★ CHAPTER 25 ★ THE SIXTIES 1960–1968

Question 1

John F. Kennedy

Answer 1

The 35th president of the United States, who was elected in 1960 and assassinated in 1963.

Question 2

Lyndon B. Johnson

Answer 2

The 36th president of the United States, who succeeded Kennedy after his assassination and served from 1963 to 1969.

Johnson succeeded Kennedy as President and continued his predecessor’s efforts to advance civil rights legislation. He also escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War, which would come to define his presidency.

Question 3

Malcolm X

Answer 3

An African American Muslim minister and activist who advocated for black self-defense and separation from white society.

A controversial figure in the Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X was an advocate for Black nationalism and separatism. His views evolved over time, and he became a more moderate voice before his assassination in 1965.

Question 4

Stokely Carmichael

Answer 4

A civil rights activist who popularized the term “Black Power” and served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Question 5

Betty Friedan

Answer 5

An American feminist writer and activist who wrote “The Feminine Mystique” and helped found the National Organization for Women (NOW).

An American feminist writer and activist, Friedan authored “The Feminine Mystique” in 1963, a book that helped spark the second wave of feminism in the United States.

Question 6

Robert F. Kennedy

Answer 6

As the younger brother of President Kennedy and Attorney General under Johnson, Robert Kennedy was a prominent political figure of the era. He championed civil rights and worked to bridge the gap between Black and White Americans. He was assassinated in 1968 while running for President.

Question 7

Cesar Chavez

Answer 7

As the founder and leader of the United Farm Workers union, Chavez fought for the rights of migrant workers and helped improve their working conditions.

Question 8

Ho Chi Minh

Answer 8

The leader of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh played a key role in the Vietnam War and the negotiations that led to the end of the conflict.

Question 9

Mao Zedong

Answer 9

The leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong oversaw the Cultural Revolution and other major political and economic changes in China during the 1960s.

Question 10

Che Guevara

Answer 10

An Argentine Marxist revolutionary and close associate of Fidel Castro, Guevara played a key role in the Cuban Revolution and was a prominent figure in the global leftist movement of the 1960s. He was executed by the Bolivian government in 1967.

Question 11

sit-in (p. 986)

Answer 11

A form of nonviolent protest where people occupy a public space, typically a segregated business or institution, and refuse to leave until their demands for equal treatment are met.

Question 12

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Answer 12

A civil rights organization founded in 1960 by young activists committed to nonviolent direct action tactics. It played a key role in the sit-in movement and other campaigns for desegregation and voting rights.

Question 13

Freedom Rides

Answer 13

A series of integrated bus rides through the South in 1961 to challenge segregation and discrimination on interstate transportation. The rides were met with violent opposition from white supremacists, but ultimately helped to desegregate interstate travel.

Question 14

March on Washington

Answer 14

A massive civil rights demonstration in Washington D.C. in 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The march drew attention to the struggle for racial equality and helped to push for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Question 15

Bay of Pigs invasion

Answer 15

A failed attempt by the U.S. government to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba in 1961. The invasion was a major embarrassment for the U.S. and cemented Cuba’s alliance with the Soviet Union.

Question 16

Cuban missile crisis

Answer 16

A tense standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1962, when the U.S. discovered Soviet missile installations in Cuba. The crisis brought the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war and highlighted the danger of the arms race.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a political and military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet missiles in Cuba. It was marked by events such as the U.S. naval quarantine of Cuba and the negotiation of a peaceful settlement. The crisis was important because it was the closest the world came to a nuclear war and demonstrated the potential consequences of nuclear proliferation.

Question 17

Civil Rights Act

Answer 17

Landmark legislation passed in 1964 that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and helped to set the stage for further legal protections for marginalized groups.

Question 18

Voting Rights Act

Answer 18

Legislation passed in 1965 that aimed to overcome legal barriers to voting for African Americans in the South. It outlawed discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes and helped to increase black voter registration and participation.

Question 19

Hart-Celler Act

Answer 19

Also known as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, this legislation abolished the national-origin quotas that had restricted immigration to the U.S. since the 1920s. It led to a significant increase in immigration from Asia, Latin America, and other regions.

Question 20

Great Society

Answer 20

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s domestic policy program, aimed at promoting social and economic equality and addressing poverty and other social issues. It included major initiatives such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the War on Poverty.

Question 21

War on Poverty

Answer 21

A set of policies and programs aimed at reducing poverty in the United States, launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the Great Society. It included initiatives such as the Food Stamp Program and Head Start.

Question 22

Black Power

Answer 22

A political and social movement that emerged in the mid-1960s, advocating for black self-determination and empowerment. It emphasized cultural pride and consciousness-raising, and rejected assimilationist strategies.

Question 23

New Left

Answer 23

A broad-based political movement that emerged in the 1960s, challenging mainstream liberalism and advocating for radical social and political change. It included student activists, anti-war protesters, and other groups.

Question 24

Students for a Democratic Society

Answer 24

A student activist organization founded in 1960, advocating for participatory democracy and social justice. It played a key role in the

Question 25

Port Huron Statement

Answer 25

A manifesto issued by the Students for a Democratic Society in 1962, calling for greater political participation and social change in the United States.

Question 26

Gulf of Tonkin resolution

Answer 26

A 1964 Congressional resolution that authorized U.S. military intervention in Vietnam, which marked a significant escalation of American involvement in the conflict.

Question 27

Counterculture

Answer 27

A cultural and social movement that emerged in the 1960s, characterized by a rejection of mainstream values and a focus on individual freedom, experimentation, and alternative lifestyles.

The counterculture was a social and cultural movement that emerged in the 1960s, marked by events such as the Summer of Love and the Woodstock Festival. The counterculture was important because it challenged traditional norms and values, leading to significant changes in fashion, music, and social attitudes.

Question 28

The Feminine Mystique

Answer 28

A groundbreaking book by Betty Friedan published in 1963, which challenged the traditional gender roles and expectations placed on women in American society, sparking the feminist movement.

Question 29

National Organization for Women

Answer 29

A feminist organization founded in 1966, which aimed to promote women’s rights and gender equality through legal and political advocacy.

Question 30

Stonewall Inn

Answer 30

A gay bar in New York City where a police raid in 1969 sparked several nights of protests and riots, which marked a turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

Question 31

American Indian Movement

Answer 31

A Native American advocacy group founded in 1968, which aimed to address issues of indigenous sovereignty, land rights, and cultural preservation in the United States.

Question 32

Silent Spring

Answer 32

A book by Rachel Carson published in 1962, which warned of the environmental and health hazards associated with the use of pesticides and other chemicals, and helped to spur the modern environmental movement.

Question 33

Griswold v. Connecticut

Answer 33

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1965, which established the right to privacy as a constitutional protection, and struck down a state law that prohibited the use of contraceptives.

Question 34

Roe v. Wade

Answer 34

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1973, which established a woman’s constitutional right to obtain an abortion, and invalidated many restrictive state laws on the subject.

Question 35

Tet offensive

Answer 35

A series of coordinated attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against South Vietnam in 1968, which marked a turning point in the Vietnam War, and eroded public support for the conflict in the United States.

Question 36

Civil Rights Movement

Answer 36

The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement that aimed to end racial discrimination and segregation against African Americans. It was marked by significant events such as the Greensboro sit-ins, Freedom Rides, March on Washington, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Voting Rights Act of 1965. The movement was important because it led to legal and social changes that ended racial segregation and discrimination, granting equal rights to African Americans.

Question 37

Vietnam War

Answer 37

The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, with the United States providing significant military support to the South Vietnamese government. It was marked by events such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Tet Offensive, and the My Lai Massacre. The war was important because it was the first war that the United States lost, resulting in a significant shift in American foreign policy and public opinion.

Question 38

Assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Answer 38

The assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. were traumatic events that shocked the nation. John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while Robert Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, California, during his presidential campaign. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, while advocating for civil rights. These assassinations were important because they had a profound impact on American politics and society, leading to increased polarization and a loss of trust in government institutions.

Question 39

Women’s Rights Movement

Answer 39

The Women’s Rights Movement was a social and political movement that aimed to end gender discrimination and achieve equality for women. It was marked by significant events such as the publication of Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique,” the founding of the National Organization for Women, and the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The movement was important because it led to legal and social changes that granted women greater autonomy and equality.

Question 40

Environmental Movement

Answer 40

The Environmental Movement was a social and political movement that aimed to protect the environment and promote sustainability. It was marked by significant events such as the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” and the founding of the Environmental Protection Agency. The movement was important because it led to significant legislative and cultural changes, resulting in the creation of important environmental laws and increased awareness of environmental issues.