APUSH Unit 10 Fluency Facts

Brown v. board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public school unconstitutional. The court ruled that “separate but equal” facilities violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring further legal and social challenges to segregation.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Founded in 1960, SNCC was a civil rights organization that emphasized grassroots activism and nonviolent protest. Initially focused on sit-ins and voter registration, SNCC played a key role in Freedom Rides, Freedom Summer, and the March on Washington. By the late 1960s, it shifted toward Black Power under Stokely Carmichael's leadership.

Freedom Summer

A voter registration campaign led by SNCC and other civil rights groups to increase Black voter participation in Mississippi. Volunteers, including many white college students, faced violence from white supremacists, including the murder of three activists—James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. The campaign helped spur the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A landmark federal law that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It banned segregation in public places, enforced desegregation in schools, and prohibited employment discrimination. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law, marking a major achievement of the Civil Rights Movement.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A key civil rights law that banned racial discrimination in voting, eliminating literacy tests and other barriers used to suppress Black voters. It granted federal oversight of voter registration in states with a history of discrimination. The law significantly increased Black voter turnout in the South.

Kerner Commission

Established by President Johnson in 1967 to investigate the causes of urban riots. The commission's 1968 report blamed systemic racism and poverty for the unrest, warning that America was moving toward "two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal." Its recommendations for economic and social reforms were largely ignored.

Great Society

President Lyndon B. Johnson's domestic policy initiative aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. Programs included Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and environmental protections. Though ambitious, it faced criticism for its costs and effectiveness, particularly as resources were diverted to the Vietnam War.

War on poverty

A series of federal programs launched by President Johnson in 1964 to reduce poverty. It included the Economic Opportunity Act, Job Corps, and Head Start. While some programs helped alleviate poverty, critics argued that they expanded government dependency and failed to eliminate poverty entirely.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

A left-wing activist group founded in 1960 that opposed racism, poverty, and the Vietnam War. The Port Huron Statement outlined its vision for participatory democracy. SDS became a leading force in student protests but fragmented by the late 1960s, with radical factions like the Weather Underground emerging.

Young Americans for Freedom (YAF)

A conservative student organization founded in 1960, advocating for free markets, anti-communism, and traditional values. The Sharon Statement outlined its beliefs. YAF supported Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign and played a key role in the rise of modern conservative politics.

Free Speech Movement

A 1964 student protest at the University of California, Berkeley, demanding the right to political activism on campus. Led by Mario Savio, it challenged university restrictions on free speech and inspired broader student movements against the Vietnam War and social injustice.

United Farm Workers Movement

Founded by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta in the 1960s, the UFW fought for better wages and working conditions for migrant farmworkers. Through nonviolent protests, boycotts (notably of grapes), and strikes, the UFW achieved key labor rights victories for agricultural workers.

Bobby Kennedy

A U.S. senator and former Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy was a key advocate for civil rights, poverty reduction, and ending the Vietnam War. He ran for president in 1968 but was assassinated after winning the California primary, leaving a lasting legacy of social justice advocacy.

Lyndon Johnson

The 36th U.S. president (1963–1969), Johnson spearheaded the Civil Rights Act, the Great Society, and the War on Poverty. Though he achieved major domestic reforms, his escalation of the Vietnam War led to public backlash and his decision not to seek re-election.

Richard Nixon

The 37th U.S. president (1969–1974), Nixon pursued a "law and order" agenda, expanded social programs, and improved U.S.-China relations. However, the Watergate scandal led to his resignation in 1974. His policies shaped modern conservatism despite his controversial legacy.

Barry Goldwater

A conservative senator and 1964 Republican presidential candidate, Goldwater opposed big government and the Civil Rights Act. Though he lost to Lyndon Johnson in a landslide, his campaign laid the foundation for the modern conservative movement and influenced Ronald Reagan's rise.

1968 Democratic National Convention

Held in Chicago, the convention was marred by violent clashes between police and anti-Vietnam War protesters. The chaos, broadcast live on TV, deepened divisions in the Democratic Party and contributed to Republican Richard Nixon's victory in the 1968 election.

Watts Riot

A 1965 six-day riot in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood, sparked by allegations of police brutality against a Black motorist. The unrest left 34 dead and exposed deep racial and economic tensions, prompting calls for civil rights and economic reforms.

Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

Ellsberg, a former military analyst, leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, exposing government deception about the Vietnam War. The documents revealed that U.S. leaders had misled the public about the war's progress. His actions fueled anti-war sentiment and led to major legal battles.

Kent State

A tragic incident in which National Guard troops shot and killed four students during an anti-Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in Ohio. The event sparked nationwide outrage and intensified opposition to the war, further dividing the nation.