Baby Boom
A period post-WWII that made birth rates spike tremendously.
Growth of Suburbs
After WWII, many begin to move away from cities, leading to suburban growth.
2nd Red Scare
A period of anti-communist investigations and actions in the United States post-WWII.
Taft Hartley Act (1947)
Legislation aimed at limiting management-labor disputes and reducing unfair labor practices.
Federal Employee, Loyalty, and Security Program
Established to root out communist influence in the U.S. federal government post-WWII.
McCarthyism
A period characterized by anti-communist investigations and accusations led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
The Cold War
A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991.
Containment
U.S. foreign policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism by creating alliances and aiding weak countries.
Marshall Plan
U.S. initiative providing financial aid to rebuild European countries post-WWII to resist communism.
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s
Era marked by advances in civil rights, met with violent resistance, and cultural shifts in art, music, and movies.
Dwight D
34th President of the US in 1952, focused on balancing the budget, reducing federal spending, and easing government regulations on business.
Interstate Highway System
Developed under Eisenhower, aimed to facilitate transportation, promote tourism, and spur suburban development.
Termination Policy (1953)
Eisenhower's federal policy towards Native Americans, aimed to close reservations and end federal support, met with Native American protests.
Brown v
Landmark case overturning "separate but equal" in education, significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement.
Little Rock Nine (1957)
Conflict over desegregation in schools, where Arkansas closed high schools in response to black students enrolling.
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
Sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest, led to the integration of city buses and national prominence for Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil Rights Acts (1957&1960)
First federal civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, aimed to strengthen voting rights and protect Southern blacks.
Kennedy Administration (1961-1963)
Promoted a New Frontier, focused on increasing unemployment benefits, expanding Social Security, and aiding various groups.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Led by Martin Luther King Jr., engaged in sit-ins, boycotts, and peaceful demonstrations for civil rights.
Freedom Riders Movement (1961)
Protest movement against segregation on buses, where black and white riders challenged the status quo.
Equal Pay Act (1963)
Legislation requiring equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, aimed at reducing pay discrimination.
Warren Court (1953-1969)
Led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, expanded civil rights, enforced voting rights, and established key legal precedents.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Comprehensive legislation outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, or gender, a landmark in US civil rights history.
Johnson's War on Poverty
Johnson's antipoverty program including the Economic Opportunity Act, Project Head Start, Upward Bound, Job Corps, and VISTA.