United States History terms Flashcards
Containment
The policy that the U.S. should prevent the Communism from spreading to other nations
United Nations (1945)
International organization formed after WWII to serve as a peacekeeper in world conflicts. The U.S. and Soviet Unin used the U.N. to promote their beliefs during the Cold War.
Truman Doctrine (1947)
U.S. policy that gave military and economic aid to coutries threatened by communism.
Marshall Plan (1948)
Program proposed by General George Marshall to help European countries rebuild after WWII. The U.S. offered economic aid to the war-torn countries.
Marshall Plan (1948)
Program proposed by General George Marshall to help European countries rebuild after WWII. The U.S. offered economic aid to the war-torn countries.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization-NATO (1959)
A military alliance formed between the U.S., Canada, and ten western European countries.
Berlin Airlift (June 1948-May 1949)
U.S. operation that flew food and supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union set up a blockade in 1948
Korean War (1950-1953)
Korea was divided at the 38th parallel post WWII after U.S. and USSR North Korea invaded the South to unify under one Communist Rule, U.S. entered to prevent communism from spreading. War turns into a stalemate and ends with armistice with Korea still divided between a northern communist state and democratic south
HUAC
House of Un-American Activities Committee. Investigated individual in the government and Hollwood for Communist conections
Venona Papers
Decoded soviet messages and proved that suspected communist spies were truly spies (Julius Rosenberg and Alger Hiss)
Nuclear Arms Race
The nuclear arms race was a competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the Unites States, the Soviet Union and their allies during the Cold War
Nuclear Arms Race
The nuclear arms race was a competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the Unites States, the Soviet Union and their allies during the Cold War
Joseph McCarthy
Senator from Wsconsin who became famous by accusing people of being Communists without providing evidence.
McCarthysim (1954)
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means “the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism. It was named afte Joseph McCarthy
Sputnik (1957)
The first man-made satelliet to be launched into outer space. Sputnik was a success for the Soviet Union and a symbolic success for Communism. This caused the U.S. to increase interest in its space program and a space race develoed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union
Space Race
was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States (USA) for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, the Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national security and symbolic of technological and ideological superiority
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
A standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when it ws discovered that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles pointed at the U.S. in May 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
A standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when it ws discovered that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles pointed at the U.S. in May 1962
Vietnam War (1954-1975)
The Vietnam War ws a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. At home, the American public was deeply divided over U.S. involvement in the war.
Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
Congressional aproval that gave LBJ the power to escalate the war in Vietnam
The Tet Offensive (1968)
Was a military campaign during the Vietnam War that was launched on January 30, 1968 by forces fo the Viet Cong and North Vietnam against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. Political victory for North Vietnam and let to the credibility gap
Domino Theory
The belief that if a nearby nation became comunist, then surrounding nations would do the same
War Powers Resolution of 1973
A law passed in 1973 that limited the President’s right to send troops into battle without Congressional approval.
Master Sergeant Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez
August 5, 1935-November 29, 1998
one of the Vietnam War’s most decorated soldiers. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat in South Vietnam on May 2, 1968. He was born in Lindenau near Cuero, TX
The Credibility Gap
Distrust in the government based on inconsistency from the United States government during the Vietnam War
The Silent Majority
the U.S. citizens who supported President Nixon’s policies but who were not politically vocal, outspoken, or active: considered by him to constitute a majority.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Supreme Court decision that upheld segregation and said that “separate but equal” facilities were legal
Rosa Parks
February 4, 1913-October 24, 2005
Refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. After she was jailed, the Montogomery bus boycott was organized
Malcolm X
May 19, 1925-February 21, 1965
Black Muslim leader who argued for separation, not integration, and influenced the Black Power movement. He late changed his views, but was assassinated in 1965
Martin Luther King Jr
January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968
Civil Rights leader from the 1950s-1960s who helped organize the Montogmery bus boycott to protest segregation. He organized the March on Washington where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was assassinated. In 1968, King advocated peaceful protest and passive resistance
Cesar Chavez
March 31, 1927-April 23, 1993
Was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW). He pushed for greater rights for migrant farm workers.
AIM
American Indian Movement
A group of American Indian advocating for specfic rights
Black Panthers
Armed militant group that rejected MLK Jr.’s nonviolent tactics in fighting for civil rights
Hector Garcia
Mexican-American phsician, surgeon, World War II veteran, civil rights advocate, and founder of the American GI Forum
Betty Friedan
Co-Founder of NOW, spokesperson of Feminism in 60s, wrote “The Feminine mystique” that said women were discontent with societal expectations of women
Chicano Mural Movement
public art that depicted political views and heritage (often opposed by conservatives)
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
A landmark Supreme Court decision that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Made discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin in public places illegal and required employers to hire on an equal opportunity basis
Reynolds v. Sims (1964)
Supreme Court ruling that state legislature districts had to be roughly equal in population
George Wallace
Alabama governor “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” Ran for president 68 and won Deep South electoral votes
Lester Maddox
Sold his restaurant rather than serve blacks; became governor of Georgia and believed that integration was “ungodly…UnAmerican”
Orval Faubus
Arkansas governor used state guard troops to block integration of Little Rock Central High School in 1957 caused Eisenhower to send federal troops to protect 9 black students from angry whites
Southern Democrats
Tried to block civil rights legislation (e.g. Strom Thurmond); Deep South States election examiners
Voting Rights Act of 1965
banned literacy tests and unapproved voting procedures; added federal election examiners
Mendez v. Wesminster
segregation of Mexican students violated equal protection clause of 14th amendment
Hernandez v. Texas
exclusion of jurors based on race violates the 14th amendment
Delgado v. Bastrop ISD
segregation of Mexican students violated equal protection clause of 14th amendment
Edgewood ISD v. Kirby
forced Texas to better fund schools in poor areas
Sweatt v. Painter
separate black law school at university of texas was inherently unequal
Thurgood Marshall
Chief Counsel for NAACP, won many key civil rights cases including Brown v. Board of Education and the first African American Supreme Court Justice (1967)
Affirmative Action
Sometimes known as positive discrimination, refers to policies that take factors including race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresentaed group in areas of employment, education, and business
Dètente
easing of tensions with China and the Soviet Union
Iran Hostage Crisis
Afte Carter withdrew support for pro-U.S. shah of Iran (for human rights abuses), Iranians overthrew him (1978-9) Carter allowed him into the U.S. for medical treatment; angry militants seized 66 at U.S. Embassy in Tehran; 52 held until 1981; rescue attempt was botched (aircraft crashed); made Carter and the U.S. look weak and incapable
Reaganomics
Belief that tax cuts (mainly for the rich) leave more money in the private sector for investment/job growth/ which has a “trickle down” (to non-rich) which leads to better revenue and GDP
Peace through strength
defense spending up 135% during Reagan years while negotiations took place between Reagan and Gorbachev
Camp David Accords
1978 agreement brokered by Carter between Israel and Egypt; led to first peace treaty between Israel and Arab nation
Iran Contra Affair
“Reagan Doctrine” vowed support for anticommunist “freedom fighters” (e.g. ElSalvador, Nicaragua, Grenada, Afghanistan) scandal erupted when press reported in 1986 that the U.S. had illegally sold arms to Iran (in exchange for Iran’s help in releasing hostages in Lebanon) and then funneled money to Nicaraguan rebels (contras)
Marines in Lebanon
Islamists suicide bombers killed 239 marines at barracks in Beirut in 1983 (during Lebanese Civil War) Reagan promised retaliation against any nation that sponsored terrorist attacks
Phyllis Schlafly
long time conservative activist/lawyer/author/speaker, successfully led opposition against the Equal Rights Amendment
Heritage Fondation
conservative think tank formed in 1973 that came up with legislation that would be pursued when republicans took the majority of the house
Moral Majority
Conservative lobby group led by Jerry Fallwell to unseat liberal elected officals
NRA
National Rifle Association formed a lobbying arm for 2nd amendment gun ownership rights
Persian Gulf War
In 1990 Saddam Hussein/Iraq invaded Kuwait (key oil exporter to the U.S.); Bush/U.S. led 28 nation UN coalition; bombed Iraq, then ground troops drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait, lopsided war due to U.S. technology
Balkans Crisis
Long time ethnic hatreds i Yugoslavia led provinces to seek independence (opposed by Serbia); Civil Wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo; Clinton/U.S. debated response to genocide, led NATO bombing, held negotiations, provided peace keeping troops, Yugoslavia broke up
9/11
September 11th, 2001, AlQaeda terrorists (radical Islamist led by Osama Bin Laden) hijacked commercial planes then crashed into the World Trade Center, Pentagon. Showed that the U.S. was a target for intense hatred and terrorism
Global War-On Terror
global effort declared by George W. Bush with willing nations against terrorist groups/supporting governments beginning with AlQaeda-include Iraq and Afghanistan wars
