AMH

Cesar Chavez

Co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) to advocate for the rights and fair treatment of migrant farmworkers.

Reies Lopez Tijerina

Led the land-grant movement to restore land rights to Hispanic and Indigenous communities in the U.S. Southwest.

Stokely Carmichael

Popularized the concept of Black Power and was a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

John Kerry

A politician and diplomat known for his work on climate change and serving as U.S. Secretary of State.

Pauli Murray

A lawyer and activist whose legal work influenced landmark civil rights and gender equality cases.

Gloria Steinem

A feminist leader and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, key in the women’s liberation movement.

Pat Buchanan

A conservative commentator and politician known for his nationalist and protectionist policies.

Barbara Lee

A U.S. Congresswoman who cast the lone vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force after 9/11.

Fannie Lou Hamer

A civil rights activist who fought for voting rights and co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

Francis Fukuyama’s essay 'The End of History?'

Argues that liberal democracy may mark the endpoint of humanity's sociopolitical evolution.

Gloria Steinem’s essay 'If Men Could Menstruate'

A satirical piece highlighting gender inequality by imagining menstruation as a source of male pride.

Malvina Reynolds’ song 'Little Boxes'

Critiques suburban conformity and the homogenization of middle-class life.

'The Day After' TV movie

Depicted the aftermath of nuclear war, raising awareness about nuclear conflict horrors.

Thomas Frank's book 'What’s the Matter with Kansas?'

Explores why working-class Americans vote against their economic interests, focusing on cultural issues.

Red Power movement

Advocated for Native American rights, sovereignty, and cultural preservation in the 1960s and 1970s.

Ginsberg’s poem 'Howl'

A seminal Beat Generation work critiquing materialism, faced obscenity trials impacting free speech.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

A political group formed in 2004 to challenge John Kerry’s Vietnam War record during his presidential campaign.

The Sunbelt

Southern and western U.S. regions that grew economically and politically after World War II.

Henry Luce

Founder of Time and Life magazines, shaped 20th-century American media and promoted an 'American Century'.

George F. Kennan

U.S. diplomat whose policy of containment defined America's Cold War strategy against the Soviet Union.

The Civil Rights Congress

A leftist organization in the 1940s-50s that defended civil liberties for African Americans.

CIA Covert Operations

Engaged in operations like coups in Iran (1953) and Guatemala (1954) during the early Cold War.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Organized nonviolent protests during the Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr.

Conservative Activists in the 1960s

Student groups like Young Americans for Freedom emerged to oppose liberal activism and promote traditional values.

Lyndon Baines Johnson’s Great Society

Programs aimed at reducing inequality and improving living standards, including Medicare and civil rights legislation.

The Black Panther Party

Founded in 1966 to combat police brutality and advocate for Black empowerment.

Feminist Organizing in the 1960s and 1970s

Focused on workplace equality, reproductive rights, led by groups like NOW.

Events of 1968

Marked by significant upheaval, including the assassinations of MLK and RFK, and political protests.

Declining Trust in US Government (1964–1980)

Events like the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal eroded public trust in U.S. institutions.

Deindustrialization and Regional Decline

Economic decline caused by the reduction of manufacturing jobs in the 1970s and 1980s.

Opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment

Led by figures like Phyllis Schlafly, arguing it would undermine traditional family roles.

Jimmy Carter’s 1979 Speech

Warning of national malaise and urging Americans to reduce foreign oil reliance and strengthen community values.

Cold War Tensions Under Reagan

Increased military buildup and tensions early in Reagan's presidency, including the shootdown of Korean Air Flight 007.

Reagan’s 1984 Reelection Campaign

Focused on economic recovery and optimism, leading to a landslide victory.

Reagan Administration’s HIV/AIDS Response

Criticized for its delayed and inadequate response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

Violence in the US During the 1990s

Included significant unrest such as the LA riots and the Oklahoma City bombing.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Supreme Court decision that decided the 2000 presidential election by halting the Florida recount.

George W. Bush’s Declining Approval Ratings

Fell sharply after challenges like the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, and the financial crisis of 2008.