AP US History Unit 8 Vocabulary

Introduction

• Post-World War II: America emerged as the most powerful nation due to its economic strength, industrial capacity, and lack of devastation on its mainland, unlike many European and Asian countries.

• Unit Focus: America's role and actions with its newfound power, examining how it shaped global politics and domestic policies.

• Key Topics:

  • Cold War: A defining conflict with the Soviet Union, characterized by political, ideological, and economic struggle rather than direct military conflict. It shaped US foreign policy for decades.

  • Civil Rights Movement: The rise of a new wave aiming to end racial segregation and discrimination, pushing for equal rights and social justice.

  • Postwar Changes: Demographic and economic shifts, including suburbanization, the baby boom, and the growth of the Sun Belt, altering American society.

The Cold War Begins

• Post-WWII Sentiment: Longing for a return to normalcy, with Americans eager to focus on domestic issues and enjoy the postwar economic boom.

• US-Soviet Tension: Growing mistrust even before the war ended due to differing ideologies, conflicting geopolitical interests, and wartime agreements that were interpreted differently.

• Definition of Cold War:

  • Conflict without direct open warfare: A state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.

  • Long-standing tension with the potential for war: The risk of escalation was ever-present, particularly during events like the Cuban Missile Crisis.

  • Indirect fighting occurred: Through proxy wars, support for opposing sides in conflicts, and espionage.

Origins of the Cold War

• FDR's Death: Harry Truman assumed presidency, bringing a different leadership style and less experience in foreign policy compared to Roosevelt.

• US and Soviet Union: Emerged as the dominant powers after WWII, filling the power vacuum left by weakened European states.

• Ideological Clash:

  • United States: Democratic and capitalist, advocating for free markets and individual liberties.

  • Soviet Union: Communist, promoting a centrally planned economy and a one-party state.

• WWII Alliance: A partnership of necessity against Hitler, concealing deep-seated ideological differences and geopolitical ambitions.

• Mistrust Before War's End: Disagreements over postwar settlements, particularly regarding the future of Eastern Europe and Germany.

• Post-War Agreements: Central and Eastern Europe to have free elections, as agreed upon at the Yalta Conference.

• Soviet Actions: Stalin kept countries under Soviet control as a buffer zone.

  • Justification: Protection from European invasions, citing historical invasions from the West.

  • Result: Communist states serving Soviet interests, such as Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.

• US Reaction: Saw this as a violation of self-determination, viewing Soviet actions as a betrayal of wartime agreements and a threat to democracy.

• Germany's Postwar Handling: Further expansion of mistrust.

  • Division: Germany divided into four occupation zones (Soviets, Americans, British, French), with Berlin also divided.

  • Intended as temporary, but the division became permanent with the formation of East and West Germany.

  • Eastern section became communist, known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

• Soviet Goals: Keep Germany weak and extract reparations to aid in the Soviet Union's recovery from the war.

• Western Powers' Goals: Economic recovery for Germany was key to European stability, viewing a strong Germany as essential for the continent's economic health.

• Ideological Division: Clear division in Europe, with the West aligned with the US and the East under Soviet influence.

• Iron Curtain: Winston Churchill's description of the divide, symbolizing the ideological and physical boundary separating Eastern and Western Europe.

American Policies: Containing Communism

• Policy of Containment: Prevent the spread of communism, formulated by George Kennan in his "Long Telegram".

  • Rationale: Both democracy and communism seek to expand globally, but communism's expansion was seen as inherently aggressive and threatening.

• Truman Doctrine: US would support nations threatened by communism, marking a significant departure from traditional US isolationism.

  • First Implementation: Support for Greece during a communist uprising and Turkey facing Soviet pressure.

  • Response to Soviet demands for control of the Dardanelles in Turkey, a strategic waterway.

  • Congressional Support: 400,000,000 in aid.

• Marshall Plan: Economic aid to rebuild Europe, officially known as the European Recovery Program.

  • Rationale: Healthy economies would choose democracy over communism, addressing the economic conditions that could breed communist support.

  • Implementation: 12,000,000,000 in aid approved, offered to both Western and Eastern European countries (though the latter were pressured by the Soviet Union to decline).

  • Outcome: European nations rebuilt and chose democracy, leading to increased trade and closer ties with the US.

• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949.

  • Military pact for the defense of Western Europe, based on the principle of collective defense.

  • Containment policy led to American military buildup abroad, with US troops stationed in Europe.

• Warsaw Pact: Soviet response, forming a pact for communist nations in 1955, solidifying the division of Europe.

Arms Race and Mutual Assured Destruction

• Arms Race: Competition to develop superior weapons, particularly nuclear weapons, between the US and the Soviet Union.

  • US Atomic Bomb: Dropped at the end of World War II, giving the US a temporary nuclear monopoly.

  • Soviet Response: Tested their first atomic bomb in 1949, earlier than expected by the US, escalating the arms race.

  • US Hydrogen Bomb: Approved by Truman in 1952.

  • 1000 times the destructive power of the atomic bomb.

  • Soviet Hydrogen Bomb: Tested the next year, quickly matching the US in destructive capabilities.

• Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD):

  • Deterrent effect due to potential for devastating retaliation, based on the idea that neither side could launch a first strike without facing complete destruction.

  • Reduced the likelihood of direct attacks, but increased the risk of accidental war due to miscalculation or technical malfunction.

Indirect Fighting: The Korean War

• Background: Korea was formerly a colony of Japan, liberated at the end of World War II.

• Post-WWII Division: Divided along the 38th Parallel.

  • North: Occupied by the Soviets (communist), led by Kim Il-sung.

  • South: Occupied by the US (democratic), led by Syngman Rhee.

• 1949: Both powers withdrew, leaving behind two separate Korean states with conflicting ideologies.

• North Korea Invades South Korea (June 1950):

  • Proxy war between the US and the Soviet Union, each supporting their respective sides without direct confrontation.

  • Truman applied containment policy, viewing the invasion as a test case for the US commitment to stopping communism.

  • UN sent troops (mostly American), with General Douglas MacArthur in command.

• War Progression:

  • North Korea initially pushed UN forces south, nearly capturing the entire peninsula.

  • Under General Douglas MacArthur, UN forces pushed north to the Chinese border, threatening North Korea's existence.

  • Chinese Intervention: Chinese forces overwhelmed UN troops, pushing them back south, fearing a US presence on their border.

• Stalemate: Ended near the original dividing line (38th Parallel), with a ceasefire agreement but no formal peace treaty.

• Collateral Damage: Massive civilian casualties, widespread destruction, and long-term division of the Korean peninsula.

• Cold War Fluctuation: Alternated between military engagement and detente, reflecting the shifting dynamics of the Cold War.

The Red Scare

• Second Red Scare: Fear of communist spies infiltrating American society, fueled by Soviet espionage and communist victories in China and Eastern Europe.

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC):

  • Investigated communist influence in government and other organizations, holding public hearings that damaged reputations and careers.

  • Targets: Boy Scouts, Hollywood, and the army, reflecting the widespread fear of communist subversion.

• Joseph McCarthy: Republican senator who fueled the hysteria, making unsubstantiated accusations of communist infiltration.

  • Claimed to have a list of 205 communists in the State Department, though he never provided concrete evidence.

  • Gained power and influence through fear, exploiting public anxiety about communism.

• Army-McCarthy Hearings (1954):

  • Televised hearings where McCarthy failed to prove his claims, revealing his reckless tactics and lack of evidence.

  • Senate voted to censure him, condemning his conduct and discrediting his accusations.

  • His prominence quickly declined, marking the end of the McCarthy era.

Post-War America: Education, Demographics, and Economics

• GI Bill (1944): Serviceman's Readjustment Act.

  • Provided college opportunities for WWII veterans on government funding. Over 2 million took this offer, leading to a more educated workforce.

  • Provided low-interest, government-insured loans for housing and businesses. (16 Billion), stimulating economic growth and homeownership.

• Baby Boom: Postwar population explosion.

  • Between 1945 and 1960, the US population increased by 50 million, creating unprecedented demand for consumer goods and services.

• Increased Housing Demand: Growth in the suburbs, driven by the desire for larger homes and a more family-friendly environment.

• Levittown: Mass-produced, low-cost homes in identical lots.

  • Assembly line approach to neighborhood construction, making homeownership affordable for many middle-class families.

  • Repeated across the country, symbolizing the rise of suburban America.

• Suburbanization: Middle class moved to suburbs, leaving urban areas poor and racially divided, contributing to urban decay and social inequality.

• Internal Migration: Movement to the Sun Belt States (South and West).

  • Reasons: Warmer climate and economic opportunities (defense industry), attracting both businesses and individuals.

  • Result: Sun Belt became economically and politically influential, shifting the balance of power in the US.

• Rise of Mass Culture: Increasingly homogenous culture, influenced by television, advertising, and national brands.

Television and Advertising Impact:

• Television: Replaced radio as the primary entertainment device.

  • 55,000,000 television sets in American homes by 1961, transforming leisure activities and family life.

  • Common Programming: Sports, comedies, variety shows, creating shared cultural experiences.

  • Effect: Provided a common language and cultural norms, shaping attitudes and behaviors.

• Advertising Industry Golden Age:

  • Appealed to emotional needs, leading to increased consumer spending, promoting a culture of consumption.

  • Credit Cards: Introduced in the 1950s, making spending easier, contributing to rising debt levels.

  • National Ad Campaigns: Homogenized culture as people bought the same products, reinforcing consumerism.

Rebellions Against Homogenization

• Artists' Rebellion: Notable challenges to conformity, questioning mainstream values and norms.

• J.D. Salinger: "Catcher in the Rye".

  • Protagonist: Holden Caulfield, a cynical teenager, expressing disgust with the blandness of American culture, resonating with many young people.

• Beat Poets (Beatniks):

  • Jack Kerouac: Freeform poems rejecting standardized poetic media, challenging literary conventions.

  • Rejected conformity through drug use and unconventional behavior and dress, advocating for individual freedom and self-expression.

Civil Rights Movement

• President Eisenhower: Took office in 1953, navigating the complexities of the Civil Rights Movement amidst Cold War tensions.

• Racial Segregation: Still the law, especially in the South, sanctioned by Jim Crow laws.

• "Plessy vs. Ferguson" (1896): Maintained segregation in schools, buses, and public facilities, establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine.

• Contradiction: American fight against communism versus domestic racial inequality, highlighting the hypocrisy of advocating for freedom abroad while denying it at home.

• "Brown vs. Board of Education": Overturned Plessy.

  • Argument: Separate schools are inherently unequal, violating the principle of equal protection.

  • Based on the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause, guaranteeing all citizens equal rights under the law.

  • Decision: Schools were to be integrated (1954), although implementation faced massive resistance.

• Southern Resistance: Southern congressmen issued the Southern Manifesto arguing abuse of power, denouncing the Supreme Court's decision.

• Resistance Tactics: States shut down schools, established private schools, and employed legal maneuvers to avoid integration.

• Little Rock High School: Governor used National Guard to prevent black students from entering, defying federal law.

• Federal Intervention: Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect the nine students, demonstrating the federal government's commitment to enforcing desegregation.

• Slow Integration: Very slow due to lack of enforceable timeline.

  • Only 2% of southern schools integrated a decade after the decision, highlighting the deep-seated resistance to racial equality.

• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955):

  • Attacked segregation on public transportation, protesting the discriminatory practices of the bus system.

  • Rosa Parks: Refused to give up her seat, sparking the boycott, becoming an icon of the Civil Rights Movement.

  • Martin Luther King Jr.: Rose to prominence as a leader of nonviolent civil disobedience, advocating for peaceful resistance to injustice.

• Sit-In Movement: Black college students sat at segregated lunch counters and refused to leave.

  • Filled Jails

  • Segregation laws were slowly overturned.

March on Washington

• August 1963: Peaceful protest in front of the Lincoln Memorial, drawing over 250,000 participants.

• Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech: Magnificent appeals for racial harmony and ending segregation, inspiring a generation and becoming a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

• Legislative Victories:

  • Civil Rights Act of 1964: Made discrimination based on race, religion, or sex illegal, prohibiting segregation in public places and employment.

  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: Prohibited racial discrimination in voting, empowering African Americans and other minorities.

Diverging views on the Movement

• Tension: Extreme toll of nonviolent resistance, leading some to question its effectiveness.

• Malcolm X: Advocated separatism and militarism, rejecting integration and calling for self-defense.

• Black Panthers: Advocated violence, when necessary to defend black rights, challenging police brutality and demanding social change.

• Race Riots: 1965 riots in Los Angeles after the arrest of a black motorist, revealing deep-seated frustration and anger.

• Race Problem unsolved: Despite gains, America's race problem was not yet solved, with persistent inequality and discrimination.

Expansion of Civil Rights

• Women's Rights Movement:

  • Betty Friedan: "The Feminine Mystique" explored the boredom and imprisonment of housewives, sparking a new wave of feminism.

  • National Organization for Women (NOW): founded in 1966 to advocated for women's rights like the Civil Rights movement, advocating for equal opportunities and an end to discrimination.

• Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): Almost achieved, but fell short of necessary votes to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex.

  • Conservative Backlash: Phyllis Schlafly and others argued for traditional roles for women, mobilizing opposition to the ERA.

• Rights Movements: Also grew for American Indians, Latinos, and the gay population, seeking recognition, equality, and justice.

Latino Rights:

• Exploited Labor: Mexican workers often faced low wages after returning to the US, enduring harsh conditions and discrimination.

• Cesar Chavez: Led boycotts and protests, advocating for farmworkers' rights and improved working conditions.

• 1975: Agricultural workers won collective bargaining rights, empowering them to negotiate fair wages and benefits.

American Indian Movement:

• Founded in 1968 Focused on tribal traditions, achieve of self determination, and poverty, aiming to revitalize Native American culture and address socioeconomic issues.

• Alcatraz Island Occupation: Cornerstone for activism, symbolizing Native American claims to ancestral lands.

• Self Determination Act Of 1975 Gave the people the control of their land, education, and enforcing the law, increasing tribal sovereignty.

Gay Liberation Movement:

• Started in New York, police raided a gay bar called Stonewall Inn because of anti-gay laws, sparking protests and riots.

• Activists to advocate work to end discriminatory practices, challenging laws and attitudes that discriminated against LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Status was changed in 1970's to be a legitimate sexual orientation, advancing acceptance and understanding.

Counterculture

• Cultural Norms: Focused less on gaining rights, and more to overturn them, rejecting mainstream values and norms.

• Clothing Styles: Experimentation with drugs, challenging societal expectations and embracing alternative lifestyles.

• Woodstock Music Festival (1969): 400,000 people for cultural rebellion music.

  • Included artists Jimi Hendrix, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and Joan Baez.

• Decline of counterculture: Caused by excesses and drug additions, leading to disillusionment and fragmentation.

• Lasting Impact: Change in many Americans' attitudes towards sexuality and expression.

  • Widespread use of birth control and antibiotics.

Supreme Court Under Earl Warren

• Expanded Civil Liberties: Handed down multiple decisions, protecting individual rights and liberties.

• "Baker vs. Carr" (1962):

  • Addressed the skew in favor of rural areas in state legislatures, ensuring fair representation for urban populations.

  • Decision: Mandated representative districts to include all citizens, establishing the principle of "one person, one vote."

• "Angle vs. Vittal":

  • Laws requiring bible reading and teacher led school prayers were a violation of the church and states.

Decolonization and the Cold War

• Massive Movement: Post-World War II, newly independent nations had unstable political and economic structures, making them vulnerable to external influence.

• US and Soviet Intervention: Both sought to influence these nations, viewing them as strategic allies in the Cold War.

• Examples:

  • Latin America (Guatemala): US led a coup to overthrow a socialist government, fearing communist influence in the region.

  • CIA Planned Castro Assassinations:

  • Anti American Sentiment: Had the complete opposite reaction.

  • Middle East (Iran): CIA aided in overthrowing socialist government so the leader could be sympathetic to American interest.

  • New leader then rewarded America with arms.

  • Asia (Vietnam): Division into North (communist) and South (democratic), setting the stage for the Vietnam War.

Vietnam Conflict

• Eisenhower's economic Aid: Gave 1 billion dollars to stabilize it, supporting the South Vietnamese government.

• Domino Theory: If Vietnam fell to communism, other nations in Asia would too, justifying US intervention.

• Kennedy: Increased the military advisers in Vietnam, escalating US involvement.

• Johnson: Becomes president.

• Gulf of Tonkin Incident: US destroyer ships were supposedly fired at which led to US escalation

  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Congress basically gave johnson a blank check to protect interest and democracy but there was no official declaration.

US at War

• US started fighting in Vietnam. Americans had to die. The nation seemed to be coming apart at the seams

• Anti-War Protests: Intense protests fueled a general war of war especially amongst collage students because they were the ones who were drafted once they finished collage. Johnson kept stating that if more pressure was applied the win would come but this came at a great loss.

• Johnson: Struggle to create what he called the Great Society back at home it was basically on the expansion deal. And one of the key tenets will join us dubbed the war on pOverty.

• Created the Economic Opportunity: Made literacy programs.

• Blank Check: Won the elections and thought he had the people. Some programs that he did implement were:

  • Implemented Healthcare (health insurance to those over 65) and Medicaid (health insurance to those in poverty.)

• A new immigration act was stated

• Liberalism Of Lyndon Johnson Reached its High Point.: Argued the societal ills and the corrected best by the government action in the 60s.

Nixon Era

• Recessions started. There was Unique combination off inflation and stagnation for cut federal spending the remedy only needs to increase economic downturn.

Watergate Scandal

• Government Trust Is Lost: Nixon's Committee was stolen breaking into the Watergate office.

• The scandal was found and Nixon said he didn't know but with production of secret tape it was clear the Nixon was involved so he resigned presidency.

Conservative and Liberal Debates

• The Supreme Court came a flashpoint for the debate

• Nixon: Had the ability to appoint several judges to the Supreme Court and he believed what's right and conservative opinions

  • Roe vs Wade one of the most argued cases as a period about abortion in whether it was a constitutional right

  • Scalia Supreme Court were led in favor of the consal today of the 155 states.

• The fusion about evangelical Christians who opposed Abortion in the Republican party.

Environment Movement

• There was concern about human damage done several oil tankers crashed at the spill in the seas with a massive Environmental Protection people started protesting.

• Environmental Protection agency: Congress Created in 1970 Which Sought to put limits one environmental impact on