Unit 8 APUSH

Baby boom

A significant increase in the birth rate following World War II, resulting in a demographic shift.

Blacklisting

The practice of denying employment to individuals due to their political beliefs or associations.

Black power

A movement aimed at empowering African Americans and promoting black identity and culture.

Cold War

The geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II, characterized by political conflict and military rivalry.

Communism

A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless system and state ownership of the means of production.

Containment

United States policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, particularly post World War II.

Détente

The easing of strained relations, especially between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Domino theory

The idea that the spread of communism in one nation would lead to the spread in neighboring nations.

Environmentalism

A social movement focused on the protection of the environment and addressing issues such as pollution and biodiversity.

Feminism

A movement advocating for women's rights and equality between the genders.

Military-industrial complex

The relationship between a country's military and the defense industry that supplies it.

Mutually assured destruction (MAD)

A doctrine of military strategy where both sides possess enough nuclear weaponry to destroy each other.

Nation-building

The efforts of external powers to help establish or rebuild weaker nations following conflicts or upheavals.

New frontier

A term used by John F. Kennedy to describe his administration's goals for social reforms and advancements.

Proxy wars

Conflicts in which opposing powers support combatants in a third-party war.

Rock and roll

A genre of popular music that originated in the United States in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Sexual revolution

A social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships.

Silent majority

A term used by President Nixon to refer to the large group of Americans who did not publicly express their opinions on social issues.

Stagflation

An economic condition characterized by slow economic growth and high unemployment coupled with inflation.

Southern strategy

A political strategy used by the Republican Party to gain support from Southern voters.

Bay of Pigs invasion

An unsuccessful attempt by CIA-trained Cuban exiles to invade Cuba in 1961 and overthrow Fidel Castro.

Berlin Blockade/Airlift

A Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948 to cut off supplies, leading to a major U.S. and Allied airlift.

Chinese Revolution

The civil war led by the Communist Party of China, resulting in the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over missile deployment in Cuba.

Kent State Massacre

The killing of four students by National Guardsmen at Kent State University during a protest against the Vietnam War.

Korean War

A conflict between North Korea (with support from China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with United Nations and U.S. support) from 1950 to 1953.

Middle East oil crisis

A period of crisis during the 1970s, marked by oil embargoes and skyrocketing prices.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A civil rights protest against racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery, Alabama, initiated by Rosa Parks.

My Lai Massacre

The mass killing of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by U.S. Army forces during the Vietnam War in 1968.

Suez Crisis

A diplomatic and military confrontation in 1956 involving Egypt, Israel, France, and Britain over control of the Suez Canal.

Tet Offensive

A large-scale North Vietnamese offensive during the Vietnam War in 1968, which shifted public opinion in the U.S.

Vietnam War

A protracted conflict occurring in Vietnam from the late 1950s until 1975 between North Vietnam (and allies) and South Vietnam (supported by the U.S.).

Watergate Scandal

A political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up by the Nixon administration.

U-2 Incident

The 1960 shooting down of a U.S. U-2 spy plane over Soviet airspace, exacerbating Cold War tensions.

Stonewall Riot

A series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in 1969.

Iran Hostage Crisis

The 444-day standoff after Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979, holding American diplomats hostage.

1968 DNC

The Democratic National Convention held in Chicago marked by protests and political unrest.

Pentagon Papers

A classified report detailing the U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam, leaked in 1971.

Adlai Stevenson

An American politician known for his candidacy in the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections as the Democratic candidate.

Alger Hiss

A former U.S. State Department official accused of espionage and a notable figure in the Red Scare.

Beatniks

A social and literary movement of the 1950s characterized by rejection of conventional society norms.

Carter Doctrine

A policy set by Jimmy Carter declaring that the U.S. would use military force to protect its national interests in the Persian Gulf.

Douglas MacArthur

A prominent U.S. General during World War II and the Korean War.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The 34th President of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961.

Earl Warren

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court known for landmark decisions expanding civil rights.

Eugene McCarthy

A U.S. politician who ran for president in 1968 focusing on anti-war sentiments.

Fannie Lou Hamer

A civil rights activist known for her work in voter registration and the freedom struggle.

Fidel Castro

Cuban revolutionary leader who established a socialist state in Cuba.

George Wallace

The Governor of Alabama known for his pro-segregation policies during the Civil Rights Movement.

Gerald Ford

The 38th President of the United States who succeeded Nixon after the Watergate scandal.

Gloria Steinem

A prominent feminist activist and journalist who played a significant role in the women's liberation movement.

Henry Kissinger

U.S. Secretary of State known for his role in foreign policy during the Nixon administration, notably in China and the Middle East.

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese revolutionary leader who led North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Hubert Humphrey

A U.S. politician and Vice President known for his advocacy of civil rights and Great Society programs.

Jackie Robinson

The first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, breaking the color barrier.

Jimmy Carter

The 39th President of the United States known for his emphasis on human rights and post-presidency humanitarian work.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States, known for the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Space Race.

John Foster Dulles

U.S. Secretary of State under Eisenhower known for his role in Cold War policies.

John Lewis

A civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman known for his work in the civil rights movement.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. Senator known for his anti-communist beliefs and leading witch hunts against alleged communists.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, known for his totalitarian rule.

Lyndon Johnson

The 36th President of the United States, known for his Great Society programs aimed at eliminating poverty.

Malcolm X

A civil rights activist who advocated for black empowerment and the use of violence for self-defense.

Mao Zedong

The founding father of the People's Republic of China and leader of the Chinese Communist Party.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A prominent leader in the civil rights movement known for his nonviolent activism and inspirational speeches.

Medgar Evers

A civil rights activist and NAACP leader murdered in 1963, symbolizing the struggle for equality.

Nikita Khrushchev

The leader of the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War known for de-Stalinization.

Phyllis Schlafly

A conservative activist known for her opposition to the feminist movement and the Equal Rights Amendment.

Rachel Carson

An environmental activist and author known for her book 'Silent Spring' which challenged pesticide use.

Richard Nixon

The 37th President of the United States, known for the Watergate scandal and foreign policy achievements.

Robert Kennedy

A U.S. Senator and civil rights advocate who was assassinated during his presidential campaign in 1968.

Rosa Parks

An activist known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Thurgood Marshall

The first African American Supreme Court Justice, known for his activism in civil rights and law.

Woodward and Bernstein

Journalists known for their investigative reporting on the Watergate scandal.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1947 to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War.

Eisenhower Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy announced in 1957 to provide economic and military assistance to Middle Eastern countries.

Nixon Doctrine

A policy that stated the U.S. would assist allies facing external threats but would not commit ground troops.

Bakke v. University of California

A landmark Supreme Court case regarding affirmative action and admissions policies.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Camp David Accords

A peace agreement between Egypt and Israel brokered by President Carter in 1978.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

U.S. agency responsible for international intelligence and operations.

Civil Rights Acts (1957, 1964, 1965, 1968)

Legislation aimed at prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Clean Air Act

A comprehensive law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

A U.S. government department responsible for national policies and programs related to housing.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

A proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

Fair Deal

A set of proposals put forward by President Truman aimed at promoting social welfare and economic growth.

Geneva Accords

Agreements that temporarily separated Vietnam into North and South at the end of the First Indochina War.

Gideon v. Wainwright

A Supreme Court case that established the right to legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases.

Griswold v. Connecticut

A Supreme Court case that established a right to privacy in marital relations.

Head Start

A program designed to provide early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parental involvement services.

Interstate Highway Act

Legislation that funded the construction of the Interstate Highway System to improve transportation.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe after World War II to rebuild economies.

Miranda v. Arizona

A Supreme Court case that established the requirement of police to inform suspects of their rights.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The U.S. governmental agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research.

National Security Council

A U.S. government agency responsible for advising the President on national security and foreign policy.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

An intergovernmental organization of oil-exporting countries to coordinate and unify petroleum policies.

Peace Corps

A U.S. government program established in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship through volunteer service.

Roe v. Wade

A landmark Supreme Court decision that recognized a woman's constitutional right to have an abortion.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

An international organization created in 1954 to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.