Nixon to Now Test Study Guide

Cesar Chavez

Mexican American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers and led nonviolent protests for farmworkers' rights.

Hector P. Garcia

A Mexican American physician and civil rights advocate who founded the American G.I. Forum to fight discrimination against Hispanic veterans.

United Farm Workers (UFW)

A labor union formed in 1962 to advocate for better wages and working conditions for farmworkers, co-founded by Cesar Chavez.

Betty Friedan

A leading figure in the American women’s rights movement and author of The Feminine Mystique, which challenged women's roles in society.

NOW (National Organization for Women)

A feminist organization founded in 1966 to promote equal rights for women in all areas of life.

Mural Movement

An artistic movement in the 1960s and 70s where artists painted murals in public spaces to celebrate cultural identity and inspire activism.

Détente

A period of eased Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s, focusing on diplomacy and arms control.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A proposed missile defense system announced by President Reagan in 1983 intended to protect the U.S. from nuclear attacks.

Iran-Contra Affair

A political scandal involving the secret sale of arms to Iran and the use of proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Camp David Accords

Peace agreements brokered by President Jimmy Carter between Egypt and Israel, marking Egypt as the first Arab nation to recognize Israel.

Conservative Resurgence

A political shift in the late 1970s and 1980s emphasizing traditional values, smaller government, and strong national defense.

NRA

The National Rifle Association, a conservative interest group promoting gun rights, especially influential during Reagan's presidency.

New Federalism

A political philosophy aimed at transferring powers from the federal government to the states, championed by Nixon and Reagan.

OPEC

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which used oil as a political weapon in the 1970s leading to gas shortages in the U.S.

Fall of the Soviet Union

The weakening and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, influenced by Reagan’s military buildup and reform policies.

Reaganomics

President Reagan's economic policy focused on tax cuts, reduced government spending, and deregulation.

Stagflation

An economic situation characterized by high inflation and high unemployment occurring simultaneously.

Realpolitik

A foreign policy approach focused on practical goals and national interests over ideological considerations.

Iranian Hostage Crisis

A diplomatic crisis where 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days from 1979 to 1981.

Watergate Scandal

A political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters linked to President Nixon’s re-election team.

Supply-Side Economics

An economic theory advocating that lower taxes and less regulation stimulate production and economic growth.

Sandra Day O’Connor

The first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, known for her moderate conservative views.

Presidential Pardon

A constitutional power allowing the president to forgive legal penalties; notably used by Gerald Ford to pardon Nixon.

SALT I

A 1972 treaty that limited the number of nuclear weapons between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, part of Nixon’s détente policy.

Delgado v. Bastrop ISD

A court case that ended segregation of Mexican-American students in Texas public schools.

Edgewood ISD v. Kirby

A landmark case that challenged the unfair school funding system in Texas and led to better funding equalization.

Hernandez v. Texas

A Supreme Court ruling that extended civil rights protections to Mexican Americans under the 14th Amendment.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush

Presidents in Order

Richard Nixon (1969–1974) 

• Watergate Scandal → Led to his resignation 

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) founded 

• Vietnam War: U.S. troops gradually withdrawn (Vietnamization) 

• First U.S. president to visit China

Gerald Ford (1974–1977) 

• Pardoned Nixon (super controversial) 

• Struggled with inflation and unemployment (stagflation) 

• Helsinki Accords: improving relations with the Soviet bloc 

Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) 

• Camp David Accords → Peace treaty between Egypt & Israel 

• Iran Hostage Crisis → 52 Americans held for 444 days 

• Energy crisis and inflation 

• Human rights were a big focus of his foreign policy 

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) 

• Reaganomics: tax cuts + less government regulation 

• Cold War tough guy: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” 

• Iran-Contra Affair: scandal involving secret arms deals 

• Military buildup and Star Wars (Strategic Defense Initiative) 

George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) 

• Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm against Iraq (1991) 

• Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) 

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed 

• End of the Cold War