American Foreign Policy and Social Issues Since 1972

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on American foreign policy and social issues since 1972.

Détente

An easing of tensions with the Soviet Union, sought by Nixon, leading to the SALT agreement to limit the arms race.

Nixon's Greatest Accomplishment

Nixon's opening of relations with Communist China.

Watergate Scandal

Former CIA agents broke into Democratic headquarters, leading to Nixon's resignation.

Ford's Foreign Policy

Ford's policy of continuing détente and keeping Dr. Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State.

Helsinki Accords

Recognized European boundaries and pledged respect for human rights.

Carter's Foreign Policy Shift

Carter's policy of bringing morality into foreign affairs by refusing to back dictators.

Camp David Accords

Negotiated by Carter between Egypt and Israel, leading to Egypt recognizing Israel and Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula.

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Resulted in relations with the Soviet Union deteriorating, stopped grain sales, and refused U.S. participation in the Moscow Olympics.

Iran-Contra Affair

American officials secretly sold arms to Iran for help freeing American hostages and then gave money to the Contras in Nicaragua.

Glasnost

Gorbachev's policy of openness allowing people to openly criticize the government.

Perestroika

Gorbachev's policy of restructuring allowing limited free enterprise to stimulate the economy.

Strategic Defense Initiative

Reagan's plan to protect the United States against nuclear attack, leading to arms reduction agreements with Gorbachev.

Fall of the Soviet Union

Led to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of East and West Germany.

End of Apartheid in South Africa

Ended under pressure from the United States, leading to Nelson Mandela's election as President.

New World Order

Bush's use of military power to promote democratic values, including interventions in Panama, Kuwait, and Somalia.

Peace Dividend

Led to a reduction in military spending.

Ethnic Cleansing in Yugoslavia

The U.S. and NATO intervened to prevent genocide and restore peace.

NAFTA and World Trade Organization

Clinton's trade policies that brought economic prosperity and increased trade.

2000 Presidential Election

One of the closest election contests in U.S. history which was decided by the supreme court.

War on Terror

Called for by President Bush in response to the 9/11 attacks.

Terrorism

Terrorists use violence against innocent civilians to obtain concessions from governments or to gain the attention of the media.

Arab Spring

Obama encouraged peaceful resolutions of revolts against dictatorships.

Dawes Act (1887)

Allowed individual Indians to make claims on tribal lands.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

Stopped the breaking up of tribal lands and encouraged Indians to preserve their traditional cultures.

Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946

Attempted to settle all remaining Indian claims.

Termination Policy of 1953

The federal government announced the termination of its obligations to the reservations.

Federal Government Policy in 1963

Reversed the termination policy and attempted to encourage tribal life.

President Nixon in 1970

Recognized the obligations of the federal government towards the American Indians.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Founded in 1968 to mobilize public opinion on behalf of Red Power.

Cesar Chavez

Started the United Farm Workers (UFW) and launched national boycotts of grapes and lettuce.

26th Amendment

Gave 18-year-olds the right to vote.

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

Requires accommodations/accessibility for people with disabilities.

Gray Panthers

Formed by Maggie Kuhn to fight against mandatory retirement laws and age discrimination.

Immigration Act of 1965

Abandoned the system based on national origins and permitted every country to have the same number of lawful immigrants.

Refugee Act of 1980

Permitted refugees to immigrate to the United States.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Gave amnesty to illegal immigrants already living in the United States.

Immigration Act of 1990

Expanded the number of legal immigrants admitted each year.

Brown v. Board of Education

Outlawed racial segregation in public schools.

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Upheld busing as a way to integrate schools.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Upheld affirmative action admission programs but prohibited race-based quotas.

Mapp v. Ohio

Held that police were barred from using any evidence in court that was unlawfully obtained.

Miranda v. Arizona

Held that the police must warn an accused person of his or her right to remain silent or to have a lawyer present during police questioning.

Baker v. Carr and Wesberry v. Sanders

Required reapportionment of legislative and Congressional districts.

Roe v. Wade

Established the right to an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Established to screen passengers before entering commercial airplanes.

USA PATRIOT Act

Gave the federal government new eavesdropping powers to combat terrorism.