APUSH People Unit 9

Adlai Stevenson

Two-time Presidential loser to Eisenhower and prominent figure in the Democratic Party, known for his eloquent oratory and strong stance on international diplomacy.

Geroge Wallace

Governor of Alabama who was pro-segregation and famously stood in the schoolhouse door to prevent the integration of schools. He was a controversial figure in the civil rights movement.

Cesar Chavez

Founder and leader of the United Farm Workers who advocated for the rights of farm workers and pushed for better working conditions.

John F. Kennedy

Senator from Massachusetts who beat Nixon in 1960 to become the 35th President of the United States, known for his charismatic leadership and key events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the establishment of the Peace Corps.

Charles De Gaulle

French Leader who challenged U.S. superiority during the Cold War and played a significant role in the establishment of the Fifth Republic.

Barry Goldwater

Loser of the 1964 Presidential election from Arizona and prominent conservative figure who advocated for limited government and free market policies.

Lee Harvey Oswald

Accused Kennedy assassin who was killed three days later by Jack Ruby. He was a former Marine and had lived in the Soviet Union, which raised suspicions regarding his motives and potential connections to foreign influences.

Malcom X

“Because we try and explain what is meant by ballot or the bullet, I would like to clarify something concerning myself. I’m still a Muslim; my religion is still Islam.” He was a prominent civil rights leader and activist who advocated for black empowerment and the use of any means necessary to achieve racial justice, contrasting with more mainstream civil rights approaches.

Thomas Dewey

Loser of the 1948 Presidential election to Truman who was the Republican nominee and served as Governor of New York. His campaign was marked by a focus on domestic issues and he was considered a moderate Republican.

George H.W. Bush

Reagan’s VP who coined the term “Voodoo Economics” to describe fiscal policies he believed would lead to increased national debt. He later served as the 41st President of the United States, focusing on foreign policy and the end of the Cold War.

Nikita Khrushchev

Russian leader responsible for the Cuban Missile Crisis and Berlin Wall and the de-Stalinization of the Soviet Union. He was notable for his attempts to reform the Soviet economy and promote peaceful coexistence with the West.

Betty Friedan

Author of The Feminine Mystique and a key figure in the women's movement of the 1960s. She challenged traditional roles for women and helped to ignite the second wave of feminism in the United States.

Henry Kissinger

Nixon’s Secretary of State who opened China to diplomatic relations with the United States and played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Vietnam War era. His work in détente aimed to ease tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Jimmy Carter

Organized the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978, which led to a peace treaty and improved relations between the two nations.

Richard Nixon

President who instituted Vietnamization to withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam while training South Vietnamese forces. He also opened diplomatic relations with China and faced significant controversy during Watergate.

Robert F. Kennedy

Attorney General under JFK and later Senator from New York who advocated for civil rights and was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War, and was assassinated in 1968 while campaigning for the presidency.

Gloria Steinem

Editor and founder of MS. Magazine and a prominent leader in the feminist movement, advocating for women's rights and equality throughout the 1960s and beyond.

Harry S Truman

President at the beginning of the Korean War who made the decision to intervene militarily and was instrumental in establishing the policy of containment.

Spiro Agnew

VP under Nixon who was forced to resign amid allegations of corruption and tax fraud.

Gerald Ford

VP under Nixon who later pardoned him for any crimes he may have committed while in office, becoming the 38th President of the United States after Nixon's resignation.

Martin Luther King Jr.

“Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.” A prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement, known for advocating nonviolent protest and delivering the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. His efforts were crucial in the fight against racial segregation and for African American civil rights.

Jackie Robinson

Broke the Major League color barrier in 1947 and became the first African American to play in the MLB, paving the way for future athletes of color. His impact extended beyond sports, as he became a symbol of the civil rights movement.

Stokely Carmichael

“Whether they like it or not, we gonna use the word ‘Black Power’ —and let them address themselves to that; but that we are not going to wait for white people to sanction Black power. We’re tired waiting” was a prominent civil rights activist known for his role in the Black Power movement. He advocated for African American empowerment and was a leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), emphasizing self-determination and racial pride.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Created the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s and was the 34th President of the United States, overseeing the country during the early Cold War and promoting policies of containment against communism.

Douglas Macarthur

“Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away” was a five-star general in the United States Army who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He also oversaw the occupation of Japan post-war and was later involved in the Korean War before being removed from command by President Truman.

Lyndon B. Johnson

President who wanted a “Great Society” focused on eliminating poverty and racial injustice, implementing social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. He was the 36th President of the United States and served from 1963 to 1969.

Timothy Leary

Promoted LSD as a way to “expand your mind” and advocated for its use in psychotherapy and spiritual exploration during the 1960s counterculture movement.

Ronald Reagan

President who stood up for the “Moral Majority” and emphasized conservative values during the 1980s. He served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.

George Marshall

Secretary of State who helped rebuild Europe after WWII through the Marshall Plan, providing financial aid to restore economies and prevent the spread of communism. He served from 1947 to 1949.

Joseph McCarthy

Senator from Wisconsin who began the Second Red Scare by accusing numerous Americans of being communists or communist sympathizers without proper evidence.