meatymen

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) – Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Martin Luther King Jr. – Civil rights leader known for nonviolent protest and his role in ending racial segregation.

Civil Disobedience – Nonviolent resistance to unjust laws, championed by MLK and others during the Civil Rights Movement.

Sit-Ins – Nonviolent protests, usually at segregated lunch counters, to demand civil rights.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56) – Protest sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest; led to the desegregation of public buses.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – Federal agency enforcing laws against workplace discrimination.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Landmark law banning segregation in public places and employment discrimination.

24th Amendment (1964) – Abolished the poll tax, which had been used to keep African Americans from voting.

Malcolm X – Civil rights leader advocating for Black empowerment and self-defense; initially associated with Nation of Islam.

Black Panthers – Militant civil rights group focused on self-defense and social programs in Black communities.

John F. Kennedy (JFK) – 35th U.S. president; known for civil rights support, space race, and Cold War crises.

Peace Corps – Volunteer program started by JFK to aid developing countries.

NASA – U.S. space agency; led American efforts in the space race against the Soviet Union.

Alliance for Progress – JFK initiative to aid Latin America and prevent the spread of communism.

Medicare/Medicaid (1965) – Federal programs providing healthcare to the elderly (Medicare) and low-income people (Medicaid).

Rachel Carson, Silent Spring – Environmentalist whose book exposed the dangers of pesticides, sparking the environmental movement.

Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique – Book that sparked second-wave feminism by highlighting dissatisfaction of women in traditional roles.

National Organization for Women (NOW) – Founded in 1966 to advocate for women’s rights.

Title IX (1972) – Federal law banning sex-based discrimination in education, particularly in sports.

New Frontier – JFK’s domestic program focused on civil rights, education, space, and economic growth.

Bay of Pigs (1961) – Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles trying to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Berlin Wall (1961–1989) – Wall built by East Germany (with Soviet backing) to stop East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) – 13-day standoff between the U.S. and USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba; nearly led to nuclear war.

Warren Commission – Government investigation that concluded Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in JFK’s assassination.

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) – 36th president; known for civil rights legislation, the “Great Society,” and escalating the Vietnam War.

Great Society – LBJ’s domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice (e.g., Medicare, Head Start, Voting Rights Act).

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963) – Agreement between the U.S., USSR, and UK to prohibit nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.

War on Poverty – Part of LBJ’s Great Society; aimed to reduce poverty through education, job training, and social services.

Warren Court – The Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren; expanded civil rights and individual liberties.

Burger Court – Supreme Court under Chief Justice Warren Burger; issued key decisions like Roe v. Wade and U.S. v. Nixon.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) – Supreme Court decision guaranteeing the right to a lawyer for all felony defendants.

Escobedo v. Illinois (1964) – Ruled that criminal suspects have the right to counsel during police interrogations.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966) – Established the “Miranda rights,” requiring police to inform suspects of their rights when arrested.

Engel v. Vitale (1962) – Banned state-sponsored prayer in public schools, citing violation of the First Amendment.

Ralph Nader, Unsafe at Any Speed (1965) – Book criticizing the auto industry’s disregard for safety; led to consumer protection laws.

Richard Nixon – 37th president; known for Vietnam War policies, opening China, and the Watergate scandal.

Détente – Period of eased tensions between the U.S. and USSR in the 1970s, including arms control agreements.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) – Treaties between the U.S. and USSR to limit nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Stagflation – Economic condition in the 1970s marked by high inflation and unemployment combined with slow economic growth.

Watergate (U.S. v. Richard Nixon) – Scandal involving Nixon’s administration spying on political opponents; led to Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

OPEC, Oil Embargo (1973) – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cut oil exports to the U.S., causing fuel shortages and price spikes.

Jimmy Carter – 39th president; focused on human rights and energy issues; presidency marked by the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Bicentennial (1976) – 200th anniversary of American independence, celebrated with nationwide events and patriotism.

Roe v. Wade (1973) – Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide based on the right to privacy.

Camp David Accords (1978) – Peace agreement brokered by President Carter between Egypt and Israel.

Panama Canal Treaty (1978) – Agreement to gradually transfer control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to Panama.

Iran Hostage Crisis (1979–1981) – 52 Americans held hostage in Iran after revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy; lasted 444 days.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Federal agency established in 1970 to regulate pollution and protect the environment.

Ronald Reagan – 40th president; known for conservative policies, ending the Cold War, and boosting military spending.

Reaganomics – Economic policy under Reagan favoring tax cuts, reduced government spending, and deregulation to stimulate growth.

Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986) – Law that penalized employers for hiring undocumented workers and granted amnesty to some immigrants.

American Indian Movement (AIM) – Activist group advocating for Native American rights, sovereignty, and cultural preservation.

Iran-Contra Affair (1980s) – Scandal where U.S. officials secretly sold weapons to Iran and used the money to fund rebels in Nicaragua (Contras).

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) – Reagan’s proposed missile defense system (nicknamed “Star Wars”) to protect the U.S. from nuclear attacks.

Gulf War (1990–1991) – U.S.-led coalition drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait after Saddam Hussein’s invasion; also called Operation Desert Storm.

Soviet Union Breakup/End of Cold War (1991) – Collapse of the USSR ended decades-long U.S.-Soviet rivalry.

Bill Clinton/Impeachment/Kosovo War – Clinton was impeached for perjury related to a personal scandal (not removed); also led NATO intervention in Kosovo (1999).

Globalization – Increasing global interconnectedness in trade, culture, and communication, especially after the Cold War.

George W. Bush/9-11/Iraq War – After 9/11 terrorist attacks (2001), Bush launched the War on Terror, including invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.