history final

Marshall Plan & Truman Doctrine

U.S. initiatives to rebuild Western Europe post-WWII and contain Soviet expansion through economic and military aid.

Berlin Airlift

Massive U.S./British effort to supply West Berlin when Soviets blocked land routes in 1948-49.

GI Bill

Provided education, training, benefits, and loans for WWII veterans.

Baby Boom

Post-WWII increase in birth rates due to economic prosperity.

NATO & Warsaw Pact

Military alliances by U.S./West and Soviet Union/East, heightening Cold War tensions.

Domino Theory & Proxy Wars

Fear of communism spread leading to proxy wars like Korea and Vietnam.

38th Parallel & Korean Conflict

Division of Korea post-WWII leading to war between North and South Korea.

Second Red Scare

Renewed fear of communism in the U.S. during the late 1940s and 1950s.

Joseph McCarthy & HUAC

Senator McCarthy and House Un-American Activities Committee targeted alleged communists.

1950s Conformity

Social pressure for sameness in suburban living and traditional roles.

Rock and Roll

Rebellious music genre in the 1950s, e.g., Elvis Presley.

Post-War Consumerism & Suburbanization

Economic growth led to consumer culture and suburban housing.

Interstate Highway System

Federal road project linking cities in the 1950s.

Beat Generation

Anti-conformist literary movement of the 1950s.

Civil Rights Movement

African American struggle against discrimination using various strategies.

Sputnik & Space Race

Soviet launch of the first satellite in 1957, sparking technological competition.

NDEA

Act to improve science and math education in response to Sputnik.

Arms Race

U.S. and Soviet rapid nuclear weapons buildup.

JFK's New Frontier/Camelot

John F. Kennedy's presidency known for inspiration and youthfulness.

Bay of Pigs & Cuban Missile Crisis

Failed overthrow attempt and crisis over Soviet missiles in Cuba.

Peace Corps & NASA

Agencies formed by JFK for volunteer work and space exploration.

Brinkmanship & Detente

Aggressive posturing and easing of tensions between U.S. and Soviets.

Lee Harvey Oswald

Marxist who assassinated JFK in 1963.

LBJ's Great Society

Social reforms and anti-poverty programs under Lyndon B. Johnson.

Civil Rights Acts of 1964 & 1965

Laws banning discrimination and protecting voting rights.

Affirmative Action

Policies giving preferences to minorities to address discrimination.

Selma

Police attack on civil rights marchers in Alabama in 1965.

Black Panthers

Militant group promoting Black Power.

Vietnam War

U.S. conflict in Southeast Asia to stop communism spread.

1968

Tumultuous year with key events like Tet Offensive and assassinations.

Counter-Culture & Anti-War Movements

Youth subcultures rejecting mainstream values and protesting Vietnam War.

Free Speech Movement

Activism against political restrictions at UC Berkeley in 1964.

Nixon's "Silent Majority"

Nixon's appeal to mainstream Americans over protesters.

Vietnamization

Nixon's policy of withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam.

Pentagon Papers

Leaked study revealing government deception in Vietnam War.

Women's Movement & NOW

Push for women's rights and formation of National Organization for Women.

LGBT Movement

Fight for equality and visibility by LGBTQ communities.

Watergate

Political scandal leading to Nixon's impeachment calls.

MAD & SALT Treaties

Arms limitation treaties between U.S. and Soviets.

EPA

Agency created in 1970 to combat pollution.

Carter's Challenges

Energy crisis, "stagflation," and Iran hostage crisis during Carter's presidency.

Soviet-Afghan War

1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan leading to U.S. response.

Reagan & The Cold War

Reagan's anti-communist policies and actions.

The AIDS Crisis

Public health crisis impacting LGBTQ communities in the 1980s.

GHWB & The Gulf War

George H.W. Bush's coalition to remove Iraqi forces in the 1991 Gulf War.

Clinton Years

Major policies under Bill Clinton including NAFTA and welfare reform.

Election of 2000

Controversial election resolved by Supreme Court in favor of George W. Bush.

9/11 Attacks

Terrorist attacks leading to U.S. wars and homeland security measures.

War on Terror

Bush administration's response to 9/11 with invasions in Afghanistan and Iraq.