YAWP Chapter 28 Reading Terms

Living Room War: The Vietnam War, as it was televised and shown directly into American homes, making it more personal and controversial.

Cam Ne: A South Vietnamese village where the U.S. military conducted a controversial "search and destroy" operation during the Vietnam War.

Tet Offensive: A surprise series of attacks by North Vietnamese forces on South Vietnam in 1968, which turned American public opinion against the war.

My Lai: A massacre in 1968 where U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians, leading to widespread outrage.

Richard Nixon: 37th U.S. president, known for ending the Vietnam War, his involvement in the Watergate scandal, and his resignation in 1974.

Vietnamization: Nixon's policy to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam and transfer combat duties to the South Vietnamese forces.

Kent State and Jackson State: College protests against the Vietnam War in 1970, where National Guard troops killed four students at Kent State and two at Jackson State.

Paris Peace Accords, 1973: The agreement that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, calling for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of American troops.

Malcolm X: Civil rights leader who advocated for black empowerment and the use of self-defense, later shifting toward a more inclusive approach after his pilgrimage to Mecca.

All in the Family: A 1970s TV show that addressed controversial social issues, starring Archie Bunker, known for its progressive yet provocative content.

Watts, Newark, and Detroit: Major cities that experienced violent race riots in the 1960s, protesting police brutality and racial inequality.

Civil Rights Act of 1964: Landmark law that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment and public accommodations.

Voting Rights Act of 1965: A law aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the South, by banning literacy tests and other discriminatory practices.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Leader of the civil rights movement, known for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance and his "I Have a Dream" speech.

George Wallace: Governor of Alabama, known for his strong segregationist views and his opposition to civil rights reforms during the 1960s.

SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; negotiations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to limit nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Detente: A period of improved relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s, focusing on arms control and diplomacy.

OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a group of oil-producing nations that work together to regulate oil production and prices.

War Powers Act: A 1973 law that limited the president's ability to send U.S. troops into combat without Congressional approval.

Pentagon Papers: A secret government report detailing U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam, leaked to the press in 1971, revealing government deception.

CREEP: The Committee to Re-Elect the President, an organization involved in the Watergate scandal's illegal activities.

Watergate: A political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and subsequent cover-up, leading to President Nixon’s resignation.

Rustbelt: A region of the U.S. known for its declining industrial base, especially in cities in the Midwest and Northeast.

Sunbelt: A region of the U.S. in the South and West, characterized by a growing population, warm climate, and an expanding economy.

Roe v. Wade: A landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, ruling that a woman’s right to choose was protected under the Constitution.

ERA (Equal Rights Amendment): A proposed amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens, regardless of sex, which was never ratified.

NOW (National Organization for Women): A feminist organization founded in 1966 to advocate for women's rights, including gender equality and reproductive rights.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): A federal agency established to enforce laws against workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Stonewall: A 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, considered the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Jerry Falwell: Evangelical Christian leader and founder of the Moral Majority, a political organization that sought to influence American politics in the 1970s and 1980s.

Phyllis Schlafly: Conservative activist who opposed the feminist movement, particularly the Equal Rights Amendment, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jimmy Carter: 39th U.S. president, known for his focus on human rights, his successful mediation of the Camp David Accords, and his handling of the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Stagflation: An economic condition in the 1970s characterized by high inflation and high unemployment occurring simultaneously, hurting the U.S. economy.

“Misery Index”: An economic measure created by economist Arthur Okun, combining inflation and unemployment rates to gauge the overall economic hardship of Americans.

Camp David Accords: A peace agreement brokered by President Carter in 1978 between Egypt and Israel, leading to the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country.

Iran Hostage Crisis: A diplomatic crisis in 1979 when 52 American diplomats were held hostage in Iran for 444 days, damaging President Carter's re-election prospects