JFK, LBJ, Nixon

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts related to U.S. political history, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on domestic and foreign policies.

Social Safety Net

Government programs designed to provide assistance to individuals and families in need.

Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Law mandating equal pay for equal work regardless of gender.

Cuban Missile Crisis

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

Flexible Response in “Third World”

A defense strategy that allowed for a range of military responses, including conventional forces and nuclear options. (JFK Special Forces)

Peace Corps

A U.S. government program that sends volunteers to assist with social and economic development in developing countries.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed military invasion of Cuba by American-backed Cuban exiles in 1961.

War on Poverty

A series of initiatives aimed at reducing poverty in the United States, initiated by President Johnson.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, established in 1965.

Medicaid

A health care program that assists low-income families or individuals in paying for medical costs.

Urban Renewal

Programs aimed at revitalizing deteriorating urban areas.

Vietnamization

A policy announced by Nixon to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War by transferring responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Legislation passed in 1964 that allowed President Johnson to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

Rolling Thunder

A sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam, initiated in 1965.

My Lai Massacre

The killing of thousands of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops during the Vietnam War.

Anti-War Movement

A social movement opposing the Vietnam War and the escalation of U.S. military involvement.

Watergate Scandal

A political scandal involving President Nixon's administration's attempts to cover up its involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Nixon Doctrine

A foreign policy strategy calling for U.S. allies to take care of their own military defense.

Daisy Girl Commercial

A famous political advertisement for Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential campaign that highlighted the dangers of nuclear war.

International Order

The concept of governing international relations through agreed-upon norms and laws.

Helsinki Accords

A series of agreements on European security and cooperation that were signed in 1975.

Who was Robert McNamara?

Robert McNamara served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, overseeing military operations and policies during a critical period of the Vietnam War.He played a key role in escalating U.S. involvement in Vietnam and was influential in shaping defense strategies.

U-2 Incident

A 1960 incident in which an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet airspace, leading to a diplomatic crisis.This event heightened Cold War tensions and resulted in the capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice and equality for African Americans and other marginalized groups in the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s.

Bobby Kennedy

A U.S. senator and presidential candidate assassinated in 1968, brother of President John F. Kennedy.

Social Security Act

A 1935 law that created social insurance and assistance programs, significantly expanded in the 1960s.

John Glenn

The first American to orbit the Earth and a later U.S. senator who played a significant role in U.S. space exploration.

Environmental Movement

A social and political movement aimed at protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for African Americans.

Warren Court

The Supreme Court during the tenure of Chief Justice Earl Warren, known for its activism in civil rights and liberties.

Earl Warren

The 14th Chief Justice of the United States, key in expanding civil rights and liberties.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 for mutual defense.

SALT Treaty

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, agreements aimed at controlling the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975.

Economic Stagnation

A prolonged period of slow economic growth.

Grassroots Politics

Political activity that is initiated and driven by the local constituents and communities.

Exploration of Space

The investigation of outer space through manned and unmanned spacecraft.

Executive Privilege

The right of the president to withhold information from Congress or the courts.

Nixon's Resignation

Nixon resigned from the presidency in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal.

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled that the government cannot limit independent expenditures for political campaigns.

Economic Opportunity Act of 1964

A law designed to eliminate the causes of poverty by providing economic and educational opportunities.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

An agency of the U.S. federal government created for environmental protection matters.

What was the Warren Court?

The Warren Court refers to the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren from 1953 to 1969, noted for its landmark decisions that expanded civil rights and liberties.

What is incorporation in the context of the Warren Court?

Incorporation is the legal doctrine used by the Warren Court to apply the Bill of Rights to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment, thereby strengthening the protections of individual rights.

How did the Warren Court strengthen the national government?

The Warren Court strengthened the national government by asserting federal authority over state laws in areas such as civil rights, personal freedoms, and criminal justice, effectively expanding the role of the federal government in protecting individual rights.

What are some landmark cases decided by the Warren Court?

Landmark cases include Brown v. Board of Education (desegregation), Miranda v. Arizona (Miranda rights), and Roe v. Wade (abortion rights),