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Untitled Flashcards Set
Lincoln’s 10% Plan: Lincoln’s proposal for Reconstruction after the Civil War, stating that a southern state could rejoin the Union if 10% of its voters swore an oath of allegiance to the Union. Aimed to quickly reintegrate Southern states.
Wade-Davis Bill (& pocket veto): Radical Republican plan that required a majority of white males in Southern states to take an oath of loyalty, ensuring stronger loyalty to the Union. Lincoln vetoed it via a pocket veto, disagreeing with its harshness.
Johnson’s Plan: President Andrew Johnson’s approach to Reconstruction, which allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union after ratifying the 13th Amendment. It was lenient and did not protect the rights of freed slaves, leading to conflicts with Congress.
Radical Republicans’ Plan (Congressional Reconstruction): The plan aimed to enforce civil rights for freedmen and ensure their protection under the law, including military occupation of Southern states, the 14th and 15th Amendments, and the Freedmen’s Bureau.
KKK: Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group founded during Reconstruction. They used violence and intimidation to resist Reconstruction and prevent Black Americans from voting.
Poll taxes/literacy tests/grandfather clauses: Tools used by Southern states to disenfranchise Black voters. Poll taxes required a fee to vote, literacy tests were impossible for many to pass, and grandfather clauses exempted illiterate whites from these restrictions.
13th Amendment: Abolished slavery in the United States.
14th Amendment: Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to anyone born in the U.S., including former slaves.
15th Amendment: Prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Johnson’s Impeachment Trial: Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868 for violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. He narrowly avoided removal from office after a Senate trial.
Grant’s Presidency: Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency (1869-1877) focused on Reconstruction and civil rights. However, his administration was marred by corruption scandals like the Whiskey Ring and Credit Mobilier.
Compromise of 1877: Ended the disputed 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden. In exchange for Hayes becoming president, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, ending Reconstruction.
Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address: Lincoln’s speech in 1865, advocating for reconciliation and healing between the North and South, and emphasizing "malice toward none" as the nation moved toward Reconstruction.
Lincoln’s Assassination: On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws in the Southern U.S. that enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised Black Americans after Reconstruction.
Plessy v. Ferguson: The 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.”
Freedmen’s Bureau: A federal agency created to help formerly enslaved people with food, housing, education, and employment during Reconstruction.
Civil Rights Act of 1866: First federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. It was vetoed by Johnson but overridden by Congress.
Johnson’s Vetoes: Andrew Johnson vetoed several key Reconstruction laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Freedmen’s Bureau, but his vetoes were overridden by Congress.
Exodusters: African Americans who migrated to Kansas and other western states during the late 19th century to escape racial discrimination in the South.
Progressivism, Industrialization, and Imperialism
Progressivism & Imperialism: Progressivism sought reforms for social justice, labor rights, and government regulation, while Imperialism referred to the U.S. expanding its power through territorial acquisitions.
Progressives: Reformers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who sought to address social, political, and economic issues, including labor rights, women’s suffrage, and child labor.
Muckrakers: Journalists who exposed corruption, inequality, and social injustices, such as Upton Sinclair (author of The Jungle) and Ida Tarbell (exposed Standard Oil).
Susan B. Anthony: A leading suffragist who helped found the National Women’s Suffrage Association and played a key role in securing the 19th Amendment.
Teddy Roosevelt: 26th U.S. president (1901-1909), known for trust-busting, conservation efforts, and the Square Deal. He also led the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
Meat Inspection Act: A 1906 law that mandated the inspection of meat products to ensure sanitary conditions, a response to muckraker Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle.
Pure Food and Drug Act: A 1906 law that banned harmful ingredients in food and drugs and required truthful labeling.
Upton Sinclair: A muckraker who wrote The Jungle, which exposed the horrors of the meatpacking industry, leading to the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act.
Inaugural Address: A speech given by a president on taking office, outlining their policies and vision. Roosevelt’s inaugural address in 1905 emphasized progressive reform and the Square Deal.
Ida B. Wells: An African American journalist and anti-lynching activist. She documented lynching in the South and campaigned for civil rights.
Late 19th Century, Immigration, and Labor
Homestead Act of 1862: A law that provided free land to settlers in the West, provided they improved it and lived on it for five years.
Assimilation: The process by which immigrants and Native Americans were expected to adopt the customs and values of mainstream American society.
Bimetallism: A monetary policy supported by William Jennings Bryan and many farmers, advocating for the use of both gold and silver to back U.S. currency, aiming to increase the money supply.
Laissez-faire Capitalism: An economic system with minimal government intervention, where businesses operate freely according to market forces.
Social Darwinism: A belief that the strongest individuals or businesses (often wealthy capitalists) would naturally succeed, while the weak would fail.
Sherman Anti-Trust Act: A 1890 law designed to prevent monopolies and promote competition. It was used (though ineffectively at first) to break up trusts like Standard Oil.
Melting Pot: A metaphor for the assimilation of immigrants into American society, blending different cultures and ethnicities into a single national identity.
Nativism: The belief that native-born Americans are superior to immigrants, and the movement to restrict immigration.
Urbanization: The rapid growth of cities due to industrialization, attracting both domestic and international migrants.
Cross of Gold Speech: William Jennings Bryan’s famous 1896 speech advocating for bimetallism, where he declared that farmers were being “crucified on a cross of gold.”
Early 20th Century and the World Wars
Dawes Act: A law passed in 1887 that attempted to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual plots, undermining communal landholding.
William Jennings Bryan: A politician known for his "Cross of Gold" speech and his advocacy for bimetallism. He also ran for president three times and was Secretary of State under Wilson.
Monopoly: A market structure where one company dominates the entire industry, stifling competition (e.g., Standard Oil).
John D. Rockefeller: Founder of Standard Oil, which became a monopoly and was broken up by antitrust laws.
New Immigration: The wave of immigration to the U.S. from Southern and Eastern Europe (e.g., Italians, Jews, Poles) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as opposed to earlier immigrants from Western Europe.
Chinese Exclusion Act: A 1882 law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese workers to the U.S., reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment.
Helen Hunt Jackson: An activist and author who wrote A Century of Dishonor, exposing the mistreatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government.
Political Machine: A political organization that controls local government through patronage and corruption, often led by a "boss" (e.g., Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall).
Battle of Wounded Knee: The 1890 massacre of Sioux Native Americans by U.S. soldiers, marking the end of armed Native American resistance in the West.
Late 19th Century and Progressive Era (Continued)
Boss Tweed/Tammany Hall: William "Boss" Tweed was the head of Tammany Hall, a political machine in New York City known for its corruption, including bribery, kickbacks, and rigged elections.
Transcontinental Railroad: The first railroad that connected the east and west coasts of the U.S., completed in 1869, which facilitated westward expansion, trade, and settlement.
Andrew Carnegie: A Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the steel industry in the U.S. and became one of the wealthiest men in American history. He is also known for his philanthropy.
Robber Barons: A term used to describe wealthy and powerful 19th-century businessmen, like Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt, who were seen as exploitative and unethical in their business practices.
Ellis Island: The primary immigration station in New York Harbor from 1892 to 1954, where millions of immigrants from Europe passed through on their way to the U.S.
Civil Service Reform: A movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries aimed at eliminating corruption in government hiring by establishing merit-based hiring through exams (e.g., Pendleton Act of 1883).
Plight of Farmers: Farmers in the late 19th century faced difficult conditions, including falling crop prices, high debt, and exploitation by railroads and banks. Many formed organizations like the Populist Party to demand reforms.
Garfield’s Assassination: President James A. Garfield was assassinated in 1881 by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office-seeker. This led to civil service reform, including the Pendleton Act.
Booker T. Washington: A prominent African American leader who advocated for vocational education and economic self-sufficiency for Black Americans, rather than immediate social integration.
W.E.B. Du Bois: A co-founder of the NAACP and a vocal advocate for civil rights. Du Bois pushed for immediate political and social equality and higher education for Black Americans, in contrast to Washington's more gradual approach.
Ghost Dance: A religious movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century, aimed at restoring native lands and cultures. It was seen as a threat by the U.S. government, leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Bureau of Indian Affairs: A U.S. government agency responsible for managing relations with Native American tribes and overseeing their affairs, often implementing policies that led to the erosion of Native American culture and sovereignty.
Reservations: Areas of land designated for Native American tribes by the U.S. government, often located in remote or undesirable regions.
Angel Island: The immigration station in San Francisco Bay that processed Asian immigrants, primarily from China, between 1910 and 1940.
Wounded Knee: The site of a massacre in 1890 where U.S. soldiers killed over 200 Lakota Sioux, marking the end of the Indian resistance in the West.
Slave Codes—Black Codes—Jim Crow Laws: Legal systems that controlled the lives of African Americans, from slavery through Reconstruction and the post-Reconstruction era, with Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws institutionalizing racial segregation and disenfranchisement.
Jacob Riis: A muckraker and photographer who documented the harsh living conditions of the poor in New York City, especially in tenements, in his book How the Other Half Lives.
Jane Addams: A social reformer and founder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago that provided social services, education, and advocacy for immigrants and the poor.
Early 20th Century, World War I, and Interwar Period
Open Door Policy: A U.S. policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advocating for equal trading rights for all nations in China, aimed at preventing any single nation from dominating Chinese trade.
Big Stick Diplomacy: President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy, which emphasized using military power and the threat of force (the "big stick") to achieve U.S. goals, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean.
16th-19th Amendments:
16th Amendment: Authorized Congress to levy an income tax.
17th Amendment: Established the direct election of senators by the people, rather than by state legislatures.
18th Amendment: Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages (Prohibition).
19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote.
Moral Diplomacy: President Woodrow Wilson’s foreign policy, which emphasized spreading democratic ideals and moral governance, as opposed to imperialistic ambitions.
Dollar Diplomacy: President William Howard Taft’s foreign policy that encouraged U.S. investments in Latin America and East Asia as a way to extend American influence.
Roosevelt Corollary: An extension of the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt, asserting that the U.S. could intervene in Latin American countries to maintain order and protect U.S. interests.
U.S.-Filipino War: A war between the U.S. and Filipino insurgents (1899-1902) after the Philippines was ceded to the U.S. following the Spanish-American War. It resulted in American control over the islands.
Spanish-American War: A 1898 conflict between Spain and the U.S. after the explosion of the USS Maine in Cuba. The U.S. emerged victorious, acquiring territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
Reasons for Imperialism: Economic interests, the desire for military bases, a belief in cultural superiority (Social Darwinism), and the spread of American democracy motivated U.S. imperialism.
Reasons Against Imperialism: Anti-imperialists believed imperialism violated American principles of self-determination and democracy. Prominent figures included Mark Twain and Andrew Carnegie.
McKinley’s Assassination: President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901 by anarchist Leon Czolgosz. This led to Theodore Roosevelt becoming president.
New Manifest Destiny: The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand its influence overseas, particularly in the Caribbean and Pacific, through imperialism and colonization.
Treaty of Versailles and U.S. Response: The 1919 treaty that ended World War I. While the U.S. played a major role in the negotiations, it did not ratify the treaty or join the League of Nations due to concerns over entangling alliances.
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne in June 1914 by a Serbian nationalist, which triggered the start of World War I.
WWI—MAIN: The acronym for the causes of World War I:
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Spanish-American War Causes: The explosion of the USS Maine, yellow journalism, and U.S. imperial ambitions in Cuba and the Philippines.
Yellow Journalism: Sensationalized reporting by newspapers, such as those by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, that contributed to public support for the Spanish-American War.
USS Maine: The U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, leading to U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence and the Spanish-American War.
Emilio Aguinaldo: Leader of the Filipino independence movement who fought both against Spanish rule and later against U.S. colonial control in the Philippines.
Interwar Period, World War II, and the Cold War
Warren G. Harding: 29th president, remembered for his return to "normalcy" after WWI, but his administration was tainted by scandals like Teapot Dome.
Isolationism: A U.S. foreign policy approach of avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts and alliances, particularly after World War I and during the early years of World War II.
Prohibition: The period from 1920-1933 when the 18th Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. It led to the rise of organized crime.
Harlem Renaissance: A cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, New York, that celebrated African American culture and produced figures like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.
Hoover’s Response to Depression: President Herbert Hoover's policies during the Great Depression were criticized for being ineffective. He believed in "rugged individualism" and limited government intervention, which failed to address the severity of the crisis.
FDR—“New Deal”: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plan to address the Great Depression, which included programs like Social Security, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) to provide relief, recovery, and reform.
Dust Bowl: A severe drought in the Great Plains during the 1930s that exacerbated the Great Depression, causing massive displacement of farmers.
Social Security: A 1935 New Deal program that provided financial assistance to the elderly, unemployed, and disabled.
Supreme Court’s Rejection of Programs: The U.S. Supreme Court initially struck down several New Deal programs, including the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) and the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA).
Critics of FDR: Critics like Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and Dr. Francis Townsend argued that FDR's New Deal didn’t do enough to address economic inequality or was too interventionist.
WWII—Appeasement: The policy followed by Britain and France in the 1930s of conceding to some of Hitler’s demands to avoid conflict, which ultimately failed and led to WWII.
Nuremberg Trials: Post-WWII military tribunals held to prosecute Nazi war criminals for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
Korematsu v. U.S.: A 1944 Supreme Court case that upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, though it was later widely criticized.
Tuskegee Airmen: An all-Black squadron of pilots who fought in WWII, proving the capabilities of African American servicemen.
Cold War and Civil Rights Era
Cold War: The geopolitical, ideological, and military struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991, marked by nuclear arms races, proxy wars, and ideological conflict.
Truman Doctrine: President Truman’s 1947 policy to contain communism by providing military and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism.
Korean War—Causes/Outcome: A war between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the U.S. and United Nations). The war ended in a stalemate, with the Korean Peninsula remaining divided.
Cuban Missile Crisis: A 13-day standoff in 1962 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missile installations in Cuba. It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Khrushchev: Soviet Premier who led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. Known for the Cuban Missile Crisis and for de-Stalinization efforts.
Island Hopping: A WWII strategy used by the Allies, primarily the U.S., to capture strategic islands in the Pacific, gradually moving closer to Japan.
GI Bill: A law passed in 1944 to provide financial support to veterans, including education, home loans, and unemployment benefits.
GI Bill Discrimination: African American veterans faced discrimination in accessing benefits from the GI Bill, as local governments and institutions often refused them full access.
Bracero Program: A WWII-era program that allowed temporary Mexican laborers to work in the U.S. in agriculture and other industries, addressing labor shortages caused by the war.
Nuremberg Trials: See #99
Cold War, Vietnam War, and Post-WWII Era (Continued)
Rise of Rock and Roll: In the 1950s, the emergence of rock and roll music, led by artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard, became a cultural phenomenon, particularly among the youth, and played a major role in breaking down racial barriers in music.
Impact on Federal Government: The Cold War and the rise of domestic issues like the Civil Rights Movement led to a significant increase in the size and power of the federal government, particularly in areas like national security, surveillance, and civil rights protections.
‘Normalcy’: A term used by President Warren G. Harding during the 1920 election to describe his vision of a return to pre-WWI stability and a reduction in international involvement, particularly after the turmoil of the war and the Spanish flu pandemic.
Laissez-faire: An economic policy where the government has minimal involvement in business and market affairs. It was the dominant philosophy during much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially under presidents like Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover.
Sacco and Vanzetti: Two Italian-American anarchists who were convicted of murder in 1921. Their trial and execution in 1927 sparked international protests and became a symbol of the racial and political tensions of the time.
Black Tuesday: October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed, leading to the Great Depression. It marked the beginning of a prolonged economic downturn that affected the U.S. and the world.
Trickle-down Theory: An economic theory often associated with Ronald Reagan’s policies, where tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations are expected to eventually benefit the broader economy, including lower-income groups. This theory was also a central element of Herbert Hoover's policies during the Great Depression.
Emergency Banking Relief Act: Passed in 1933 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first 100 days in office, this act allowed banks to reopen under federal supervision, stabilizing the banking system after the bank runs of the Great Depression.
AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act): A key New Deal program passed in 1933 that sought to raise agricultural prices by paying farmers to reduce production. It aimed to address overproduction and plummeting farm prices during the Great Depression.
Court-packing Scheme: In 1937, FDR proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to allow him to appoint more judges who would support his New Deal programs. The proposal was widely criticized and failed to pass.
Consumerism: A social and economic ideology that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts. It became a defining feature of American life in the post-WWII era, particularly in the 1950s.
Dawes Plan: A 1924 plan to resolve the German reparations issue following WWI by providing loans to Germany, which in turn would help stabilize its economy and allow it to pay reparations to the Allies. It helped ease tensions but was ultimately insufficient.
Red Scare: A period of intense fear of communism in the U.S. during the 1920s (First Red Scare) and again after WWII (Second Red Scare), fueled by the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, labor unrest, and fears of Soviet infiltration.
Scopes Trial: A 1925 trial in Tennessee where teacher John Scopes was convicted for teaching evolution in a public school, challenging the state’s anti-evolution law. It was a landmark case in the debate over science and religion in schools.
Hiroshima/Nagasaki: The two Japanese cities where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of WWII. The bombings remain a controversial and debated moment in history.
Truman’s Decision: President Harry S. Truman made the controversial decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 to hasten Japan’s surrender and end WWII, a decision that has been widely debated for its ethical implications.
Women in War: During WWII, women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, filling roles traditionally held by men. They also served in auxiliary military units and contributed to the war effort in other ways.
Double V Campaign: A campaign by African Americans during WWII that called for victory over fascism abroad and victory over racism at home, symbolizing the fight for both civil rights and participation in the war effort.
Containment: A Cold War policy advocated by the U.S. to prevent the spread of communism, primarily by the Soviet Union, through military and diplomatic means, such as in the Korean War and Vietnam War.
NATO/Warsaw Pact: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was a military alliance formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries to counter Soviet expansion. The Warsaw Pact was the Soviet Union’s response, a military alliance formed in 1955 between the USSR and its Eastern European satellites.
Sen. Joseph McCarthy(ism): McCarthy was a U.S. senator who led the Second Red Scare, claiming that numerous communists had infiltrated the U.S. government. His tactics of making unfounded accusations were widely criticized, and "McCarthyism" became synonymous with political repression and fear-mongering.
Bay of Pigs Invasion: A failed 1961 U.S.-backed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist government in Cuba, which resulted in embarrassment for the Kennedy administration.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: A resolution passed by Congress in 1964, giving President Lyndon B. Johnson the authority to use military force in Vietnam after alleged attacks on U.S. ships by North Vietnamese forces.
Navajo Codetalkers: Native American soldiers, primarily from the Navajo tribe, who used their language to create an unbreakable code for U.S. military communications during WWII, contributing to the Allies’ success in the Pacific.
Levittowns: Mass-produced suburban communities built in the U.S. after WWII, characterized by affordable housing, uniformity, and rapid construction. They were part of the postwar housing boom but were also criticized for their racial segregation policies.
Domino Theory: A Cold War-era theory that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall, like a row of dominos. This theory heavily influenced U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Rosie the Riveter: A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during WWII, symbolizing women’s contribution to the war effort and the changing role of women in the workforce.
Atlantic Charter: A 1941 agreement between the U.S. and the UK, outlining their shared goals for post-war peace, democracy, and the prevention of future wars. It was a precursor to the formation of the United Nations.
Duck and Cover Drills: Civil defense drills conducted in the U.S. during the Cold War, teaching children how to protect themselves in the event of a nuclear attack, often viewed as a futile and symbolic measure against the threat of atomic bombs.
Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, and Modern History
Civil Rights Movement: A social, political, and legal struggle by African Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the 1950s and 1960s, with key events like the Brown v. Board decision, the March on Washington, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Martin Luther King, Jr.: A leader of the Civil Rights Movement who advocated for nonviolent civil disobedience. He led key events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and is best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Brown v. Board of Education: A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision.
“Little Rock Nine”: A group of nine African American students who were the first to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, under the protection of federal troops.
Civil Disobedience/Nonviolence: A form of protest used by Civil Rights leaders like MLK, where participants peacefully refuse to obey unjust laws, as a means of raising awareness and pushing for change.
March on Washington: The 1963 event where over 250,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. to demand civil rights and jobs. It was here that MLK delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and ended segregation in public places.
Napalm & Agent Orange: Chemical weapons used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War to destroy jungles and expose enemy positions. These chemicals caused long-term environmental and health damage to both the Vietnamese people and U.S. soldiers.
Counterculture Movement: A social movement in the 1960s that rejected traditional values and norms, often associated with the hippie movement, anti-war protests, and the embrace of alternative lifestyles.
Warren Commission: A group appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1963 to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, and Modern History (Continued)
Watergate: A political scandal in the 1970s involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by members of President Nixon's administration. It led to Nixon’s resignation in 1974.
Voting Rights Act of 1965: A landmark law passed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, particularly in Southern states. It prohibited literacy tests and poll taxes and provided federal oversight of elections.
Medicare/Medicaid: Established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society, Medicare provides health insurance for people over 65, while Medicaid provides health insurance for low-income individuals.
Sit-ins/Freedom Rides: Sit-ins were nonviolent protests where participants sat at segregated lunch counters, demanding service. Freedom Rides were bus trips through the South by integrated groups to challenge segregation in public transportation.
Selma March: A series of marches in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand voting rights for African Americans. The marches highlighted the violence and resistance to civil rights and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Peace with Honor: A phrase used by President Richard Nixon to describe his policy of withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam while maintaining U.S. influence in the region.
Vietnamization: A policy initiated by Nixon to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam and transfer combat responsibility to South Vietnamese forces, in an effort to end American involvement in the war.
Silent Majority: A term used by President Nixon to describe the large group of Americans who did not publicly express their opinions but supported his policies, particularly those concerning law and order and the Vietnam War.
1968 Olympics: The Olympics held in Mexico City, where two African American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, raised their fists in a Black Power salute during their medal ceremony to protest racial inequality.
Credibility Gap: The public’s growing distrust in the U.S. government, especially during the Vietnam War, due to discrepancies between official statements and the reality of the war.
Black Panthers: A revolutionary socialist organization founded in 1966 to advocate for Black empowerment, self-defense, and the end of police brutality. The group was known for its militant stance and community social programs.
CREEP (“Plumbers”): The Committee to Re-elect the President, or CREEP, was involved in the Watergate scandal. The "Plumbers" were a covert group tasked with preventing or stopping leaks of classified information, including the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
Title IX: A 1972 federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs, leading to greater equality for women in school athletics and academics.
Korean War: A conflict between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (backed by the United Nations and the U.S.). The war ended in a stalemate, with Korea remaining divided along the 38th parallel.
Black Power: A slogan popularized by figures like Stokely Carmichael, emphasizing racial pride, self-reliance, and the need for Black people to control their own political and economic destiny.
Collapse of USSR/Fall of Berlin Wall/End of Cold War and Impacts: The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, marking the end of the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolized the end of communist control in Eastern Europe and the division of Germany.
War Powers Act: A law passed in 1973 that limits the president’s ability to send U.S. forces into combat without congressional approval. It was a response to the Vietnam War and aims to prevent future presidential overreach.
Pentagon Papers: A classified government study released in 1971 that revealed U.S. government deception regarding the Vietnam War, showing that leaders had misled the public about the war's progress and prospects.
Nixon & Kennedy Televised Debate: The first-ever televised presidential debates in 1960 between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, which helped solidify Kennedy’s image as a charismatic leader. The debates demonstrated the growing importance of television in politics.
Influence of the Civil Rights Movement on Other “Rights” Movements: The success of the Civil Rights Movement inspired other groups, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Native Americans, to push for their own rights and equality under the law.
The Role All 5 Presidents Played in Vietnam (1947-1973): Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon all played significant roles in the escalation and eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam, with each adapting their policies to the changing geopolitical and domestic landscape.
TET Offensive: A major North Vietnamese and Viet Cong offensive launched in 1968 during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (TET). Despite being militarily repelled, it shocked the U.S. public and shifted public opinion about the war.
My Lai Massacre: A 1968 incident during the Vietnam War in which U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians. It became a symbol of the brutality of the war and further eroded public support for the conflict.
Kent State Shootings: In 1970, four students were killed by National Guard troops during a protest against the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. The incident intensified anti-war sentiments and protests across the nation.
Letter from Birmingham Jail: A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 while he was imprisoned in Birmingham, Alabama. In it, he defends the strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience against unjust laws.
Boycott of Moscow Olympics: In 1980, the U.S. and several other countries boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
War Powers Act of 1973: (see #166)
De Facto vs. De Jure Segregation: De jure segregation refers to racial segregation enforced by law (e.g., Jim Crow laws), while de facto segregation occurs through social and economic factors without legal enforcement.
Malcolm X: A prominent leader in the Black Power movement who advocated for Black nationalism and self-defense. His views evolved over time, especially after his pilgrimage to Mecca, where he embraced a more inclusive vision of racial unity.
Montgomery Bus Boycott: A 1955-1956 boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system following the arrest of Rosa Parks, which led to the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery and gave rise to the modern Civil Rights Movement.
Crisis of Confidence Speech: A speech delivered by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, in which he addressed the nation’s disillusionment with the government and called for a renewed sense of national purpose, later interpreted as a recognition of the "stagflation" crisis.
Immigration Act of 1965: A law that eliminated the discriminatory quotas based on national origin that had been in place since the 1920s. It opened the door for increased immigration from non-European countries.
Ford’s WIN Program: The “Whip Inflation Now” program, introduced by President Gerald Ford in 1974, aimed to reduce inflation through voluntary measures like price controls and wage freezes. It was largely ineffective and criticized as a failure.
Nixon—Cold War ‘Thaw’ (Détente): Nixon's policy of détente aimed to ease tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It led to the signing of arms limitation treaties, such as SALT I and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Treaty of Paris 1898—Provisions: The treaty that ended the Spanish-American War, in which Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S. and gave Cuba independence, marking the U.S.'s emergence as a global power.
Zimmermann Note: A secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico in 1917, proposing a military alliance between the two nations and offering U.S. territories to Mexico in exchange for support. The interception of this note by the British helped push the U.S. into WWI.
Wilson’s Position on the War: President Woodrow Wilson initially kept the U.S. neutral in WWI but eventually led the country into the war in 1917, citing the need to "make the world safe for democracy."
Marcus Garvey: A Jamaican-born leader who promoted Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism in the U.S. Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and advocated for Black economic self-sufficiency.
League of Nations/Wilson’s 14 Points: Wilson’s proposal for a post-WWI peace plan, which included the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization designed to prevent future conflicts. The U.S. ultimately did not join the League.
Lusitania: A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, killing 128 Americans. The event helped shift American public opinion in favor of joining WWI.
Banking Holiday: A temporary closure of all banks in 1933 by President FDR to prevent a run on the banks during the Great Depression and to stabilize the banking system.
Hoovervilles: Makeshift shantytowns named derisively after President Herbert Hoover, who was blamed for the Great Depression. These towns were built by homeless Americans during the early 1930s.
National Industrial Recovery Act: A key New Deal program that aimed to stimulate the economy by creating jobs, regulating industries, and ensuring fair wages. It was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Works Progress Administration: A New Deal agency created in 1935 to provide jobs for the unemployed, funding public works projects like roads, schools, and bridges.
Ku Klux Klan: A white supremacist group that emerged after the Civil War and reformed in the 1920s, advocating for racial segregation and the oppression of African Americans, immigrants, and other minorities.
UNIA: The Universal Negro Improvement Association, founded by Marcus Garvey in 1914, which aimed to unite people of African descent worldwide and promote Black self-sufficiency.
Great Depression & New Deal (Additional Terms)
Causes of the Great Depression: The Great Depression was caused by various factors, including the stock market crash of 1929, overproduction, bank failures, reduction in international trade, and poor government policies.
Escapism: During the Great Depression, many people turned to entertainment, such as movies, radio shows, and literature, to escape the harsh realities of economic hardship.
FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation): Created in 1933 as part of the New Deal, the FDIC insures bank deposits to prevent bank failures from wiping out people's savings.
Social Security: A New Deal program established in 1935 to provide financial assistance to retirees, the unemployed, and disabled workers.
1st 100 Days of FDR’s Presidency: The first three months of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, where he passed a record number of New Deal programs aimed at combating the Great Depression.
3 Rs (Relief, Recovery, Reform): The main goals of the New Deal: Relief for the unemployed and poor, Recovery of the economy, and Reform to prevent future depressions.
Fireside Chats: A series of radio addresses by President FDR in which he explained his New Deal programs and reassured Americans during the Great Depression.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): A New Deal program that provided jobs to young men to work on conservation and public works projects, such as planting trees and building parks.
Quota Laws: Immigration laws passed in the 1920s that set limits on the number of immigrants from certain countries, particularly Southern and Eastern European countries.
Fidel Castro: The communist revolutionary who became the leader of Cuba in 1959 after overthrowing the government of Fulgencio Batista.
Lend-Lease Act: A 1941 law that allowed the U.S. to send military aid to Allied nations during WWII, without direct involvement in combat.
Japanese Internment Camps: During WWII, more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in camps across the U.S. after the attack on Pearl Harbor, out of fear they might be loyal to Japan.
US Homefront/US Economy: The U.S. economy shifted to a wartime economy during WWII, with production of military goods booming, and Americans were encouraged to conserve resources and buy war bonds to support the effort.
United Nations: An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among the world’s nations. It replaced the League of Nations.
Marshall Plan: A U.S. program providing economic aid to Western European countries to help rebuild their economies after WWII, prevent the spread of communism, and promote political stability.
Berlin Wall: A barrier built by the Soviet Union in 1961 to divide East and West Berlin. It became a symbol of the Cold War and the division between communist and capitalist nations. It fell in 1989, marking the end of the Cold War.
Vietnam War, Cold War, and Post-Cold War
Vietnam War: A conflict from 1955-1975 between communist North Vietnam, supported by the USSR and China, and non-communist South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. The war resulted in a North Vietnamese victory and reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.
Vietnamization: A strategy, formulated by President Nixon, to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam and transfer combat responsibility to the South Vietnamese.
U-2 Spyplane Incident: A 1960 incident in which a U.S. U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, leading to a breakdown in U.S.-Soviet relations.
Baby Boom: A period of high birth rates in the U.S. following WWII, contributing to a population increase and changing the demographic makeup of the country in the 1950s and 1960s.
1950s Similar to 1920s (& then 1980s): In terms of consumerism, technological innovation, and cultural shifts, the 1950s mirrored the economic boom and societal changes of the 1920s, and in some ways, the prosperity of the 1980s.
Island Hopping: A military strategy used by the Allies in the Pacific during WWII, which involved capturing key islands to gradually move closer to Japan.
FDR’s Support of Britain Prior to War: Before the U.S. entered WWII, President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported Britain through programs like Lend-Lease, providing military aid to the Allies while keeping the U.S. out of direct combat.
This strategy allowed the U.S. to bolster Allied forces without officially joining the war until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This approach provided vital support through the Lend-Lease program, supplying military equipment and resources to those fighting against Axis powers. Additionally, it helped to strengthen diplomatic relations with other nations, paving the way for future alliances that would prove essential in the ensuing global conflict.
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