APUSH Unit 8 Key Terms

Collective Security

A system by which states work together to enhance mutual security and guarantee peace.

Korean Conflict

A war fought between North Korea (with the support of China and the USSR) and South Korea (with UN forces led by the US) from 1950 to 1953.

Vietnam Conflict

A conflict in which the communist government of North Vietnam fought against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States, from 1955 to 1975.

Détente

A period of relaxed tensions and improved relations between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War.

Decolonization

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

Nationalist Movements

Political movements aimed at gaining and maintaining independence for a particular nation or group.

Nonaligned Countries

Countries that did not formally align with or against any major power bloc during the Cold War.

Liberty

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority.

Cold War

The period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II.

Oil Crisis

A significant increase in oil prices during the 1970s due to OPEC's oil embargo against the US.

Military Industrial Complex

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

Non-violent Protest

A method of resistance that seeks to bring about social change without the use of violence.

Desegregation of Military

The process of ending the segregation of African Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Brown v. Bd. of Education 1954

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

Civil Rights Act of 1964

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

Lyndon Johnson

The 36th President of the United States, known for his Great Society domestic program.

Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Private Sector

The part of the economy that is run by individuals and companies for profit, distinct from government activity.

Baby Boom

The significant increase in birth rates following World War II, particularly in the United States.

Suburbanization

The growth of areas on the fringes of cities, particularly after World War II, as people moved away from urban centers.

Sun Belt

A region in the southern U.S. known for its warm climate and rapid economic growth since the 1970s.

Conformity

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms or societal expectations.

Immigration Act of 1965

Legislation that abolished the quota system for immigrants, allowing more individuals from non-European countries to immigrate to the U.S.

Counter-culture

A social movement that rejected the dominant culture, particularly prevalent in the 1960s.

Sexual Revolution

A social movement in the 1960s and 1970s advocating for sexual freedom and against traditional codes of behavior.

Environmental Movement

A social and political movement advocating for the protection of the environment and addressing issues like climate change.

Middle East

A region that includes Western Asia and parts of North Africa, often significant for its geopolitical conflicts.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

An American civil rights leader known for his role in the American civil rights movement and advocacy of nonviolent protest.

Supreme Court Decisions-- Civil Rights-Individual

Key Supreme Court rulings that addressed and advanced individual rights, particularly related to civil rights.

Vietnam--Anti-war Protests

Public demonstrations in the 1960s and 70s against the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War.

Latin America

A region encompassing countries in the Americas where Romance languages (primarily Spanish and Portuguese) are spoken.

National Energy Policy

Government strategies aimed at addressing energy production, consumption, and sustainability.

Latinos, Asians, American-Indians

Diverse ethnic groups in the U.S. contributing to its cultural and demographic landscape.