US HISTORY 2 HON NOTES

Washington Conference (1921)

Washington Conference (1921)

An international conference focusing on naval disarmament and Pacific security, addressing concerns about Japan's growing strength.

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

Outlawed war as a national policy instrument but lacked enforcement provisions, leading to its failure.

Neutrality Acts

Legislation passed by Congress to limit the President's power during foreign wars, including prohibitions on arms sales and loans to belligerent nations.

Blitzkrieg in Poland

The swift and intense German attack on Poland in 1939, leading to declarations of war by Britain and France.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

Authorized the US to provide military aid to foreign nations during World War II, particularly aiding Stalin and the Soviet Union.

Manhattan Project

The top-secret American project during WWII to develop the atomic bomb, led by J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Navajo Code Talkers

Native Americans who used their language to send coded messages during WWII, contributing significantly to Allied communications.

Battle of the Bulge

A major WWII battle in 1944 where the Allies pushed back German forces, marking a turning point in the war.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

A UN document defining fundamental freedoms and human rights, aiming for universal protection, though not legally binding.

Genocide

Violent crimes committed with the intent to destroy a group's existence, distinct from ethnic cleansing in its goal of physical destruction.

Paranoia in the US

Paranoia towards Japanese Americans in the US heightened after Pearl Harbor, leading to mass evacuations and internment camps during WWII.

Internment Camps

FDR's Executive Order 9066 justified the internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans, causing families to lose homes and businesses.

Reparations

Congress authorized compensation in 1965 and Reagan promised $20,000 to each Japanese American sent to camps in 1988.

Final Solution

The detailed plan for the systematic extermination of Europe's Jews during the Holocaust.

Deportation

The first step in the "Final Solution," where Jews were forced into rail cars to be transported to camps.

Adolf Eichmann

Responsible for organizing the deportation and transportation of Jews during the Holocaust.

Concentration Camps

Originally for political opponents, they warehoused various "undesirables" including Jews, Roma, and others.

Death Camps

Facilities where Jews were sent from ghettos and concentration camps for extermination, often deceived about their fate.

Nuremberg Trials

Trials held in Nuremberg, Germany, where Nazi war criminals faced charges for their actions during WWII.

Cold War

The period from 1945 to 1991 marked by the ideological clash between the Communist Soviet Union and the Capitalist/Democratic US.

Lavender Scare

Eisenhower's Executive Order 10450 targeted individuals with sexual orientations deemed perverse, linking them to national security risks and vulnerability to blackmail.

Pledge of Allegiance

Eisenhower signed a bill in 1954 adding "under God" to the US pledge, reflecting the anti-communist sentiment during the Red Scare.

Civil Rights

JFK supported by activists like Martin Luther King, continued initiatives from FDR and Truman, faced opposition from Republicans and Southern Democrats, and won against Nixon.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Kennedy's response to Soviet missiles in Cuba led to a tense standoff, naval quarantine, and a secret agreement to remove US missiles from Turkey.

Education

Johnson's Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provided federal aid for textbooks and library materials, marking a significant investment in education.

Healthcare

Johnson's administration established Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for welfare recipients, expanding healthcare access and social security benefits.

Housing

Congress funded public housing construction and urban development initiatives, empowering low-income families and establishing the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Immigration

The Immigration Act of 1965 ended nationality-based quotas, allowing non-European immigrants to settle in the US and promoting diversity.

Environmental

Johnson's actions addressed river pollution and chemical waste, sparking the environmental movement and emphasizing the need for conservation.

Consumer Protection

Congress passed safety laws and standards for goods and food, influenced by Ralph Nader's critique of the automobile industry, enhancing consumer safety.

Rights of the Accused

The Warren Court established legal precedents like the exclusionary rule and the right to legal counsel, safeguarding the rights of individuals in the criminal justice system.

Johnson’s Domestic Agenda

Johnson's legislative agenda included tax cuts, civil rights laws, and economic opportunity measures, contributing to economic growth and social progress.

1964 Election

Johnson's landslide victory against Goldwater in 1964 solidified Democratic control, reflecting public support for his policies and leadership.

Impact of the Great Society

Johnson's Great Society initiatives reduced poverty, spurred economic growth, and faced criticism from conservatives, shaping the political landscape.

King's Assassination

King was assassinated by James Earl Ray on his hotel balcony.

Urban Rioting

The worst urban rioting in US history began with 100 cities exploding in flames.

Hardest Hit Cities

Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, and DC were the hardest hit by the urban rioting.

Inflation and Tax Increases

By 1969, inflation tripled to 5.5% due to tax increases leading to a $6 billion cut to societal programs.

Combat Footage

Combat footage from the Vietnam War was shown nightly to the American public.

Draft Exclusions

Men aged 18-26 could be called into service for the Vietnam War unless they found an exclusion.

Civil Rights and Vietnam

African Americans served disproportionately in the Vietnam War and faced discrimination.

Protest Movement

A growing youth movement protested the Vietnam War on campuses across the US.

Tet Offensive

The Tet Offensive in 1968 saw the Vietcong launching attacks on cities and US bases, changing public opinion on the war.

Vietnamization

Nixon's policy of gradually withdrawing US troops from Vietnam and shifting responsibility to South Vietnam.