AP US History Unit 8 & 9

What did Winston Churchill mean by the term “Iron Curtain,” and why was it significant?

The political and ideological division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe after WWII; symbolized the start of Cold War tensions

Similarities and differences in Cold War policies in presidents

Most presidents supported containment of communism; differences included strategies like Dwight D. Eisenhower’s brinkmanship, John F. Kennedy’s flexible response, and Richard Nixon’s détente

Cesar Chavez + National Farmworkers

led the United Farm Workers to fight for better wages and working conditions through strikes and boycotts

Chicano Movement

Civil rights movement advocating for Mexican American equality, education reform, labor rights, and political representation

American Indian Movement

American Indian Movement fought for Native American rights, sovereignty, and against government mistreatment

Equal Rights Movement + Betty Friedan

she helped lead the feminist movement, advocating for gender equality, workplace rights, and opportunities for women

Fall of Saigon

marked the communist takeover of South Vietnam and the end of the Vietnam War

Oil Embargo

cut oil exports to the U.S., causing energy shortages, inflation, and economic problems

The Great Society

aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice through social programs

Lyndon B. Johnson and his War on Poverty

created programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Job Corps to reduce poverty and inequality

Vietnamization

Policy under Richard Nixon to withdraw U.S. troops and transfer fighting to South Vietnam

Counterculture Movement

Youth movement rejecting traditional values, promoting peace, love, and personal freedom, especially during the Vietnam War

24th Amendment

banned poll taxes in federal elections

Gulf of Tonkin

led to increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam

New push for civil rights (Brown v. Board of Education

ruled school segregation unconstitutional, sparking modern civil rights activism

Joseph McCarthy

led anti-communist investigations, fueling fear during the Red Scare

Brinkmanship and Eisenhower

he used this, threatening massive retaliation to deter communist aggression

Beatniks

Cultural group of the 1950s that rejected materialism and traditional values, influencing later counterculture

Cuba’s communism and hotspot

Under Fidel Castro, it became communist and a key Cold War hotspot due to its proximity to the U.S.

Bay of Pigs Incident

a failed U.S.-backed attempt to overthrow Castro, increasing Cold War tensions

Second Red Scare

Period of intense fear of communism in the U.S. after WWII, leading to investigations, loyalty tests, and limits on civil liberties

Voting Rights Act of 1965

banned literacy tests and other discriminatory practices, giving the federal government power to enforce voting rights for African Americans

Environmentalism

Movement to protect the environment, leading to laws regulating pollution, conservation efforts, and agencies like the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Eisenhower Doctrine

U.S. policy that promised military and economic aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism, allowing the United States to intervene to prevent Soviet influence in the region

Eisenhower’s interstate highway act

This connected the country, improved travel, and made roadtrips a popular pastime

Dwight D Eisenhower

34th president of the United States (1953–1961) and a Supreme Allied Commander in World War II who led D-Day; as president, he focused on containing communism, maintaining a strong military (including nuclear deterrence), and expanding infrastructure with the Interstate Highway System

What occurred with the rise of the television?

It brought families together around the small screen. Shaped pop culture by influencing fashion, music, and politics. This all contributed (as well as the mass move to the suburbs) to the culture of conformity for American Families

How did fears of Soviet expansion contribute to the start of the Cold War?

The U.S. feared communism would spread globally, leading to policies aimed at resisting Soviet influence and increasing tensions

What was the main goal of the policy of containment?

To stop the spread of communism beyond where it already existed using political, economic, and military means

How did the Marshall Plan attempt to prevent the spread of communism?

It provided economic aid to rebuild Europe, creating stability and reducing the appeal of communism

What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?

To give military and economic support to countries resisting communism, especially Greece and Turkey

Why did the United States join NATO, and what was its purpose?

To form a collective defense alliance to protect member nations from communist aggression

How did NSC-68 change U.S. military policy during the Cold War?

It called for a major increase in military spending and a more aggressive containment strategy

Why did the United States intervene in Korea under the United Nations during the Cold War?

To stop communist North Korea from taking over South Korea and spreading communism

How did the launch of Sputnik affect U.S. education and policy?

It led to increased focus on science, math, and technology education and boosted the space program

What agreement ended the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The USSR removed missiles from Cuba, and the U.S. removed missiles from Turkey and agreed not to invade Cuba

What was détente, and how did it shape U.S. foreign policy in the 1970s?

A period of relaxed tensions that led to diplomacy, trade, and arms control agreements like SALT

How did Nixon’s visit to China impact Cold War relations?

It improved relations with China and gave the U.S. an advantage over the Soviet Union

What was McCarthyism, and how did it affect American society?

A period of intense anti-communist fear that led to accusations, blacklisting, and damaged reputations

How did the GI Bill change access to higher education after WWII?

It gave veterans money for college, greatly increasing access to education and expanding the middle class

What factors contributed to the economic boom after World War II?

High consumer demand, wartime savings, government spending, and industrial growth boosted the economy

How did suburbanization reflect cultural values of the 1950s?

It showed the importance of family life, homeownership, and consumerism

Why did critics argue that postwar suburbs encouraged conformity?

Suburbs had similar homes and lifestyles, which critics said discouraged individuality

What were the main goals of U.S. immigration policy in the late 20th century?

To reunite families and bring in skilled workers after immigration reforms

Why did immigration increase in the Sun Belt during the 1990s?

Job opportunities, economic growth, and warm climate attracted immigrants

How did Brown v. Board of Education challenge earlier Supreme Court decisions?

It declared school segregation unconstitutional, overturning “separate but equal”

What actions did Truman take to support civil rights?

He desegregated the military and supported laws for equal rights

What did the Southern Manifesto and George Wallace support regarding federal power?

They supported segregation and states’ rights, opposing federal civil rights laws

How did Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X differ in their approaches to civil rights?

King used nonviolence and integration; Malcolm X supported self-defense and Black nationalism

What ideas did groups like the Black Panthers and Nation of Islam promote?

Black pride, self-reliance, economic independence, and sometimes separation

How did the Gulf of Tonkin incident lead to increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam?

It led Congress to give the president broad power to expand military action

What was the Tet Offensive, and how did it affect public opinion?

A major surprise attack that made Americans doubt the war and reduced support

What was Vietnamization, and what was its goal?

A plan to withdraw U.S. troops and shift fighting to South Vietnamese forces

What happened at Kent State University, and why was it significant?

National Guard troops killed student protesters, increasing anti-war sentiment

What was the purpose of the War Powers Act of 1973?

To limit the president’s ability to send troops without Congress’s approval

Why was there concern about expanding presidential power during the Cold War?

Presidents were making military decisions without Congress, raising fears of too much power

What was the main goal of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs?

To end poverty and reduce inequality through government programs

How did these programs attempt to reduce poverty?

Through education, healthcare, job training, and social welfare programs

What economic policies were associated with Ronald Reagan?

Tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government involvement in the economy

What were the key features of “Reaganomics”?

Supply-side economics, tax cuts, and belief that economic growth would benefit everyone

What caused the end of the Cold War?

Soviet economic problems, reforms, and improved relations with the U.S.

How did U.S. foreign policy change after the Cold War ended?

It shifted to promoting democracy, free markets, and fighting terrorism

What was the Iran-Contra Affair?

A scandal involving secret arms sales to Iran to fund rebels in Nicaragua

Why have anti-terrorism policies been controversial in the United States?

They raised concerns about privacy and loss of civil liberties

How did U.S. foreign policy change from trying to stop communism to working with communist countries?

It shifted toward diplomacy, cooperation, and trade with former communist nations

How were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X similar and different in their ideas about civil rights?

Both wanted equality, but differed in methods (nonviolence vs self-defense and Black empowerment)

What caused the Vietnam War, and how did it affect people in the United States?

It was caused by containment policy and fear of communism; it led to protests, division, and distrust in government

How did the Cold War affect life in the United States at home and in foreign policy?

It caused fear of communism at home and led to global conflicts and alliances abroad