreement, welfare reform, and a balanced budget. He was the $2nd$ president to be impeached.

Camp David Accords (1979)

An agreement brokered by President Carter between the leaders of Israel and Egypt; Israel surrendered land seized in earlier wars and Egypt recognized Israel as a nation.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Proposed by John Kennedy and signed by Lyndon Johnson; it desegregated public accommodations, libraries, parks, and amusements and broadened federal powers to prevent job discrimination.

Contract with America

A document drafted under Newt Gingrich promising to enact $10$ items if Republicans won control of Congress, including term limits, a balanced budget amendment, tax cuts, and welfare reform.

Crisis of Confidence (Malaise) Speech

A televised address by President Carter complaining of a weak national spirit striking at the "heart and soul of our national will," which made many Americans feel the president had given up.

Deregulation

The cutting back of federal regulation of industry; in the $1980s$, Reagan removed oil price controls and reduced rules for the airline, savings and loan, and nursing home industries.

Earl Warren

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from $1953$ to $1969$ who led far-reaching racial, social, and political rulings, including school desegregation and protecting the rights of the accused.

George H.W. Bush

President from $1989$ to $1993$ who campaigned on "Read my lips: no new taxes." He led a successful military campaign in the Person Gulf War but lost re-election after an economic recession and reversing his tax promise.

George McGovern

Unsuccessful Democratic candidate for president in $1972$ who called for immediate withdrawal from Vietnam and a guaranteed income for the poor.

George W. Bush

Republican President from $2001$ to $2009$ who espoused "compassionate conservatism" and whose presidency was defined by the "War on Terror," including the Patriot Act and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

George Wallace

Alabama governor and third-party presidential candidate in $1968$ and $1972$ who ran on a segregation and law-and-order platform.

Gerald Ford

President from $1974$ to $1977$ who assumed office after Nixon resigned; he was appointed vice president under the $25th$ Amendment after Spiro Agnew resigned.

Geraldine Ferraro

House Representative from New York and the first woman on a major political party's presidential ticket, chosen as Walter Mondale's running mate in $1984$.

Great Society

President Lyndon Johnson's social program including Medicare, Medicaid, the Immigration Act of $1965$, and the Voting Rights Act of $1965$ aimed at ending poverty and promoting civil rights.

Henry Kissinger

Advisor to Presidents Nixon and Ford; architect of the Vietnam settlement, the diplomatic opening to China, and détente with the Soviet Union.

Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965

A law that ended nationality-based quotas, opening the door for many non-European immigrants to settle in the United States.

Iran Hostage Crisis (1979–1981)

Incident where Iranian radicals seized $52$ Americans from the U.S. embassy and held them for $444$ days to demand the return of the Shah and punish the United States.

Iran–Contra Affair (1986–1987)

A scandal where the Reagan administration sold weapons to Iran to fund anti-Communist Contras in Nicaragua, despite a Congressional prohibition on such assistance.

Jimmy Carter

President from $1977$ to $1981$ whose foreign policy highlights included the Camp David Accords and low points included the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Lyndon Johnson

President from $1963$ to $1969$ whose escalation of the Vietnam War from $16,000$ to $540,000$ troops destroyed his political support and led him to not seek reelection.

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

A $1990$ law (modified in $2024$) providing for the protection and return of Native American human remains, funerary objects, and items of cultural patrimony.

New Left

Political radicals of the $1960s$ who supported civil rights and opposed American foreign policy, particularly the Vietnam War.

No Child Left Behind

An education reform plan calling for state accountability, mandatory achievement testing, and more school options for parents.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Legislation signed by Mexico, the United States, and Canada and championed by President Clinton to promote flourishing trade.

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

A cartel of oil-exporting nations that organized boycotts in the $1970s$ to roil the U.S. economy and alter Middle East policy.

Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm)

A military campaign by an international coalition to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi control via a massive air assault and ground offensive from Saudi Arabia.

Richard Nixon

President from $1969$ to $1974$ who recognized Communist China and improved relations with the Soviet Union, but resigned due to the Watergate scandal.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

A landmark Supreme Court ruling that protected first-trimester abortions under a woman's right to privacy.

Ronald Reagan

Conservative President from $1981$ to $1989$ who opposed détente, led the growth-reduction of federal government, and focused on supply-side economics.

Sandra Day O’Connor

The first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, appointed by President Reagan.

September 11, 2001

Coordinated al Qaeda terrorist attacks involving highjacked planes striking the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and crashing in Pennsylvania.

Silent Majority

Nixon's term for middle-class Americans who supported him, obeyed laws, and wanted "peace with honor" in Vietnam, contrasting them with disruptive activists.

Stagflation

An economic condition of the $1970s$ characterized by rapidly rising prices (inflation) and stagnant economic growth with rising unemployment.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A proposed defense system nicknamed "Star Wars," designed to protect the United States against missile attacks.

Sunbelt

The South and Southwest regions of the U.S. that have seen a significant population boom since the late $1970s$ due to their warm climate.

Supply-side economics (Reaganomics)

Policies focused on budget cuts and large tax cuts to increase private investment and ultimately increase government revenue.

Thurgood Marshall

Leading NAACP attorney in Brown vs. the Board of Education and the first black justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that outlawed literacy tests and expanded federal authority to investigate voter irregularities and protect voter registration.

War on Terror

Antiterrorism efforts following the $September\,11$ attacks, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the military campaign in Afghanistan.

Warren Burger

Chief Justice from $1969$ to $1986$ whose court upheld school busing, abortion rights, and ordered Nixon to surrender the Watergate tapes.

Watergate scandal

A series of events beginning with illegal phone taps on Democrats in June $1972$ and Nixon's subsequent obstruction of the investigation.

agenda

An underlying, often ideological, plan or program.

bureaucracy

A body of non-elected government officials involved in the administration of policy.

coalition

Groups allied for a common purpose.

constituency

Those being represented by an official.

deficit

A shortage; the excess of spending over revenue.

demographic

Characteristics relating to population.

discrimination

To show partiality in treatment.

entitlement

The belief that one is deserving of certain privileges.

fiscal

Relating to public revenue or public debt.

ideology

A set of beliefs.

inflation

A condition of rising prices.

marginalized

Lacking power within a society.

polarization

A division into two extremes of groups or interests.

proliferation

An increase in the number of something.

radical

One who wants immediate and extreme change.

reactionary

One who wants to return to an idealized past.

socioeconomic

Relating to class, wealth, and status.

surplus

The amount that remains when use or need is satisfied.