Fabric of A Nation Study Notes

Unit 11 - Quiz 2 - Fabric of A Nation - Modules 8-3 and 8-4

Levittown

  • A New York suburb where postwar builders pioneered mass home construction techniques.

Betty Friedan

  • (1921-2006) An American feminist, activist, and writer.
  • Best known for initiating the "Second Wave" of feminism through her influential book "The Feminine Mystique."

Rock 'n' Roll

  • A genre of popular music that originated in the late 1940s and early 1950s in the United States.

On the Road

  • A 1957 novel by American writer Jack Kerouac based on his travels with friends across the U.S.

Nikita Khrushchev

  • Soviet leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  • Notable for denouncing Stalin and allowing criticism of Stalin's regime within Russia.

NASA

  • An independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for aviation and spaceflight.

Domino Theory

  • A theory that asserts if one nation falls to Communism, neighboring nations will likely follow suit.

Ngo Dinh Diem

  • South Vietnamese president, a Catholic who staunchly opposed Communism.
  • His poor leadership and corrupt government led to his eventual downfall.

Election of 1960

  • A pivotal election where John F. Kennedy faced Richard Nixon.
  • Kennedy's televised charisma helped him win against Nixon, who appeared pale and nervous.

Fidel Castro

  • The Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba.

Massive Retaliation

  • The Eisenhower administration's defense policy in the 1950s which emphasized nuclear retaliation against acts of aggression.

Federal Highway Act

  • Allocated $25 billion for building interstate highways over 20 years; the largest public works project in U.S. history to that point.

The Feminine Mystique

  • Written by Betty Friedan, it addresses the issues faced by middle-class American women and the denial of their equality with men, illustrating how women were constrained in reaching their full potential.

The Beats

  • Referring to a literary movement characterized by countercultural values and aesthetics, often linked with specific locations of cultural significance.

Allen Ginsberg

  • A prominent member of the Beat movement known for his writings that conveyed existential experiences with intense emotion and vigor.

U-2 Incident

  • Involved an American U-2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union.
  • The U.S. initially denied the plane's purpose but had to acknowledge it when the U.S.S.R. revealed the captured pilot and plane, damaging U.S. international credibility and relations.

Shah of Iran

  • A key ally of the U.S. for 25 years until the Iranian Revolution, spurred by nationalization of oil and subsequent overthrow in 1979.

Geneva Accords

  • Agreements aimed at resolving the situation in Afghanistan among other geopolitical issues in the region.

Military-Industrial Complex

  • A term coined by Eisenhower warning against the collaboration between the military and defense contractors, anticipating excessive spending from Congress.

New Frontier

  • The campaign platform of John F. Kennedy during the 1960 election, which aimed at revitalizing the economy and focused on reforming education, healthcare, and civil rights.

Bay of Pigs

  • An unsuccessful invasion in April 1961 by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles aimed at toppling Fidel Castro; President Kennedy took responsibility for its failure.

Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

  • An agreement between the U.S., Soviet Union, and Great Britain that prohibited atmospheric and underwater nuclear testing.

Suburban Domesticity

  • Cultural narrative promoting the idea that women's fulfillment comes from the role of a housewife.

Jonas Salk

  • Developed the polio vaccine in 1952, significantly impacting public health.

Jack Kerouac

  • A key author of the Beat movement known for his bestselling novel On the Road, noted for its frantic prose and lack of a structured plot.

John Foster Dulles

  • Secretary of State who framed the struggle against Communism as a moral conflict.
  • Advocated for containment and introduced the Eisenhower Doctrine.

Sputnik

  • The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.
  • It triggered U.S. fears of Soviet dominance in technology, leading to the creation of NASA and a subsequent space race.

Suez Crisis (1956)

  • A military campaign launched by Britain, France, and Israel against Egypt following the nationalization of the Suez Canal.

Ho Chi Minh

  • The Communist leader of North Vietnam, a significant figure in the Vietnam War.

John F. Kennedy

  • President during the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, pivotal events of his administration.

Peace Corps

  • A program initiated by JFK involving volunteers aiding developing nations to combat poverty and prevent the spread of Communism, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Cuban Missile Crisis

  • A critical confrontation between the U.S. and Soviet Union over Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba in 1962.

Lyndon B. Johnson

  • The 36th U.S. President who served from 1963 to 1969, succeeding JFK.

Military-Industrial Complex

  • Describes the relationship between a nation's military and the defense contracting industry supporting it, warning of potential excessive influences on public policy.