Richard Nixon
defeated by JFK in 1960 election
Walter Cronkite
new anchor for CBS known for his objectivity and trustworthiness, who said that the war in Vietnam would end in stalemate. Johnson knew that if even Cronkite didn't support him, nobody in Middle America supported him. "Living Room War"
John F. Kennedy
President of the US during the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis; youngest president; assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald
Warren Report
detailed report that described the investigation findings of the JFK assassination; concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole killer; investigation done by Chief Justice Earl Warren
Lyndon B. Johnson
JFK's VP until he is assassination in 1963; runs one term from 1964-1968; delivered many of JFK's policies: civil rights legislation and fighting poverty; as president he: Medicare, Medicaid, provided healthcare, education, urban renewal, and Immigration Act of 1965
Great Society (1964)
JFK's vision for America; Congress passed Medicare, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education; wanted to end poverty, racial injustice, and opportunity for every child
New Frontier (1960)
JFK's domestic policy; plans to fix poverty, pass Equal Pay Act, healthcare, and civil rights (voting rights and desegregate schools); also plans to explore space; CCOT: FDR's New Deal
Flexible Response
JFK's foreign policy; defense policy that prepared the US to fight any type of conflict (nuclear warfare, green berets, Peace Corps - volunteering in developing nations)
Berlin Crisis
Berlin wall was built, separating East Berlin (communist) from West Berlin (non-communist)
Ted Kennedy
an antiwar candidate for President in 1968
Robert Kennedy
He was a Democrat who ran for president in 1968 promoting civil rights and other equality based ideals. He was ultimately assassinated in 1968, leaving Nixon to take the presidency but instilling hope in many Americans.
Daniel Ellsberg
former employee of the Defense Department and analyst of Secretary of State Robert McNamara; leaked "Pentagon Papers" to the New York Times which was information on how the US government got involved in Vietnam; very embarrassing for the government.
Barry Goldwater
ran for election against LBJ in 1964; favored states' rights as he opposed big government and social welfare (Civil Rights Act of 1964); favored nuclear war; modern conservatism ideas paved the way for Ronald Reagan in 1980 election; extreme conservatism scared voters into voting for Johnson
James Meredith
black student who tried to enroll in Mississippi in 1962; he sued for his admission which lead to riots; JFK sent marshals to ensure his safety in school
George Wallace
pro-segregation governor of Alabama who stood in the way of James Hood and Vivian Malone who wanted to integrate University of Alabama
Malcom X
African-American civil rights leader who encouraged violent responses to racial discrimination
Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense under JFK & LBJ; expanded American involvement in Vietnam but later regretted it
MLK Jr.
Implemented the strategy of nonviolent protest; inspired by Gandhi's protests in India; one of the most influential leaders of the civil rights movement; gave famous "I Have a Dream" speech; assassinated by James Earl Ray in Tennessee
Bay of Pigs (1961)
failed invasion of Cuba, planned under Eisenhower, implemented under JFK; Cuban exiles living in the US were trained by the CIA and landed in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs; believed it would start uprising of the Cuban people against Castro. did not happen, and was a huge embarrassment for the US and pushed Castro to seek more help from the USSR, leading directly to the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
A confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States; Castro asked the Soviet Union to provide him with defensive weapons to point at US; almost became a Nuclear War; both sides were too scared to act first as they were fearful of the other side retaliating
Effects of Cuban Missile Crisis
USSR removed missiles from Cuba; US removed missiles from Turkey; Nuclear warfare was avoided; Moscow-Washington hotline was established; peaceful coexistence (Détente)
March on Washington (1963)
a large political rally that took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating racial harmony at the Lincoln Memorial during the march. Widely credited as helping lead to the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the National Voting Rights Act (1965). 80% of the marchers were black. Organized by union leader A. Philip Randolph.
Birmingham Campaign (1963)
Organized in 1963 by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and led by Martin Luther King Jr., and others; a major non-violent protest that consisted of young Black students; King had thousands of black schoolchildren march through town, the police chief, Eugene "Bull" Connor and officers assaulted the protesters; The images, broadcast on TV brought attention to the situation and caused unrest.; JFK finally stepped in and introduced Civil Rights Bill
Freedom Summer (1964)
a voter registration drive in Mississippi spearheaded by the collaboration of civil rights groups, the campaign drew the activism of thousands of black and white civil rights workers, many of whom were students from the north; African Americans were reluctant to vote because of fear
Selma (1965)
scene of a major Civil Rights clash in Alabama. Peaceful Civil Rights marchers were attacked while crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This event helped get the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed.
Six Day War (1967)
Military conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, including Syria, Egypt, and Jordan. The war ended with an Israeli victory and territorial expansion into the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. The 1967 war was a humiliation for several Arab states, and the territorial disputes it created formed the basis for continued conflict in the region.
Democractic National Convention (1968)
Lyndon B. Johnson was voted as candidate for the election; the MFDP showed up to challenge the convention for not giving them seats to represent themselves; Fannie Lou Hamer, a delegates for the party gave a testimony regarding Mississippi and how African Americans were being excluded from the state Democratic party; protests occurred outside the building, leading to violence and unrest
My Lai Massacre (1968)
when US troops in Southern Vietnam killed over 500 unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai as per a search and destroy order; caused mass uproar in the US
Vietnam Draft (1969)
a lottery system for drafting men into the war; many were able to dodge the draft
Stonewall Riots (1969)
it was illegal to serve gay people at bars and let them dance with each other; police raided the Stonewall Inn one day, causing protests from patrons; riots occurred, providing fuel for the Gay Rights movement in NYC
The Feminine Mystique (1963)
written by Betty Friedan; described how women who were feminine should not have political opinions, an education, or a job; that women should not leave their sphere of influence (the home) because that would undermine their femininity
MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)
defends the nonviolent approach to fighting for civil rights; MLK describes how people have a responsibility to call out unjust laws and take direct action rather than waiting for courts to make a decision
Kerner Report (1968)
Report stated that poverty among African Americans had resulted in isolation from the mainstream of American society. The report urged Congress to create jobs, job training programs, and housing programs for African Americans in cities; LBJ did not do anything about these issues because the Vietnam War took most of the funds
Civil Rights Act (1964)
Banned discrimination in employment and in public accommodations
Voting Rights Act (1965)
banned literacy tests, the grandfather clause, and other Jim Crow era restrictions imposed on African Americans; allowed the community to vote without restrictions
24th Amendment (1967)
banned the poll tax, allowing all Americans to vote without paying
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)
gave Johnson war powers to commit US troops to South Vietnam without formal declaration of war; LBJ did so through the Gulf of Tonkin incident in which the USS Maddox was "attacked" (fired the first shot in reality) at the gulf - was a justification for going to war with Vietnam; CCOT: USS Maine in Spanish-American war, Lusitania was sunk during WWI, and Pearl Harbor was attacked = WWII involvment
Philadelphia Plan (1967)
program established to racially integrate construction trade unions through mandatory hiring quotas
Vietnamization (1968)
shift responsibility of war from US to the Southern Vietnamese so US could start taking troops out; failed because the ARVN did not have enough troops to fight by themselves against the NVA
Army of Republic of Vietnam (anti-communist)
southern Vietnamese military group supported by American against communist north
North Vietnamese Army (communist)
northern Vietnamese group that fought against anti-communist south and US
Viet Cong
communist rebels that lived in the south; since they all looked the same, it was hard for US troops to distinguish which side people were on
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
radical leftist student organization that actively criticized US involvement in Vietnam War - against the war; founded by Tom Hayden
National Organization for Women (NOW)
challenged discrimination on the basis of sex; to gain equal and protect equal rights for women; their goal was to pass the Equal Rights Amendment which would guarantee equal rights
Freedom Riders
these civil rights activists (black and white) tested the federal government's willingness to enforce interstate transportation laws; they would take bus trips from the north to the south to protest segregated bus terminals
Black Panthers
an African American organization that pushed for Black nationalism, socialism, and self-defense against police brutality; believed that nonviolence does not work all of the time - more driven to violent forms of protest
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
established that criminal defendants should be provided with an attorney if they could not afford one
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
established an arrested individual is entitled to be informed of their rights: right to an attorney and against self-incrimination (right to fair trial) <-- 5th and 6th amendments; known as Miranda Rights
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
students protested against the Vietnam War and were banned to express their opinions; Supreme Court case established that American students have 1st Amendment rights;
Hippie Movement (Counterculture)
Members valued Youth, Spontaneity, Freedom of Expression; Promoted peace, love, and freedom; Dissatisfaction with 1950s conservatism and all kinds of authority during the 1960s; Woodstock, Summer of Love (clothing), Merry Pranksters (group of people), and the Diggers (radical performers (CCOT: Beat Generation of 50s, Rock n' Roll, Elvis Presley)
Youth International Party (Yippies)
group of activists and leftists that did not support the Vietnam War; founded by Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman
Tet Offensive
coordinated attack by the North Vietnamese (communist) on 100 cities and outposts in Southern Vietnam; goal was to push US out of Vietnam; turning point in the war
Pentagon Papers
described how US involved itself in Vietnam War; bombings of Laos and Cambodia, raids, and attacks were not disclosed to the media until Daniel Ellsberg released the papers to NY Times
Kent State Shooting
during protests against Vietnam War at Kent State University, Ohio National Guard shot protesters and students
Vietnam Vets Against the War
These veterans threw away their medals on live television, which heightened anti-war beliefs
Eugene McCarthy
against LBJ's handling of Vietnam War; wanted US to withdraw troops; used anti-war movement as a platform for his presidential campaign during the 1968 election
Those against Vietnam War
Eugene McCarthy (senator), Muhammad Ali (boxer), and John Kerry, MLK = all believed that war was immoral and unjust
Birth Control (1960)
FDA approved a birth control pill that gave women the ability to decide for themselves if they wanted a child; increased womens' rights
Title VII
prohibited employee discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, or national origin; huge win for Women's Rights and Civil Rights
Women's Rights CCOT
Seneca Falls Convention, WCTU, Woman's Suffrage (19th amendment)
Chicano Movement
Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta were some of the most influential leaders of the movement to end discrimination, stereotypes, and labor restrictions; CCOT: Bracero Program (US allowed migrants to work in labor jobs), Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (US-Mexican War), Unionization in the Gilded Age
United Farm Workers (UFW)
established workers' rights to get better pay and working conditions on farms - led by Cesar Chavez and supported by MLK
Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee
consisted mostly of Filipino migrant farm workers to o organize migrant workers who wanted better working rights and conditions; joined forces with National Farm Workers Association (led by Chavez) to protest exploitation of farm workers
Mattachine Society
inspired by French secret societies to call out leaders, the society worked to stop baseless arrests of gay men and provide legal advice to those that were arrested
Gay Liberation Front
had groups under the name across the country to incite a gay and lesbian political movement; platform for which more central gay rights groups formed
Gay Rights CCOT
Pride Month, Obergefell v. Hodge (same sex marriage legalized), other same sex laws, "Friendship and Freedom" (first gay interest newsletter), Society for Human Rights founded by Henry Gerber (1924,) first gay rights organization in US
Black Power
A slogan used to reflect solidarity and racial consciousness - used by Malcolm X
Black Panther Party
A group formed in 1966, inspired by the idea of Black Power, that provided aid to black neighborhoods; often thought of as radical or violent - led by Huey P. Newton
Civil Rights Groups
NAACP, SNCC ( led by Stokley Carmichael and coined the term black power), SCLC
Civil Rights CCOT
Double V Campaign, BLM, Emancipation Proclamation, Change from Jim Crow, WEB duBois vs. Booker T. Washington, Reconstruction era - 14 + 15 amendments
Antiwar Movement CCOT
Eugene Debs (Canton Speech, Anti-Imperialist League, Jeanette Rankins, American First Committee (WWII)
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP)
created to encourage African American involvement in politics while challenging Mississippi’s all-white democratic party - showed up at 1968 DNC, causing mass protests