2nd Semester Exam Study Guide 2024

Flashcards for 2nd semester Exam study guide 2024

Schlieffen Plan

A German military strategy during WWI designed to avoid a two-front war by swiftly defeating France before Russia could fully mobilize. The plan involved invading neutral Belgium to quickly reach France, but this act led to Britain declaring war on Germany, complicating the German strategy and prolonging the conflict.

U-boats

German submarines that engaged in unrestricted submarine warfare during WWI, targeting both military and civilian vessels. This strategy aimed to cripple Allied supply lines but ultimately drew the United States into the war after the sinking of ships carrying American passengers.

Zimmerman Note

Telegram from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the United States during WWI. Germany promised to help Mexico regain territory lost in the Mexican-American War (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona) if Mexico joined the war against the U.S. The intercepted and decoded note fueled American public opinion in favor of entering WWI.

War Industries Board (WIB)

U.S. government agency responsible for coordinating industrial production during World War I. The WIB allocated resources, set production priorities, and standardized products to support the war effort, demonstrating significant government intervention in the economy.

War time propaganda

Committee on Public Information (CPI) created to influence public opinion to support US participation in WWI. The CPI used various media (posters, films, speeches) to promote patriotism, demonize the enemy, and encourage Americans to contribute to the war effort.

Herbert Hoover

U.S. Food Administration leader during World War I, who encouraged voluntary rationing. Hoover implemented programs like "Meatless Mondays" and "Wheatless Wednesdays" to conserve food supplies for the troops and Allies, successfully increasing agricultural output and reducing domestic consumption.

Wilson's 14 Points

Woodrow Wilson's plan for peace after World War I, advocating for self-determination and a League of Nations. The plan aimed to create a lasting peace by addressing issues such as territorial disputes, freedom of the seas, and the establishment of an international organization to prevent future wars.

League of Nations

An international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation. It was designed to prevent future conflicts through diplomacy and collective security. Although the League achieved some successes, it was ultimately weakened by the absence of major powers like the United States and its inability to prevent aggression by countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy approach emphasizing economic and technical assistance to contain communism. It pledged support to countries resisting communist influence, initially focusing on Greece and Turkey, to prevent the spread of Soviet power during the Cold War.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow. This theory influenced U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, particularly in Southeast Asia, leading to intervention in conflicts like the Vietnam War to prevent the spread of communism.

NATO

A military alliance of North American and European countries established to counter Soviet expansion. Formed in 1949, it was based on the principle of collective defense; an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, providing a unified front against potential Soviet aggression.

GI Bill

U.S. legislation that provided benefits to World War II veterans, including education and housing assistance. The GI Bill helped veterans transition back into civilian life, leading to a more educated workforce, increased homeownership, and significant economic growth in the post-war era.

Levittowns

Suburban developments mass-produced after World War II, contributing to suburbanization. These communities offered affordable housing options and contributed to the rapid growth of suburbs and a shift in population away from urban centers.

White Flight

The migration of white residents from racially mixed urban areas to the suburbs. This phenomenon was driven by factors such as racial tensions and discriminatory housing policies, contributing to the segregation of communities and urban decay in some areas.

Joseph McCarthy

Senator who led anti-communist campaigns in the early 1950s. McCarthy's accusations and investigations often lacked evidence, creating a climate of fear and suspicion known as McCarthyism, which damaged the reputations and careers of many individuals.

Massive Retaliation

A U.S. policy of responding to any Soviet aggression with overwhelming force, including nuclear weapons. This strategy aimed to deter the Soviet Union from initiating conflicts, but it also raised the risk of escalating tensions into a full-scale nuclear war.

U2 Spy Plane

A U.S. spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, increasing Cold War tensions. The incident occurred when a U-2 plane piloted by Gary Powers was shot down while conducting reconnaissance over Soviet territory. The event led to increased mistrust between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and derailed a planned summit between President Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

NASA

U.S. space agency established in 1958 in response to the Soviet Union's Sputnik launch. NASA was created to coordinate and conduct American space exploration and research, marking the beginning of the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Brown v. Board of Education

Landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The ruling overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson, paving the way for desegregation in schools and a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement.

Earl Warren

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court known for his liberal decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education. Warren led the Court through a period of significant social and legal change, expanding civil rights and liberties through landmark cases.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

1955-1956 protest against racial segregation on buses in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott was sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger and led to the desegregation of the Montgomery bus system, marking a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

Eisenhower

President who sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce school desegregation. Eisenhower's action came in response to Governor Orval Faubus' defiance of a court order to integrate Little Rock Central High School, demonstrating the federal government's commitment to upholding civil rights.

Freedom Rides

Civil rights activists rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States in 1961 to challenge the non-enforcement of the Supreme Court decisions. The Freedom Rides aimed to test and challenge segregation. The activists faced violence and arrests, drawing national attention to the civil rights cause.

George Wallace

Governor of Alabama who stood in the doorway to prevent black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama. Wallace's actions symbolized resistance to desegregation and federal authority during the Civil Rights Movement.

Bull Connor

Police official in Birmingham, Alabama, known for his use of excessive force against civil rights protesters. Connor's tactics, including using fire hoses and police dogs against peaceful demonstrators, were widely televised and drew national outrage, galvanizing support for the Civil Rights Movement.

March on Washington 1963

A large political rally that took place in Washington, D.C. in 1963; advocated for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. It was a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement. The march is best known for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which articulated the goals of the movement and inspired widespread support for civil rights legislation.

Tactics of nonviolence

Civil rights tactic emphasizing nonviolent resistance to unjust laws. Principles of nonviolence helped to highlight the injustice and brutality of the system.

Black Panthers

Organization formed during the Civil Rights Movement that advocated for Black Power and self-determination. The Black Panthers called for community empowerment and armed self-defense to combat police brutality and racial inequality.

The Feminine Mystique

A book by Betty Friedan, widely credited with sparking the beginning of second-wave feminism in the United States. Friedan writes about the widespread unhappiness of women in American society. The book challenged the prevailing cultural norms that limited women's roles to domesticity.

Stonewall Riot 1969

A series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. This event is widely considered the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.

Roe v. Wade 1

U.S. Supreme Court case that established a woman's right to an abortion under certain circumstances.

Appomattox Court

The court where the Civil War ended