Untitled Flashcards histSet

Dixiecrats

Southern Democrats who opposed civil rights reforms and split from the Democratic Party in 1948.

The Other America

A book by Michael Harrington that exposed poverty in postwar America despite general prosperity.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates after WWII leading to increased demand for housing and education.

Gender Roles

Socially constructed roles associated with being male or female, reinforced post-WWII but later challenged.

Perception vs Reality

The contrast between the idealized media portrayal of suburban life and the real issues of poverty and racism.

Media / TV / Film / Music

Cultural phenomena that spread norms and challenged them, influencing public opinion and cultural change.

Suburbia / Levittowns

Mass-produced housing developments that were often racially exclusive and contributed to urban decline.

Counterculture

A youth movement in the 1960s rejecting materialism and war, challenging traditional norms.

Moral Majority / New Right

A conservative movement in the 1980s that promoted traditional family values and anti-abortion policies.

CRA '64 (Civil Rights Act of 1964)

Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, sex, and religion.

ERA (Equal Rights Amendment)

A proposed amendment aiming for gender equality that sparked national debate but failed ratification.

Social Equality Movements & Critics

Movements advocating for rights across various groups, expanding civil liberties but facing conservative backlash.

Betty Friedan – The Feminine Mystique

A significant work that critiqued women's limited roles in society and sparked 2nd-wave feminism.

Cesar Chavez, United Farm Workers (UFW)

An activist who organized Latino farmworkers for labor rights and improved conditions.

Interstate Highway Act (1956)

A major public works project that reshaped American infrastructure and urban development.

Modern Republicanism / Dynamic Conservatism

Eisenhower's approach balancing conservatism with selective support for New Deal policies.

Reagan & Rise of Conservatism

A political shift in response to social change and economic issues, marked by the New Right's dominance.

Reaganomics (Supply-Side or 'Trickle-Down')

Economic policies focused on tax cuts and deregulation aimed at stimulating growth.

Keynesian Economics vs Trickle Down

An economic debate contrasting government spending to stimulate demand versus tax cuts for wealth creation.

Warren Court (1953–69)

A supreme court era known for expanding civil liberties and addressing rights of the accused.

Watergate

A political scandal resulting in Nixon's resignation and increased public distrust in government.

GI Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act)

Legislation providing education and housing support for WWII veterans, contributing to middle-class expansion.

Post-WWII Culture & Internal Migrations

Cultural shifts promoting the nuclear family and a migration pattern favoring the South and West.

LBJ’s Great Society

A set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice, facing criticism for spending.