II pt 3 Flashcards
Jackie Robinson
first African American to play in Major League Baseball
Desegregation of Armed Forces (1947)
banned racial discrimination in federal practices; To Secure
These Rights called for desegregation, anti-lynching, end of poll taxes
Dixiecrats, 1948
fought for old Southern way of life (states’ rights), attempted to gain higher standing within Democratic party; aimed to deny Truman enough electoral votes to avoid his reelection by nominating Strom Thurmond (SC governor)
Fair Deal
preservation of New Deal, attempt at additions; raised minimum wage, public housing, old-age insurance extension, agricultural price supports (lowering of farm price)
George Kennan
He was an American diplomat and ambassador best known as “the father of containment” and as a key figure in the emergence of the Cold War. Notified Truman of Soviet plans
Containment
American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world
Truman Doctrine
President Truman’s policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology. greece, turkey, israel
Marshall Plan
Introduced by Secretary of State George G. Marshall in 1947, he proposed massive and systematic American economic aid to Europe to revitalize the European economies after WWII and help prevent the spread of Communism. western europe. eastern europe prohibited from receiving help
Berlin Airlift
Joint effort by the US and Britian to fly food and supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet blocked off all ground routes into the city
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Created in 1949, an organization whose members include the United States, Canada, most Western European nations, and Turkey, all of whom agreed to combine military forces and to treat a war against one as a war against all., In 1949, the United States, Canada, and ten European nations formed this military mutual-defense pact. In 1955, the Soviet Union countered NATO with the formation of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance among those nations within its own sphere of influence.
soviet atomic bomb
In 1949, the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, ending the American monopoly of the weapon.
china turns communist
Mao Zedong (communist) defeated nationalist forces of Kai-Shek (supported by US); seen as defeat for US, not officially fully recognized until 1973
Korean War
Soviet-aided North Korea attack on South Korea;MacArthur named general on behalf of UN (excluded Russia), USsupplied majority of troops; recapture of South Korea andsuppression of North forces to northern border; introduction of Chinese, MacArthur fired for suggestion to use nuclear weapons onChina; nuclear incentives for peace negotiations
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican, popular hero of WWII; “dynamic conservatism” as a middle ground btw. Rep. and Dem.; Interstate Highway System (ulterior motive of weapons transportation); St. Lawrence Seaway opened Great Lakes to Atlantic Ocean via locks; Depts. Of Health, Education, and Welfare to oversee New Deal programs
Conformity in the 1950s
strong patriotism and need to conform to try to avoid blame during red scare, non-churchgoers, unmarried, and critics suspected as communists
Suburbia
middle class; white flight from urban areas due to black migration; government supported insurance for homeowners and builders
Baby Boom
An unprecedented population explosion occurring as soldiers returned from WWII.
Cult of Domesticity returns
women believed to belong in the home, scientific “evidence”; widespread in magazines, TV, etc. (1950s)
GI Bill of Rights
government ensured readjustment rights to GIs after WWI unrest, loans to veterans for higher education and mortgages (contributed to economic prosperity)
Consumerism
Americans could now spend what they had been told to save during the war (disposable income); increased purchasing of luxury items
Affluent Society
economic prosperity of American society following WWII; doubling of national income, jobs to women, defense industry’s support of economy
Non-conformity
Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Beatniks - rebelled against conservative conformity of the rest of the country (esp. targeted youth)
Rock ‘n’ Roll
Influence of African-American blues, music of the younger generation (gap between them and their parents)
David Riesman
(The Lonely Crowd) “outer directed” Americans conforming to peer pressure on moral and social issues, rather than independently thinking on morals
Richard Nixon, Alger Hiss
Nixon led movement to Hiss’s indictment; convicted of perjury, Nixon gained national prominence
McCarthyism
attacked people for being communist by association and unsubstantiated claims, against Truman, Marshall, and Ike; downfall came with attack on the military (condemned by Senate); led hysteria of the red scare
Domino Theory
the idea that if a nation falls under Communist control, nearby nations will also fall under Communist control
Community on Un-American Activities (HUAC)
attacked public figures (Hollywood, New-Dealers, liberals) to root out communist spies
Truman’s Loyalty Program
Truman tested for communist alliances within government; government employees prohibited from taking part in remotely-communist activities
Rosenbergs
executed for leaking atomic secrets to Soviets, avowed communists
John Foster Dulles
Became Secretary of State under Eisenhower in 1953. Cold Warrior who supported “massive retaliation,” brinksmanship, and preemptive strike. In 1951 he was author of Japanese peace treaty. during WWII, from 1949-1959
CIA overthrow of Iran
1953; installed Shah as dictator ,overthrew Moussadegh (communist), in order to resist nationalization British oil holdings
CIA overthrow of Guatemala
1954 overthrew Pres. Guzmanafter he nationalized American fruit fields and accepted arms from USSR (communist sympathies)
Sputnik
First artificial Earth satellite, it was launched by Moscow in 1957 and sparked U.S. fears of Soviet dominance in technology and outer space. It led to the creation of NASA and the space race.
National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA)
launched in 1958 by Ike; successful launch of American satellite (Explorer I); massive arms builup
U-2 Incident
American U-2 spy plane shot down over USSR (Ike: “for national security); US suspended further flights, Krushchev demanded apology (refused)
Ike’s Farewell Speech
warned of dangerous military-industrial complex (newly-found power of the military to affect the path of democracy)
AFL-CIO
AFL (American Federation of Labor) was created by Samuel Gompers, which was the first permanent federation of national labor unions. CIO (Congress of International Organizations) was created by Eugene V. Debs and it unionized unskilled and semiskilled workers; the two formed together to form a strong bridge between craft and industrial unions in 1955
US economy since WWII (service economy)
highest peacetime deficit in US history (due to lower tax rates for high-income taxpayers, spent too much money attempting to reduce price supports to farmers)
Brown v. Board of Education
1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Took place in Alabama, 1955. Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white person, while returning home from work. Rosa gets arrested for violating laws. Rosa Park’s arrest is what gets the Montgomery Bus Boycott going.
Martin Luther King Jr., Southern Christian Leadership Conference
led boycott, became leader of civil rights movement; urged nonviolent resistance (cf. tactics of Ghandi);
Little Rock Crisis
The Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School, were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and then attended after the intervention of President Eisenhower; considered to be one of the most important events in the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1957). Ike sent in National Guard to escort them to school to quell riots
Greensboro sit-in
1960
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) - non-violent direct action (college students - free time and few commitments)
-A sit in at an all white counter, caused it to become integrated, and spurred sit-ins all over the country (because creates sympathy because are seen as victims)
Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960
commission on civil rights to attempt to guarantee the ballot to blacks; showed government’s changing views of race relations
Election of 1960
Kennedy vs. Nixon, Kennedy (due to televised charisma) won over Nixon (pale and nervous)
President John F. Kennedy
second youngest president, entered presidency as tensions of the Cold War increased; unable to get major initiatives through Congress due to conservative bloc; tax cuts (economic stimulation); reluctantly gets involved in civil rights; emphasizes Space Race (man on the moon)
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
effects of pesticides on the environment; changed way Americans viewed their impact on nature
Berlin Wall
due to threat of nuclear war, Soviets erected wall to separate East Berlin from West Berlin (end exodus of intellect to west); symbol of communist denial of freedom
Peace Corps
created in 1961 as example of liberal anticommunism in third world countries; “reform-minded missionaries of democracy”
Alliance for Progress (Marshall Plan of Latin America)
Americans feared Soviet infiltration into Latin America, placed secret police and military forces to prevent it
Bay of Pigs Invasion
CIA attempt to institute Cuban support to overthrow Castro; cover-up uncovered, became representation of Cuban resistance to American aggression
Cuban Missile Crisis
storage of Soviet missiles in Cuba (threat of nuclear war); Krushchev demanded that US never invade Cuba and remove forces from Turkey; mutual compliance with each other’s demands
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
prohibited testing of nuclear bombs above ground to slow the nuclear arms race and the release of nuclear fallout into the atmosphere
Freedom Riders (Congress of Racial Equality- CORE)
interracial group of protestors who aimed to dramatize the violations of the call for desegregation; harsh treatment by southern whites provoked Kennedy to more strictly enforce desegregation
James Meredith
black veteran escorted to be enrolled in Univ. of Miss. by military (school reluctant, cf. Little Rock Nine)
March on Birmingham
King hosted myriad nonviolent protesting activities to fill jail with protestors, Bill Connor (police commissioner) began violent resistance to protestors
March on Washington, “I have a dream”
25,000 people (including whites) convened for political rally, MLK’s speech to historical event; attempted to push civil rights bill through Congress
Assassination of JFK, Warren Commission
Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald (hated his anti-Cuban policies); LBJ instituted Warren Commission to investigate assassination (headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren)
President Lyndon B. Johnson
dealt with Vietnam War, “Great Society” program for improvement of American society, antipoverty and anti-discrimination programs
Great Society
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s social/economic program, aimed at raising the standard of living for America’s poorest residents. Among the Great Society programs are Medicare, Medicaid, Project Head Start, Job Corps, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).
Affirmative Action
sets of programs geared towards minorities and oft-discriminated populations
Immigration Act of 1965
abolished national origins quotas, dramatically increased immigration (especially from Asia and Latin America)
Civil Rights Act of 1964
1964; banned discrimination in public acomodations, prohibited discrimination in any federally assisted program, outlawed discrimination in most employment; enlarged federal powers to protect voting rights and to speed school desegregation; this and the voting rights act helped to give African-Americans equality on paper, and more federally-protected power so that social equality was a more realistic goal
Voting Rights Act of 1965
1965; invalidated the use of any test or device to deny the vote and authorized federal examiners to register voters in states that had disenfranchised blacks; as more blacks became politically active and elected black representatives, it brought jobs, contracts, and facilities and services for the black community, encouraging greater social equality and decreasing the wealth and education gap
Forced busing
due to parents unhappy with encouraged segregation of schools, Supreme Court instituted forced busing policies (using school buses as a method of integration)
Malcom X, Nation of Islam
Black Muslim worked to raise black spirits and pride (cf. Marcus Garvey); emphasized black institutions rather than mere desegregation, blacks to gain freedomat any cost
Black Power, Stokely Carmichael
black rights leader, heavily influenced by Malcolm X (advocated black separatism rather than integration)
Black Panther Party
another black separatist movement; known for peaceful demonstrations, but more for police shootouts
Gains for women
rejection of negative portrayals of women (language, entertainment), increased quality and use of education, more job opportunities, acceptance into military
Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique
American feminist, activist and writer. Best known for starting the “Second Wave” of feminism through the writing of her book “The Feminine Mystique”. Denounced the housewife trap
Roe v. Wade
1973; state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother’s health in the second trimester, and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester.
Cesar Chavez, United Farm Workers
used nonviolent protest and boycott to achieve better working conditions for farmers (esp. Mexican-Americans)
Vietnam War
a prolonged war (1954-1975) between the communist armies of North Vietnam who were supported by the Chinese and the non-communist armies of South Vietnam who were supported by the United States
Ngo Dinh Diem
South Vietnamese president that was catholic and strongly opposed communism. His poor leadership and corrupt government spelled doom
Ho Chi Minh
North Vietnamese leader who had led the resistance against the Japanese during WW II and at the end of the war had led the uprising against the French Colonial government. He had traveled in Europe, was an ardent Communist, and became President of the North Vietnamese government established after the French withdrawal. Often called the George Washington of North Vietnam.
Vietcong
the guerrilla soldiers of the Communist faction in Vietnam, also know as the National Liberation Front
Vietcong
the guerrilla soldiers of the Communist faction in Vietnam, also know as the National Liberation Front
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress authorized LBJ to repel and prevent aggression against US troops in Vietnam, used as a blank check (perhaps too much, caused protests)
Tet Offensive (1968)
NLF attacked numerous South Vietnamese cities and American embassies, eventually repulsed; spoiled LBJ’s record to reelection, resulted in massive protests in US to end the war; atrocities such that war could only end in stalemate
Impact of LBJ’s Vietnam decision on 1968 election
left primary open to Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy, both promising to end the controversial war
New Left (free speech movement)
youth activists (often liberal arts students) spoke out against Vietnam War, supported widespread liberalization
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
part of the New Left that envisioned “participatory democracy” (individuals control life-affecting decisions), end materialism, militarism, and racism; inspired by young black activists
Anti-war protests
concentrated on college campuses, hand-in-hand with New Left
Counterculture:sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll
youth looked to doing as they pleased, heedless of the consequences involved, musical and sexual revolutions
Andy Warhol
pop art, mass production of art by screening
Warren Court
desegregation (Brown v. Board of Ed), rights of the accused (Miranda v. Arizona), voting reforms (Wesberry v. Sanders, Reynolds v. Sims, Katzenbach v Morgan)
1968 as “the year of shocks”
Tet Offensive in Vietnam, Assassination of MLK and Robert Kennedy, riot of Democratic National convention, Black Panthers
1968 Presidential Election
George Wallace vs. Nixon vs. Humphrey; very narrow popular vote triumph to Nixon (although he had clear majority of electoral votes)
Richard Nixon (R), “Southern Strategy”
lured many southern Democrats to the Republican party (esp. due to southern opposition to Civil Rights Act of 1964)
George Wallace, American
appealed to many conservatives, especially southerners (opposed massive protests and integration)
Vietnamization
part of Nixon’s tri-faceted plan to honorably remove troops from Vietnam; wean the South Vietnamese off of American support, gradually reducing number of American troops present
Bombing and invasion of Cambodia
another part of Nixon’s out-of-Vietnam plan, destroy supply routes to North Vietnam through Cambodia
Kent State Protest
Kent State University students protesting against invasion of Cambodia, not allowed to demonstrate, violence (murder) caused by guardsmen
“Silent Majority”
speech symbolized polarization between conservatives and liberals
Conservative backlash against liberalism
conservatives like Reagan benefited from denouncing the New Left and excessive antiwar protests; gave him political prominence
Detente, realpolitik
detente achieved with USSR and China by withdrawal from Vietnam; realpolitik shed the use of doctrines and policies, instead using China and USSR in alternative ways to achieve other goals (pitting China and USSR against each other, as communist nations)
Nixon visits China and Russia
1972, bridging communication gaps, epitome of detente
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I)
Nixon agreed with USSR to achieve nuclear equality rather than the superiority that threatened the destruction of the world; further reduced tensions between the two countries
New Federalism
a policy in 1969, that turned over powers and responsibilities of some U.S. federal programs to state and local governments and reduced the role of national government in domestic affairs
