US history II H final

Expansion of Suburbanization

Movement of Americans from cities to suburbs after WWII.

Causes of Suburbanization

GI Bill, economic prosperity, automobiles, Interstate Highway System, Baby Boom, affordable housing.

Little Rock Nine

Nine African American students who integrated Central High School in Arkansas in 1957.

Why were federal troops sent to Little Rock?

To enforce school desegregation and protect the Little Rock Nine.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the South.

Segregation

Separation of racial groups in public facilities, schools, transportation, and housing.

Sunbelt

Southern and western states that experienced rapid population growth after WWII.

Reasons for Sunbelt Growth

Air conditioning, defense industries, warm climate, lower taxes, migration from Northeast and Midwest.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Banned discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Protected African Americans' voting rights by eliminating discriminatory voting practices.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Major Civil Rights leader who promoted nonviolent protest.

Rachel Carson

Author of Silent Spring.

Silent Spring

1962 book warning about environmental damage caused by pesticides.

Importance of Silent Spring

Helped launch the modern environmental movement.

JFK's Religion

Roman Catholic.

Why was JFK's religion controversial?

Some voters feared he would be influenced by the Pope.

Stonewall Riots

1969 uprising that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

LBJ's View on Vietnam

Believed communism had to be contained and South Vietnam must be defended.

Advice LBJ Received About Vietnam

Military leaders urged escalation; critics warned the war would be costly and difficult to win.

Vietnamization

Nixon's policy of shifting military responsibility to South Vietnam while withdrawing U.S. troops.

Goal of Vietnamization

Reduce American involvement in Vietnam.

Stagflation

High inflation, high unemployment, and slow economic growth at the same time.

Oil Crisis of 1973

Oil embargo that caused shortages and rising energy prices.

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Executive Privilege

President's claim that certain communications can remain confidential.

Watergate

Political scandal that led to Nixon's resignation.

Gerald Ford

Became president after Nixon resigned.

Ford's Most Controversial Action

Pardoned Richard Nixon.

Malaise Speech

Carter's speech about America's crisis of confidence and energy problems.

ERA (Equal Rights Amendment)

Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights regardless of sex.

Why did the ERA fail?

It did not receive enough state ratifications.

Immigration Trends Since 1965

Increased immigration from Latin America and Asia.

Reagan's View of Government

Government was often the problem rather than the solution.

Reaganomics

Tax cuts, deregulation, and free-market economic policies.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader who worked with Reagan to reduce Cold War tensions.

Result of Reagan-Gorbachev Cooperation

Improved relations and arms reduction agreements.

Gulf War

1990–1991 war after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

George H. W. Bush

President who led the coalition during the Gulf War.

Outcome of the Gulf War

Kuwait was liberated from Iraqi occupation.

Aging Population

Growing percentage of elderly Americans due to longer life expectancy and aging Baby Boomers.

Effects of Aging Population

Increased pressure on Social Security, Medicare, and healthcare.

Global Economy

Increasing economic interdependence through trade, technology, and global markets.

Patriot Act

Law passed after 9/11 expanding government surveillance and anti-terrorism powers.

Why was the Patriot Act passed?

To help prevent terrorism and improve national security.

Modern Social Changes

Growth of the internet, increasing diversity, LGBTQ+ rights expansion, and changing family structures.