First Persian Gulf War (1990–1991)

Definition: War after Iraq invaded Kuwait; U.S.-led coalition forced Iraq out. Significance: Protected oil supply, showed U.S. military power after Cold War.

Reagan & Lebanon

Definition: U.S. sent troops to Lebanon (1982); later withdrew after bombing.
Significance: Showed limits of U.S. involvement in Middle East.

Reagan Doctrine

Definition: U.S. policy of supporting anti-communist groups globally.
Significance: Helped weaken Soviet influence.

al-Qaeda

Definition: Terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.
Significance: Responsible for 9/11 attacks.

SEAL Team Six (2011)

Definition: Elite U.S. unit that killed Osama bin Laden.
Significance: Major victory in War on Terror.

Music in Vietnam Era

Definition: Protest songs against war (ex: rock/folk music).
Significance: Reflected anti-war movement and youth culture.

Living Room War

Definition: Vietnam War shown on TV in homes.
Significance: Turned public opinion against the war.

Bush Doctrine

Definition: Policy allowing U.S. to strike enemies before attacks.
Significance: Justified War on Terror actions.

War in Afghanistan

Definition: U.S. invaded after 9/11 to remove Taliban.
Significance: Longest U.S. war; aimed to stop terrorism.

Taliban

Definition: Extremist group controlling Afghanistan before 2001.
Significance: Gave safe haven to terrorists.

September 11 Attacks

Definition: Terrorist attacks on U.S. (2001).
Significance: Led to War on Terror and increased security.

Woodward & Bernstein

Definition: Journalists who exposed Watergate.
Significance: Helped lead to Nixon’s resignation.

Watergate Scandal

Definition: Break-in and cover-up by Nixon administration.
Significance: Destroyed trust in government.

Vietnamization

Definition: Nixon’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops, train South Vietnam.
Significance: Attempt to end U.S. involvement.

Domino Theory

Definition: Belief that communism would spread country to country.
Significance: Justified U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Definition: Allowed president to send troops without declaration of war.
Significance: Escalated Vietnam War.

Credibility Gap

Definition: Difference between government claims and reality.
Significance: Increased public distrust.

Tet Offensive

Definition: Major surprise attack by North Vietnam (1968).
Significance: Turned U.S. public against the war.

Détente (Nixon)

Definition: Easing tensions between U.S. and USSR.
Significance: Reduced Cold War conflict.

Medicare

Definition: Healthcare for elderly (passed 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson).
Significance: Expanded social welfare.

Great Society

Definition: LBJ programs to reduce poverty and inequality.
Significance: Expanded government role in social issues.

Restrictive Covenants

Definition: Housing agreements banning minorities.
Significance: Caused segregation.

FHA Loans (1940s–50s)

Definition: Government home loans (often excluded minorities).
Significance: Increased racial wealth gap.

Brown v. Board of Education

Definition: Supreme Court case ending school segregation.
Significance: Major civil rights victory.

Title IX

Definition: Law banning gender discrimination in education.
Significance: Expanded women’s rights.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Definition: Ended segregation and discrimination.
Significance: Landmark civil rights law.

Emmett Till

Definition: Teen murdered in racist attack (1955).
Significance: Sparked civil rights movement.

Stonewall Riots

Definition: LGBTQ+ protests against police (1969).
Significance: Started modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Definition: Protest against bus segregation.
Significance: Led to desegregation and rise of Martin Luther King Jr

Freedom Rides

Definition: Activists challenged segregated buses.
Significance: Forced federal enforcement of laws.

Grape Boycott

Definition: Protest for farm workers’ rights led by Cesar Chavez.
Significance: Improved working conditions.

Black Power Movement

Definition: Movement promoting Black pride and independence.
Significance: Shift from nonviolence to self-defense.

Freedom Summer

Definition: Effort to register Black voters (1964).
Significance: Highlighted racial violence.

Black Panther Party

Definition: Group advocating self-defense and community programs.
Significance: Challenged police brutality.

Bloody Sunday

Definition: Attack on marchers in Selma (1965).
Significance: Led to Voting Rights Act.

Marshall Plan

Definition: U.S. aid to rebuild Europe after WWII.
Significance: Prevented spread of communism.

D-Day

Definition: Allied invasion of Normandy (1944).
Significance: Turning point in WWII.

Manhattan Project

Definition: U.S. program to build atomic bomb.
Significance: Ended WWII but started nuclear age.

Pearl Harbor Attack

Definition: Japanese attack (1941).
Significance: Brought U.S. into WWII.

America First Committee

Definition: Group wanting U.S. to stay out of WWII.
Significance: Represented isolationism.

Emergency Quota Act

Definition: Limited immigration (1920s).
Significance: Discriminatory policy.

19th Amendment

Definition: Women’s right to vote.

18th Amendment

Definition: Banned alcohol (Prohibition).

Double V Campaign

Definition: Victory abroad and against racism at home.

Muckrakers

Definition: Journalists exposing corruption.

13th Amendment

Definition: Abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

Definition: Citizenship and equal protection.

15th Amendment

Definition: Voting rights regardless of race.

Black Codes

Definition: Laws restricting freedmen.
Significance: Maintained racial control.

Andrew Carnegie

Definition: Industrialist in steel industry.
Significance: Symbol of big business & philanthropy.