20th Century history final study guide

Red Scare

The widespread fear of communism infiltrating American society during the 1950s, fueled by political tensions and the Cold War.

Bolshevik Revolution

The revolution in Russia in 1917, led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks, which resulted in the establishment of the first communist state, the Soviet Union.

Nuclear proliferation

The increase and spread of nuclear weapons to more countries, raising concerns about global security and potential conflicts.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A military strategy and doctrine in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would result in the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender, thus deterring either side from initiating a nuclear attack.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. Senator who gained notoriety for his aggressive anti-communist stance and for leading investigations into alleged communist activities within the U.S. government and society, often relying on flimsy evidence and creating a climate of fear.

McCarthyism

The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason, especially when related to communism, without sufficient evidence, often relying on sensational claims and personal attacks, creating a climate of fear and suspicion.

Containment

A strategic foreign policy adopted by the United States during the Cold War, aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond its existing borders, primarily through military and economic means.

Korean War (1950-1953)

A conflict between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United States and the United Nations) from 1950 to 1953, representing one of the first major proxy wars of the Cold War era.

Eisenhower's 'New Look' policy

President Dwight D. Eisenhower's foreign policy strategy that emphasized the use of nuclear weapons and covert operations, while reducing reliance on conventional ground forces, to deter Soviet aggression and contain communism.

Domino Theory

A geopolitical theory that posited if one country in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would inevitably follow, like a chain of dominoes falling one after another.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed military invasion of Cuba in 1961, organized and funded by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with the goal of overthrowing the communist government of Fidel Castro.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A tense 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Vietnamization

A strategy implemented by President Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War to gradually withdraw U.S. troops while simultaneously increasing the combat role of the South Vietnamese Army, with the goal of transferring responsibility for the war effort to South Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A joint resolution passed by the U.S. Congress in 1964 in response to alleged attacks on U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonkin, granting President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to escalate U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.

Operation Rolling Thunder

The title of a sustained aerial bombing campaign conducted by the United States against North Vietnam from 1965 to 1968, aimed at weakening North Vietnam's war effort and compelling them to negotiate.

Tet Offensive

A major military campaign launched by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against South Vietnam and the United States in January 1968, during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet), marking a turning point in the Vietnam War.

Kent State University

The location of a tragic event in May 1970, where Ohio National Guard troops shot and killed four unarmed students during a protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University, igniting widespread outrage and further fueling anti-war sentiment.

Black Power Movement

A political and social movement that arose in the 1960s, emphasizing racial pride, cultural identity, and self-determination for African Americans, advocating for Black empowerment and challenging systemic racism.

October Crisis of 1962

A 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union, triggered by the discovery of Soviet nuclear missile installations in Cuba, leading to a tense standoff that brought the world close to nuclear war.

Détente (1972-1979)

A period during the Cold War, from 1969 to 1979, characterized by reduced tensions and improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, marked by arms control negotiations and increased cultural exchange.

Watergate Scandal

A major political scandal in the United States during the Nixon administration, stemming from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in 1972, leading to revelations of abuse of power and obstruction of justice that eventually resulted in President Nixon's resignation.

Green Revolution

A period of significant advancements in agricultural technology and practices, starting in the mid-20th century, that led to increased food production worldwide, primarily through the development of high-yielding crop varieties, irrigation, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Silent Spring

A groundbreaking book published by Rachel Carson in 1962 that exposed the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment, particularly the widespread use of DDT, sparking the modern environmental movement.

Earth Day

An annual event celebrated on April 22nd to raise awareness and demonstrate support for environmental protection, first established in 1970 in the United States.

César Chávez

An American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, advocating for the rights and improved working conditions of farmworkers, primarily Mexican-American laborers, through nonviolent tactics such as strikes and boycotts.

Great Society

A comprehensive set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice in the United States, encompassing initiatives in education, healthcare, housing, and civil rights.

Second Wave Feminism

A period of feminist activism that began in the 1960s and continued into the 1980s, addressing a wide range of issues related to women's equality, including reproductive rights, workplace discrimination, and gender roles in society.

Stonewall Uprising

A series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, widely considered a watershed event that transformed the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

Black Lives Matter Movement

A decentralized political and social movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people.

Model Minority Myth

A societal expectation that all members of a specific demographic group will achieve similar levels of success. It is commonly applied to Asian Americans; this stereotype is used as a way to downplay the need for systemic anti-racism work.

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

An agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 that eliminated intermediate-range nuclear and conventional missiles and reduced the risk of nuclear conflict.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

The destruction of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War division between East and West, and it paved the way for German reunification.

AIM

AIM is an acronym for the American Indian Movement. It is a civil rights organization founded in 1968 to advocate for Native American rights and address issues of poverty, discrimination, and police brutality against Native Americans.

Trayvon Martin & Michael Brown

Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown were two African American teenagers whose deaths sparked national outrage and protests. Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in 2012, while Michael Brown was killed by a police officer in 2014. Both cases led to widespread discussions about racial profiling, police brutality, and systemic racism in the United States.

How music was a part of the civil rights movement

Music played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. Songs like "We Shall Overcome" and "A Change Is Gonna Come" became anthems of the movement, providing inspiration, unity, and a means of expressing grievances. Prominent artists such as Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, and Sam Cooke used their music to raise awareness, challenge segregation, and promote equality.

Freedom Summer

Freedom Summer, also known as the Mississippi Summer Project, was a campaign launched in 1964 to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi. Organized by civil rights groups, the campaign aimed to challenge segregation and discrimination in the state's electoral system. However, it faced intense resistance and violence from white supremacists.

Malcolm X

Malcolm X was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, advocating for Black empowerment, racial pride, and separation from white society. Later in his life, he shifted towards a more inclusive approach to racial equality before his assassination in 1965.

Jim Crow Era

The Jim Crow era was a period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States characterized by state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern states. These laws legalized discrimination against African Americans in areas such as education, housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Kitchen Debate

The Kitchen Debate was a series of exchanges between U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1959 at the American National Exhibition in Moscow. The two leaders discussed the merits of capitalism and communism while standing in a model of an American kitchen, symbolizing the advancements of each nation.

Earthrise

a photograph taken by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The image shows the Earth rising above the lunar horizon, capturing the