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Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (1960): SNCC, pronounced \"snick,\" was formed to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action against segregation and other forms of racial discrimination. Emerging from the Greensboro sit-ins, it played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement, organizing sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and voter registration drives. Key figures included John Lewis, Diane Nash, and Stokely Carmichael.

Freedom Rides (1961): Organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Freedom Rides were civil rights protests in which activists rode interstate buses into the segregated Southern United States to challenge non-enforcement of the Supreme Court decisions Morgan v. Virginia (1946) and Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which ruled that segregated seating on interstate buses was unconstitutional. Freedom Riders were met with violence and arrests, drawing national attention to the Civil Rights Movement.

March on Washington (1963): A massive protest held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963, advocating for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. Organized by a coalition of civil rights organizations, the march was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighted by Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic \"I Have a Dream\" speech. It helped build momentum for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Selma (1965): Refers to the series of protests and marches held in Selma, Alabama, advocating for voting rights for African Americans. The most famous was the Selma to Montgomery march, which was met with violent resistance by state and local authorities. The events in Selma drew national attention to the issue of voting rights and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Civil Rights Act of 1964: Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Civil Rights Movement.

Voting Rights Act of 1965: This landmark legislation outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests, that had been used to disenfranchise African Americans. It authorized federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of discrimination, empowering the federal government to enforce voting rights and protect minority voters. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Civil Rights Movement, leading to a dramatic increase in African American voter registration and political participation.

Great Society (1965-1967): A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson with the goal of eliminating poverty and racial injustice. Key initiatives included Medicare and Medicaid, which provided health insurance to the elderly and low-income individuals, as well as programs to improve education, urban development, and environmental protection. The Great Society expanded the role of the federal government in addressing social and economic problems and had a lasting impact on American society.

“Black Power” (post-1966): A political and social movement that emerged in the late 1960s, advocating for self-determination, racial pride, and economic empowerment for African Americans. Black Power challenged the integrationist goals of the mainstream Civil Rights Movement, emphasizing black nationalism and cultural identity. The movement called for African Americans to control their own communities and institutions, as well as to assert their political and economic power.

Counterculture: A cultural movement that emerged in the 1960s, rejecting mainstream values and norms in favor of alternative lifestyles and social experimentation. The counterculture was characterized by its rejection of traditional authority, embrace of sexual liberation, experimentation with drugs, and promotion of peace and environmentalism. It had a profound impact on American society, influencing music, fashion, art, and politics.

National Organization of Women (1966): Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women is a feminist organization that advocates for women's rights and gender equality. NOW works to combat discrimination and sexism in various spheres, including employment, education, politics, and reproductive rights. NOW has been involved in advocating for legislation such as the Equal Rights Amendment and has fought against gender-based violence and discrimination.

American Indian Movement (AIM): The American Indian Movement (AIM) is a Native American advocacy group founded in 1968 to address issues of sovereignty, treaty rights, and social justice for Native Americans. AIM gained prominence through protests and activism, including the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973, to raise awareness of Native American grievances and demand government action. AIM has also worked to promote cultural preservation and Native American self-determination.

Silent Spring (1962): Written by Rachel Carson and published in 1962, Silent Spring is an environmental science book that documented the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment, particularly DDT. The book raised public awareness about the dangers of chemical pollution and sparked the modern environmental movement. Silent Spring led to increased regulation of pesticides and other pollutants and inspired grassroots environmental activism.

The Stonewall Uprising (1969): The Stonewall Uprising, also known as the Stonewall Riots, was a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The Stonewall Uprising is widely considered a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, galvanizing activism and leading to increased visibility and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.

My Lai Massacre (1968): The My Lai Massacre was a mass killing of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers in March 1968 during the Vietnam War. The massacre and the subsequent cover-up sparked outrage and controversy in the United States and around the world, contributing to growing anti-war sentiment and questioning of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The My Lai Massacre remains a symbol of the atrocities and moral complexities of war.

Watergate Scandal (1972-1974): The Watergate Scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the United States in the early 1970s, following a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The scandal involved high-ranking officials in the Nixon administration and led to President Richard Nixon's resignation