APUSH Assessment 4

Start of the Cold War

Period after WWII (around 1945) marked by growing political, military, and ideological rivalry between the United States (capitalist democracy) and the Soviet Union (communist dictatorship), leading to decades of global tension without direct large-scale war between the two superpowers.

Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech (1946)

Speech warning that Eastern Europe was being cut off from the West and falling under Soviet control, symbolizing the division between democratic Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe.

Containment

U.S. foreign policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism rather than eliminating it, using economic aid, alliances, and military force when necessary.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one country in a region became communist, neighboring countries would likely follow, justifying U.S. intervention abroad.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

Policy promising U.S. political, military, and economic assistance to nations threatened by communism, especially Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

Massive U.S. financial aid program to rebuild Western Europe after WWII, stabilize economies, and reduce the appeal of communism.

Berlin Airlift (1948-49)

U.S. and allies flew in supplies to West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked land access, demonstrating Western commitment to resisting Soviet pressure.

GI Bill of Rights

Law providing returning WWII veterans with benefits such as college tuition, low-interest home loans, and unemployment aid, helping grow the middle class.

22nd Amendment

Constitutional amendment limiting presidents to two terms, passed after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms.

Korean War (1950-53)

Conflict between communist North Korea (supported by China and USSR) and South Korea (supported by the U.S. and UN), ending in a stalemate near the original border.

Second Red Scare

Widespread fear of communist influence in the U.S., leading to investigations, blacklists, and accusations against suspected subversives.

McCarthyism

Campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy involving aggressive accusations of communism, often without evidence, damaging many careers and reputations.

Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

Congressional committee that investigated suspected communist ties, especially in Hollywood and government.

Rosenberg Case

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets and executed, heightening Cold War fears.

Lavender Scare

Purge of LGBTQ+ individuals from government jobs due to beliefs they were security risks and vulnerable to blackmail.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning "separate but equal."

Emmett Till

Teenager whose brutal murder in Mississippi became a catalyst for the civil rights movement after national outrage.

Space Race

Competition between the U.S. and USSR for technological superiority in space exploration, symbolizing Cold War rivalry.

Sputnik & NASA

USSR launched Sputnik (first satellite) in 1957; the U.S. responded by creating NASA and investing heavily in science and technology.

National Defense Education Act (NDEA)

Funded education in science, math, and foreign languages to compete with Soviet advancements.

Interstate Highway System

Nationwide network of highways built for economic growth and national defense (including troop movement).

Suburbanization & White Flight

Movement of middle-class (mostly white) families to suburbs, often leaving cities more segregated and economically divided.

"Military-Industrial Complex"

Eisenhower's warning about the growing influence of defense contractors and the military on government policy.

Nation of Islam

Black nationalist religious movement promoting self-reliance, economic independence, and separation from white society.

Malcolm X

Civil rights leader who initially advocated Black separatism and self-defense, later embracing a more inclusive approach before his assassination.

Little Rock Nine (1957)

Nine Black students integrated a high school in Arkansas; federal troops were sent to enforce desegregation.

Cuba as Proxy

Cuba became a focal point of Cold War conflict due to its proximity to the U.S. and alliance with the USSR.

Cuban Revolution (1959)

Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government and established a communist state aligned with the Soviet Union.

Bay of Pigs (1961)

Failed U.S.-backed invasion by Cuban exiles attempting to overthrow Castro.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

13-day standoff over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba; ended with their removal and avoidance of nuclear war.

Berlin Wall (1961)

Barrier built to stop East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin, symbolizing Cold War division.

Engel v. Vitale

Supreme Court case ruling that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the First Amendment.

JFK Assassination (1963)

President John F. Kennedy was killed in Dallas, creating national shock and uncertainty.

Nonviolent Resistance

Strategy of peaceful protest (marches, boycotts) to achieve social change without violence.

SCLC

Southern Christian Leadership Conference, led by Martin Luther King Jr., focused on nonviolent protest.

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a youth-led group organizing grassroots protests.

Rosa Parks & Montgomery Bus Boycott

Parks' arrest sparked a successful year-long boycott that ended segregation on buses.

Sit-ins

Nonviolent protests where activists occupied segregated spaces to demand equal service.

Freedom Riders

Activists who rode interstate buses to challenge segregation laws in the South.

MLK Jr. & March on Washington (1963)

Martin Luther King Jr. led a massive rally and delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech advocating equality.

Birmingham Campaign (1963)

Civil rights protests met with violent police response, gaining national attention.

Selma Campaign (1965)

Voting rights protests that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Banned segregation in public places and employment discrimination.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Protected minority voting rights and eliminated discriminatory practices.

Fair Housing Act (1968)

Prohibited discrimination in housing sales and rentals.

The Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson's programs to reduce poverty and expand civil rights, education, and healthcare.

Vietnam War

Conflict between North and South Vietnam with heavy U.S. involvement to stop communism; became highly controversial.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)

Allowed the president to expand U.S. military involvement in Vietnam without declaring war.

"Search and Destroy"

Military tactic aimed at locating and eliminating enemy forces in Vietnam.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Sustained U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

Tet Offensive (1968)

Surprise attacks that weakened U.S. public support for the war.

My Lai Massacre (1968)

Killing of Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers, sparking outrage.

Agent Orange & Napalm

Chemical weapons causing widespread environmental damage and civilian suffering.

Anti-war Movement

Growing public opposition to the Vietnam War.

SDS

Students for a Democratic Society, a major student activist group protesting the war.

Kent State Shootings (1970)

National Guard killed four student protesters, intensifying anti-war sentiment.

Black Power Movement

Emphasized racial pride, self-defense, and economic independence.

Black Panther Party

Group advocating armed self-defense and community support programs.

Chicano Movement

Civil rights movement for Mexican Americans focusing on labor and education rights.

Cesar Chavez

Labor leader who organized farmworkers and advocated for better conditions.

Second Wave Feminism

Movement seeking gender equality in workplace, education, and reproductive rights.

The Feminine Mystique

Book by Betty Friedan criticizing limited roles for women.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide.

Equal Rights Amendment

Proposed amendment for gender equality that was not ratified.

Gay Liberation / Stonewall (1969)

Riots against police harassment that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Marsha P. Johnson

Key activist in the LGBTQ+ movement and Stonewall uprising.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Advocated for Native American rights and sovereignty.

Wounded Knee (1973)

AIM occupation protesting federal treatment of Native Americans.

Environmental Movement

Efforts to protect the environment and public health.

Clean Air Act / Clean Water Act

Laws regulating pollution and protecting natural resources.

EPA

Federal agency created to enforce environmental laws.

Disability Rights Movement

Advocated equal access, anti-discrimination laws, and accommodations.

Détente

Period of relaxed tensions between the U.S. and USSR in the 1970s.

Watergate / Nixon Resignation

Political scandal that led to President Nixon resigning, reducing trust in government.

Camp David Accords

Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel mediated by the U.S.

Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979)

Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days, straining U.S. relations.

Reagan & Conservatism

Rise of conservative policies emphasizing strong defense, lower taxes, and traditional values.

Supply-Side Economics

Economic theory promoting tax cuts to stimulate investment and growth.

AIDS/HIV Pandemic

Major global health crisis beginning in the 1980s.

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

1979 invasion leading to a prolonged conflict that weakened the USSR.

German Reunification (1990)

East and West Germany reunited after the Cold War.

Soviet Union Collapse (1991)

End of the USSR and the Cold War.

Rodney King Riots (1992)

Los Angeles riots following police brutality verdict.

Waco Siege (1993)

Deadly standoff between federal agents and a religious sect.

Oklahoma City Bombing (1995)

Domestic terrorist attack on a federal building.

Migration Trends of the 1990s

Increased immigration reshaping U.S. population and culture.

Latin American / Asian Immigration

Growth in immigration from these regions significantly impacted demographics.

New Great Migration

Movement of African Americans back to the South in recent decades.

9/11 Attacks (2001)

Terrorist attacks that led to major changes in U.S. foreign and domestic policy.

War on Terror

U.S. campaign to combat global terrorism.

Invasion of Afghanistan (2001)

U.S. response to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban.

Patriot Act (2001)

Expanded government surveillance powers to prevent terrorism.

Invasion of Iraq (2003)

U.S. invasion based on claims of weapons of mass destruction.

Election of Barack Obama (2008)

Election of the first African American U.S. president, marking a historic moment in American politics.

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