1. Isolationism: A foreign policy stance where a country seeks to minimize its involvement in international affairs and conflicts. The U.S. chose isolationism in the interwar period to avoid the political entanglements and devastating losses of World War I.
2. Pearl Harbor: The attack occurred on December 7, 1941, when Japan launched a surprise military strike on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it "a date which will live in infamy."
3. Internment: The forced relocation and imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II, following the Pearl Harbor attack, due to fears of espionage and loyalty to Japan.
4. Rosie the Riveter: A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during WWII, symbolizing the role women played in the war effort and advancing women's rights in the workforce.
5. Eisenhower: Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during WWII. His famous D-Day speech to troops on June 6, 1944, inspired them for the Normandy invasion, a turning point in the war.
6. D-Day: Took place on June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. It was crucial for opening a new front against Nazi Germany and led to the liberation of Western Europe.
7. Manhattan Project: A secret U.S. project during WWII that developed the atomic bomb, significantly impacting the outcome of the war and post-war geopolitics.
8. Allied Powers: The major Allies in WWII included the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, and France.
9. Containment: A Cold War policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism. It shaped U.S. foreign policy, leading to involvement in conflicts like the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
10. Truman Doctrine: Announced in 1947, it was a policy to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism, particularly Greece and Turkey.
11. Berlin Airlift: In 1948-1949, the U.S. and its allies supplied West Berlin with vital supplies via air after the Soviet Union blockaded the city, showcasing Western commitment to counter Soviet aggression.
12. Suburbs/Levittown: Post-WWII mass-produced suburban communities exemplified by Levittown, created due to housing demand and government policies like the GI Bill.
13. Baby Boom: A significant increase in births post-WWII (1946-1964) that boosted the economy through consumer demand and labor force growth.
14. Korean War: Began in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.S. intervened under the UN flag to contain communism.
15. McCarthyism: A period of intense anti-communism in the U.S. during the early 1950s, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, resulting in widespread fear and the persecution of alleged communists.
16. Sputnik: The first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, initiating the space race and leading to increased U.S. investment in science and technology.
17. NAACP: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People used legal challenges, protests, and lobbying to fight for civil rights.
18. Brown v. Board of Education: A 1954 Supreme Court decision that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
19. "I Have a Dream" Speech: Delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, it became a symbol of the civil rights movement.
20. Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, a confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba ended with the USSR withdrawing the missiles in exchange for the U.S. not invading Cuba and secretly removing missiles from Turkey.
21. 1964 Civil Rights Act: Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, resulting from the civil rights movement.
22. Voting Rights Act of 1965: Prohibited racial discrimination in voting, spurred by events like the Selma to Montgomery marches.
23. African American Voter Registration: Increased due to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the civil rights movement's efforts.
24. Stokely Carmichael: A leader in the civil rights and Black Power movements, associated with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), advocating for black self-determination.
25. Black Panther Party: Founded in 1966, it aimed to combat police brutality and provide social services, promoting black empowerment and self-defense.
26. Memphis Strike: A significant 1968 strike by sanitation workers that highlighted racial and economic injustice and was the backdrop for MLK's assassination.
27. Affirmative Action: Policies to improve opportunities for historically marginalized groups; pros include promoting diversity and redressing discrimination, while cons include arguments of reverse discrimination.
28. Great Society: Initiatives by President Lyndon B. Johnson to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, including Medicare and Medicaid; successes in reducing poverty, but criticized for increasing government size.
29. Gulf of Tonkin: In 1964, reported attacks on U.S. ships led to Congress granting President Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam, escalating U.S. involvement.
30. Hawks/Doves: Hawks supported military intervention in Vietnam, while Doves opposed it, reflecting the national divide over the war.
31. Draft Deferments: Methods to avoid conscription, including medical, educational, and occupational deferments, leading to perceptions of inequality.
32. My Lai Massacre: In 1968, U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, sparking outrage and eroding support for the Vietnam War.
33. Viet Cong: Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam who fought against the South Vietnamese and U.S. forces.
34. Protests: Widespread anti-Vietnam War protests, largely by students, pacifists, and civil rights activists.
35. 1968 Election: Richard Nixon won, capitalizing on a divided Democratic Party and promising "law and order" amid social unrest.
36. Vietnamization: Nixon's strategy to withdraw U.S. troops while transferring combat roles to South Vietnamese forces.
37. Vietnam Era Songs: Many songs, like Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," protested the war and called for peace.
38. 26th Amendment: Ratified in 1971, it lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, reflecting youth involvement in politics.
39. Detente: A policy of easing Cold War tensions, pursued by Nixon and Ford through diplomatic efforts with the USSR and China.
40. Pentagon Papers: Leaked documents revealing government deception about the Vietnam War, leading to increased public distrust.
41. Watergate: A political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, leading to Nixon's resignation in 1974 after efforts to cover it up were revealed.
42. Nixon Pardon: President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon in 1974 to heal the nation, but it caused significant controversy and mistrust.
43. Iran Hostage Crisis: In 1979-1981, 52 Americans were held hostage by Iranian revolutionaries, severely impacting U.S. morale and contributing to Carter's electoral defeat.
44. Feminine Mystique: A 1963 book by Betty Friedan that challenged traditional gender roles and sparked the second-wave feminist movement.
45. Roe v. Wade: The 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide, sparking ongoing debates over reproductive rights.
46. United Farm Workers: Led by Cesar Chavez, this union fought for better wages and conditions for farm workers through strikes and boycotts, mainly in California.
47. American Indian Movement: Advocated for Native American rights, using protests and legal challenges to address issues like sovereignty and discrimination.
48. Reaganomics: Economic policies under President Ronald Reagan focused on tax cuts, deregulation, and reducing government spending to spur growth.
49. Power in Government: Reagan believed in reducing federal government power and increasing state and local control.
50. Budget: Reagan increased military spending while cutting social programs, leading to deficits but aiming to strengthen national defense.
51. Iran-Contra Affair: A scandal where the Reagan administration secretly sold arms to Iran and used the proceeds to fund Nicaraguan Contras, against Congressional prohibition.
52. Strategic Defense Initiative: Proposed missile defense system, dubbed "Star Wars," intended to protect against nuclear attacks but criticized for feasibility and cost.
53. Desert Storm: A 1991 military operation led by President George H.W. Bush to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait, demonstrating U.S. military might.
54. Bush Sr.: Pledged "no new taxes" during his campaign but later raised taxes, impacting his re-election bid.
55. Battle of Mogadishu: A 1993 conflict in Somalia where U.S. forces suffered heavy casualties, influencing future military engagement decisions.
56. Monica Lewinsky: A White House intern whose affair with President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment, deeply affecting his presidency.
57. 9/11: Terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, orchestrated by al-Qaeda, involving four planes, leading to significant changes in U.S. military and