Identifications (Hist)

Coercive Patriotism

1) Definition:

Pressure—by government or society—for people to show loyalty. Includes propaganda, loyalty oaths, and punishing dissent.

2) Historical Context:

Major in WWI, WWII, and the Cold War/McCarthy era.

3) Significance:

Shows how fear can limit free speech and civil liberties, and how the government controls dissent during crises.

Immigration Acts of 1921 & 1924

1) Definition:

Laws that limited immigration using quotas. Favored Northern/Western Europeans and sharply restricted Southern/Eastern Europeans and Asians.

2) Historical Context:

Passed in the early 1920s, during a time of rising nativism, fear of immigrants, and post–WWI tensions.

3) Significance:

Shaped U.S. immigration policy for decades. Showed American xenophobia, racial bias, and the desire to control who could enter the country.

Culture Wars

1) Definition:

Conflicts between groups in society over values, beliefs, and moral issues (like religion, gender roles, sexuality, education, and art).

2) Historical Context:

Most associated with the 1980s–1990s, but began in the 1960s and continue today.

3) Significance:

Shaped political debates, voting patterns, and national conversations about identity, rights, and social change in the U.S.

Great Depression

1) Definition:

A severe economic collapse marked by massive unemployment, bank failures, and widespread poverty across the U.S.

2) Historical Context:

Lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s, beginning after the stock market crash of 1929.

3) Significance:

Led to major government reforms (New Deal), changed America’s view of federal responsibility, and reshaped the economy and social safety nets.

Hoovervilles

1) Definition:

Shantytowns built by homeless Americans during the Great Depression. Named sarcastically after President Hoover, who was blamed for the crisis.

2) Historical Context:

Appeared across the U.S. in the 1930s, especially after the economic collapse of 1929.

3) Significance:

Symbolized the severe suffering of the Depression and the public’s frustration with the government’s limited response.

New Deals

1) Definition:

A series of programs, reforms, and government actions created to fight the Great Depression—focused on relief, recovery, and reform.

2) Historical Context:

Introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s (starting in 1933).

3) Significance:

Expanded the federal government’s role, created lasting programs (like Social Security), and reshaped the U.S. economy and safety net.

Neutrality Acts

1) Definition:

Laws that limited U.S. involvement in foreign wars by banning arms sales, loans, and assistance to nations at war.

2) Historical Context:

Passed in the mid-1930s (1935–1937) during rising global tensions before WWII.

3) Significance:

Showed strong American isolationism after WWI and delayed U.S. support for nations fighting aggression, especially against Nazi Germany.

Spanish Civil War

1) Definition:

A conflict between Republican forces (loyal to Spain’s democratic government) and Nationalists led by Francisco Franco. Became a major struggle between democracy and fascism.

2) Historical Context:

Fought from 1936–1939, just before WWII, with Germany and Italy supporting the Nationalists and the Soviet Union aiding the Republicans.

3) Significance:

Important to U.S. history because it showed early global battles against fascism, influenced American debates about neutrality, and previewed the alliances and conflicts of WWII.

Four Freedoms

1) Definition:

President FDR’s statement of four basic human rights: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

2) Historical Context:

Announced in 1941, as WWII was expanding and the U.S. was debating involvement.

3) Significance:

Became a key justification for fighting WWII, shaped American war aims, and later influenced human rights ideals like the United Nations’ Universal Declaration.

Korematsu vs united states

1) Definition:

A Supreme Court case where the Court upheld the U.S. government’s decision to intern Japanese Americans during WWII, ruling it was justified by “military necessity.”

2) Historical Context:

Decided in 1944, during World War II and the period of Japanese American incarceration.

3) Significance:

Shows how civil liberties can be violated during wartime. Later recognized as a major injustice and is now viewed as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions in U.S. history.

Potsdam Conference

1) Definition:

A meeting between the leaders of the U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union to decide how to handle post–World War II Germany and set terms for Japan’s surrender.

2) Historical Context:

Held in July–August 1945, right after Germany’s defeat in WWII.

3) Significance:

Shaped the postwar world, increased tensions between the U.S. and the USSR, and helped set the stage for the Cold War.

United Nations

1) Definition:

An international organization created to promote peace, prevent wars, and encourage cooperation between countries.

2) Historical Context:

Founded in 1945, at the end of World War II.

3) Significance:

Became central to global diplomacy, human rights efforts, and conflict prevention. Marked a major shift from isolation toward international cooperation in U.S. foreign policy.

Containment

1) Definition:

A U.S. Cold War policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism by using political, economic, and military pressure.

2) Historical Context:

Developed in the late 1940s, especially after WWII and the rise of the Soviet Union.

3) Significance:

Shaped nearly all U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and led to major events like the Korean War, Vietnam War, and support for anti-communist allies worldwide.

Marshall Plan

1) Definition:

A U.S. program that gave billions of dollars to help rebuild Western Europe after WWII and strengthen democratic governments.

2) Historical Context:

Launched in 1948, during the early Cold War.

3) Significance:

Helped revive Europe’s economy, limited the spread of communism, and strengthened U.S. alliances—one of the most successful foreign aid programs in history.

McCarthyism

1) Definition:

A period of intense anti-communist suspicion where accusations were made without solid evidence, often ruining careers and reputations.

2) Historical Context:

Early 1950s, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy during the height of Cold War fear.

3) Significance:

Shows how fear can undermine civil liberties. Led to censorship, blacklists, and major violations of Americans’ rights.

Brown v Board of education

1) Definition:

A Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, saying “separate but equal” is inherently unequal.

2) Historical Context:

Decided in 1954, during the early Civil Rights Movement.

3) Significance:

Ended legal school segregation, challenged Jim Crow laws, and became a major turning point in the fight for civil rights and equality in the U.S.

Jim crow

1) Definition:

A system of laws and customs that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the South.

2) Historical Context:

Developed in the late 1800s and lasted until the 1960s, after Reconstruction and before the Civil Rights Movement.

3) Significance:

Limited Black Americans’ rights for decades, shaping racial inequality in voting, education, housing, and daily life. Its legacy still affects U.S. society today.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

1) Definition:

A landmark law that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public places, employment, and schools.

2) Historical Context:

Passed in 1964 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

3) Significance:

Ended legal segregation, expanded equal rights protections, and became one of the most important civil rights laws in U.S. history.

Voting rights act of 1965

1) Definition:

A federal law that banned discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests and gave the government power to protect Black Americans’ voting rights.

2) Historical Context:

Passed in 1965 after major Civil Rights activism, including the Selma marches.

3) Significance:

Greatly increased Black voter registration, strengthened democracy, and became one of the most effective civil rights laws in U.S. history.

“New frontier”

1) Definition:

President John F. Kennedy’s plan for national progress, focusing on economic growth, civil rights, education, and the space race.

2) Historical Context:

Announced in 1960 during JFK’s presidential campaign and carried into his presidency (1961–1963).

3) Significance:

Set the stage for major programs, inspired the moon mission, and pushed forward civil rights and social reforms in the early 1960s.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1) Definition:

A 13-day standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union after the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, bringing the world close to nuclear war.

2) Historical Context:

Occurred in October 1962 during the Cold War and JFK’s presidency.

3) Significance:

Considered the closest the U.S. ever came to nuclear conflict. Led to improved communication with the USSR and new efforts to control nuclear weapons.

Assasination of John Kennedy

1) Definition:

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, when he was shot while riding in a motorcade.

2) Historical Context:

Happened on November 22, 1963, during the peak of Cold War tensions and civil rights struggles.

3) Significance:

Shocked the nation, ended JFK’s “New Frontier,” led to Lyndon B. Johnson becoming president, and influenced major laws like the Civil Rights Act and Great Society programs.

Great society

1) Definition:

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s set of programs aimed at reducing poverty, expanding education, protecting civil rights, and improving healthcare.

2) Historical Context:

Launched in the mid-1960s, especially 1964–1965.

3) Significance:

Created Medicare and Medicaid, strengthened civil rights, reduced poverty, and expanded the federal government’s role in social programs.

Counterculture

1) Definition:

A youth movement that rejected traditional values and experimented with new lifestyles, focusing on peace, freedom, music, and social change.

2) Historical Context:

Peaked in the 1960s–early 1970s during the Vietnam War and major social movements.

3) Significance:

Challenged social norms, influenced music and art, pushed for civil rights, women’s rights, and environmentalism, and reshaped American culture.

Richard Nixon

1) Definition:

37th U.S. President, known for foreign policy achievements and the Watergate scandal, which led to his resignation.

2) Historical Context:

President from 1969–1974, during the Vietnam War and the Cold War.

3) Significance:

Opened relations with China, improved arms control with the USSR, but his resignation after Watergate shook trust in government and changed U.S. politics.

Watergate

1) Definition:

A political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by President Nixon’s administration.

2) Historical Context:

Occurred in the early 1970s, leading to Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

3) Significance:

Undermined public trust in government, led to reforms in campaign finance and executive oversight, and set a precedent for holding presidents accountable.

Ronald Reagan

1) Definition:

40th U.S. President, former actor and governor of California, known for conservative economic policies, Cold War leadership, and communication skills (“The Great Communicator”).

2) Historical Context:

President from 1981–1989, during the late Cold War and economic challenges in the U.S.

3) Significance:

Implemented “Reaganomics,” strengthened the military, helped end the Cold War, and reshaped the Republican Party and American politics.

Roe v. Wade

1) Definition:

A Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide, ruling that a woman has a constitutional right to choose.

2) Historical Context:

Decided in 1973, during the women’s rights movement.

3) Significance:

Transformed reproductive rights in the U.S., sparked ongoing political and social debates, and became a central issue in American law and politics.

Moral Majority

1) Definition:

A conservative political organization that promoted Christian values, opposed abortion, and influenced elections through mobilizing religious voters.

2) Historical Context:

Founded in 1979 during the rise of the Religious Right in the U.S.

3) Significance:

Played a major role in shaping conservative politics, influencing policies on family values, education, and social issues, and helping Ronald Reagan’s election.

End of Cold war

1) Definition:

The period when tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union eased, ending decades of geopolitical and military rivalry.

2) Historical Context:

Occurred in the late 1980s–1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union and reforms under Mikhail Gorbachev.

3) Significance:

Marked the U.S. as the world’s sole superpower, ended the threat of global nuclear confrontation, and reshaped international relations and U.S. foreign policy.