Nixon's War, Stagflation, and the Rise of Neoliberalism

This flashcard set covers the political and economic transformations of the late 1960s and 1970s, including the Vietnam War, the rise of Neoliberalism, Nixon's presidency, and various social justice movements.

Neoliberalism

The policies, practices, and ideas associated with the sharp turn to market regulation of social life since the $1970s$, preaching hostility to socialism, trade unions, and social welfare programs.

The Volcker Shock

The described 'solution' to stagflation that helped usher Ronald Reagan into the presidency.

Tet Offensive

A major January $1968$ event that contributed to a year of global rupture and led to LBJ's decision not to run for re-election.

Silent Majority

The group on whose behalf Richard Nixon campaigned during the $1968$ election, alongside a platform of 'law and order'.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy where U.S. troops withdrew while South Vietnamese continued to fight with the support of U.S. bombing campaigns.

My Lai massacre

A $1968$ event revealed to the public in $1969$ where U.S. soldiers killed $350$ South Vietnamese civilians.

Pentagon Papers

Defense Department reports leaked by Daniel Ellsberg in $1971$ that revealed how the Truman and Johnson administrations had misled the public about the Vietnam War.

War Powers Act (1973)

Legislation that required the President to seek congressional approval for the commitment of troops overseas.

26th Amendment

A $1971$ constitutional amendment that decreased the voting age to $18$.

Vietnam Syndrome

A term describing the reluctance to commit armed forces overseas following the outcomes of the Vietnam War.

The Plumbers

An investigative unit created by Nixon after the publication of the Pentagon Papers to undermine leaks.

Watergate

The June $1972$ break-in at the Democratic party headquarters and subsequent cover-up that led to Nixon's resignation in August $1974$.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

A Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the laws of $46$ states regarding abortion rights.

Church Committee Hearings (1975)

Senate hearings that revealed government spying on U.S. citizens and secret operations to overthrow foreign governments.

Privacy Act of 1974

A law that provides the right to see one’s records collected by the government and strengthens the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Bretton Woods system

A currency system where the U.S. Dollar was backed by gold and other currencies were pegged to the dollar, ended by Nixon on August $15, 1971$.

Milliken v. Bradley (1974)

A Supreme Court decision that disallowed efforts to create school funding equity between urban and suburban areas.

Productivity-Pay Gap

The economic trend since $1979$ where productivity grew by $1.4\%$ but hourly compensation only grew by $0.6\%$, compared to near-equal growth from $1948$ to $1979$.