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G.I. Bill
(servicemen’s readjustment act) created to help veterans of world war 2, the goal was to provide immediate rewards for all veterans. It established hospitals, low interest mortgages available, and covered tuition and expenses for veterans attending college or trade schools. By 1956 8.8 million veterans had used the bill educations benefits, some 2.2 million to attend colleges or universities and an additional 5.6 million for some kind of training program -
Iron Curtain
A national barrier separating the west and east prior to the decline of communism following the political events in Eastern Europe. They didn’t want communism to get out so they build a fence, wanting Europe to stop their trade and any interference. -
Fair Deal
Last of the 3 deals, Truman adds to the new deal, it didn’t get as much done, wants to focus on health care public housing education and public works, minimum wage, electricity, and telephone access forced to scale back because of Korea and anticommunist agenda needed bi-partisan support they were forced to compromise -
Little Boy
Nickname of the atomic bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima by by colonel paul Tibbets of the us army air forces. This was the first atomic bomb used against japan in world war 11. Gun type weapon which detonated by firing one mass of uranium down a cylinder into another mass to create a self sustaining nuclear reaction. Weighing about 9,000 pound it produced an explosive force equal to 20,000 tons of TNT -
Korean War (38th parallel)
The 38th parallel was established as border which was formed between the North and South Korea past the Korean war. When japan surrendered, this was established as the boundary between Soviet and American living zones. This parallel divides the Korean peninsula roughly in the middle. After armistice ended the Korean War in 1953 the border then established the territory that each side held at that point. -
2nd Red Scare (Joseph McCarthy)
He was an American politician who was a U.S. senator from the state of Wisconsin. He attacked democrats, celebrities, government officials and intimidated witnesses. He ignored facts and made up unreal charges on people who he suspected, he continued the red scare. It was said he was on a witch hunt and used his power to crush civil rights and damaged the careers of intellectuals. -
Truman Doctrine
An American foreign policy to stop soviet colonization during the cold war. Stops spread of communism, gives economic and military aid to countries under communistic threat, helps fight communism, war- torn of Europe under threat of turning to communism, (Macro) -
Period: to
Cold War
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Marshall Plan
Planned by George Marshall, it offers loans to rebuild Europe and restores Western Europe’s faith in capitalism. Stalin refused Eastern Europe participation, spreading American labor, farming and manufacturing practices to Western Europe. They get money from giving money. This was made because of the fear they had of communism forming, they did not want to expand those ideas. -
Period: to
1950's
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TV shows
American homes soon had a TV, way people were entertained, drive in theaters were still popular. “I love Lucy’ and "father knows best" portrayed ideals of obedience and hard work, politicians showed the power of TV. Many people were beginning to make the switch from radio to TV for their news, specials were very important in spreading the message back then. TV shows usually showed American families as white, polite, and happy. The commercials sold everything from gum to presidents. -
Beat Generation
Also known as beats or beatniks, they were artist’s novelists and poets, rejected American materialism and culture as well as home ownership and careers, marriage. They wanted individual freedom and pleasure (drugs, sex) Inspires and lays foundation for war protests, beats borrow slang from black communities such as "dig it", "man", Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko influenced traditional to expression. -
2nd Red Scare (McCarthyism)
Joseph McCarthy produced a series of investigations and hearings in an effort to expos "communist" of various areas of the U.S. government. McCarthy accused people without knowing or having evidence on them, the Rosenberg’s were a couple that were supposedly victims of the McCarthy era hysteria against communism. Reached its peak and began to decline during the "McCarthy hearings" which were 36 days of televised investigations. -
2nd Red Scare (Alger and Ethel Rosenberg)
United States citizens who were executed in an electric chair for the conspiracy of committing espionage for the Soviet Union. They were instrumentals in the transmission of information about secret military technology and prototypes of mechanism related to the atomic bomb. The Rosenberg’s protested their innocence, but after a brief trial in march 1951 they were convicted guilty. Ethel was innocent, but Julius was really a spy. Verona papers (secret list of soviet spies) -
News
Peak of baby boomer's years following the end of great depression and World War 2. People wanted to live a normal life raising a family, teens found rock and roll music and Elvis, parents found more consumer choice and jobs were abundant and people were able to hear all the information on the news now. Civil rights was a major event that was being seen in various parts of the world due to the news as well as other events. -
Ike Turner
He made a string of R&B hits with singer and wife Tina Turner and created several hits which include “I idolize you”, "its going to work out fine". First black musician who made a rock and roll song, "rocket 88", white artist rip rock and roll songs from black artists. Referred to as a great innovator -
Polio Vaccine
Dr. Jonas Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, who discovered and developed one of the first safe and effective vaccine of polio. Born in New York city where he attended New York University school of Medicine. When the Salk vaccine was introduced, polio was considered one of the most frightening public health problems in the world. The postwar U.S. annual epidemics were increasingly devastating and Americans greatest fear was polio. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
Served as the 14th chief justice of U.S. supreme court, his term of office was reshaping U.S. law and society, granting the lower federal courts in enforcing the individual constitutional rights. Most important decisions was the ruling that made racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Chopped conservatives tenements down, prayer in school, Jim crow, interracial marriage, free counsel for the accused, right to remain silent when arrested. -
Elvis Presley
He makes rock and roll a phenomenon, born poor, adopts rhythm and blues from African Americans, mixes rock and roll with gospel and country, created his own sexually suggestive dance style, Elvis music was taken from African Americans, sexually suggestive moves offended millions of older Americans (Elvis Pelvis). -
Period: to
Civil Rights
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Brown v. Board of Education
7 year old Linda Brown's parents wanted her to go to a closer school, a white school located in Topeka, Kansas, NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall uses psychological evidence to win the case. They were forced to integrate. The court established separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
A young boy who's mother wanted him to see the southern segregation. He was at a corner store where his friends dared him to ask a white lady on a date. 4 days later the lady's husband and sons came to abduct Emmett and they drove to a plantation where they beat Emmett, then took him to a nearby river forced him to strip, and shot him in the head. Dumped his body in the river tied to a cotton gin fan where the body was found 3 days later unrecognizable. -
Little Richard
American musician who was an influential figure in music and culture for more than 6 decades. Most celebrated work when his dynamic music and charismatic laid the foundation for rock and roll. Wrote the song ‘tutti frutti” and a white singer named “Pat Boone” stole his song. During a period of racial tension in the U.S. little Richard attracted mixed race audiences at a time when public places were divided into white and colored domains. It is said that he brought the races together -
Eisenhower Interstate System
A network of controlled access highways that forms a part of the national highway system of the United States. Eisenhower is amazed by the Autobahn in Germany, he builds a similar system in the U.S. This links cities for multi-purpose use, civilian and military use, evacuation of cities in case of attack, and mobilization of the military -
Albert Sabin
A polish American medical researcher who was best known for developing the oral polio vaccine which has been a key factor in destroying the disease. Sabin's live vaccine eliminated the possibility that someone could remain immune from polio. By 1960 the U.S. public health service allowed Sabin to give his vaccine to Americans. This changed the life of the people for good; although, poorer regions that were unable to afford the vaccine were still harmed -
Little Rock 9
Whites resist integration, segregationist resist brown v board for as long as they can, moderate whites will do half way measures, integrating buses libraries and parks. Southerns did not want their kids to go to school with black children. 9 black kids wanted to enter and all white schools and this soon lead to establishing the right for all kids to attend whatever school they want without discriminating -
Sputnik
The worlds first artificial satellite, beginning in the late 1950's space would become another competitive arena. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union each sought to prove the superiority of its technology and its military firepower. Sputniks launch came as a surprise and not a pleasant one to most Americans. -
Period: to
1960's
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New Frontier
Used by liberal democratic JFK in his acceptance speech to inspire Americans support for him. His ideas and beliefs as to what he thought. Advancing of the civil and economic rights essential to the human dignity of all men, raising minimum wage, guaranteeing equal pay for women, rebuilding the inner cities, increasing federal aid for education, initiating a peace corps, and developing a medicare program to assist the elderly. -
Hippies
Rejected middle class values, they were about peace and living in the moment, rock music was a catalyst in spreading the counterculture, "bob Dylan the Beatles". Others transformed their music to match counterculture ideals, believed in free love and peace. Festivals such as Woodstock highlighted the strong connection between the two, creating their own communities listening to psychedelic music, embracing the sexual revolution and using drugs. New generation of beatniks -
Dolores Huerta
Activist improving the Latino community, fought alongside Chavez, co founder of the UFW, held strikes and non violent resistance campaigns. She supported black peoples rights, setting voter registration drives and lobbied politicians to allow non US citizen migrant workers to receive public assistance, pensions, and provide Spanish language. -
Peace Corps
Founded by JFK, inspired young college graduates to work in poor countries. His agenda was unaccomplished, conservatives didn’t like his liberal agenda and they didn’t want equal money for minority school. Volunteers helped build sewer, water systems, and taught in schools assisted in developing new crops and agricultural methods to increase productivity. The program was judged a success in terms of helping to “win the hearts and minds” of people in the small world. -
Freedom Rides
Whites and blacks traveled on interstate buses together into deep South to challenge Southern resistance. They were racist people and they did not want to have African American people be at the same level as them, forcing the government to do something. Riders were beaten and bus firebombed, they were forced to flee when a bus was pelted and the tires slashed -
Cesar Chavez
Uses strikes and marches for better working and living conditions for Mexican workers in cali. Headed the united farm workers union, convinces 17 mil Americans not to buy non union picked grapes to help workers, boycott worked and workers conditions, and wages increased. He wanted to see Mexicans get rights as well and have a better lifestyle. -
Warren Commission
Established by LBJ to investigate the assassination of Kennedy, the commission led by chief justice Earl Warren concluded that alleged gunman Lee Harvey Oswald has acted alone in assassinating Americas 35th president and that there was no conspiracy. Despite the conclusions the report proved controversial and failed to silence conspiracy theories surrounding the event. -
Birmingham Bombing
A bomb hurled inside the 16th street Baptist Church in Birmingham 2 weeks after MLKS march where 4 girls were killed, the kkk was behind the bombing. Upset about the MLKS march, men responsible were never put on trial for the actual bombing, until after AD 2000, some are still in jail today while others died in jail. The saddest event of the civil rights movement. -
Assassination of JFK
He rode a motorcade through Daley plaza in downtown Dallas Texas where Kennedy campaigned for re election bid, wanted maximum exposure to crowds to generate excitement, route took him by the Texas school book deposit. The route was publicized for several days ahead of schedule, people could line up to see the president, five shots were made and two will strike the presidents neck and head, Kennedy was rushed to parkland hospital and was pronounced dead within an hour, -
Lee Harvey Oswald
(bad sniper) ex-marine with communist sympathies defected to USSR, came back to the states with special permission. Supposedly he was the only shooter in the assassination of Kennedy, motorcade makes left turn scheduled elm street, Oswald waiting on 6th floor of back depository, was convicted on November 23, 1963 for the murder of JFK and officer JD Tippit. -
Great Society
Set of domestic programs in the U.S. by democratic LBJ in 1964-65, the main goal was the elimination of poverty and racial injustice. Promised education, good standard of living and beautification, went further than the new deal, Johnson rams liberal legislation through congress unleaded gasoline, and food labels. He wanted poverty to be eliminated giving a lot of money to education, -
Anti- War Movement
Americans became weary of war, some focused on the issue of the war, others used the war to protest injustices inside the U.S. presidential secrets, draft deferments (getting out of service). African American’s and people who couldn’t afford to go to college were drafted, tens of thousands move to Canada to avoid the draft also mexico. A social movement -
Selma March
(bloody Sunday), 600 marchers set out working 50 miles to Montgomery for the right to vote, MLK was a part of this too. Country police waited at the end of Edmond Pettus bridge for them with clubs and gas, the police men ordered the people to go back, but protesters knelled and prayed, white spectators cheered as blacks were beaten, tv cameras were there to see the violence -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
President Johnson saw Selma on TV, announced the next day he would send a bill that gave equal voting rights to everyone. This prohibits literacy tests, poll taxes and other discriminatory laws. It used federal registrars to register voters, only if the state did not follow the 15th amendment, department of justice approving redistricting. -
Watts Riots
Ghetto area with high unemployment and poor schools had drug use. A black man was arrested for drunk driving and this made a turning point in the civil rights, the people had enough of all of the racism. Residents rioted because it was all too routine and area would burn for 6 days, whites started changing their views. They saw militant black protesters not non violent ones. -
Feminism
White women split from civil rights and looked towards feminism, Helen Gurley “sex and the single girl” (empowered through sexuality) cheered women to explore their sexuality wait to get married when looks start going away. Betty Friedman “the feminine mystique” believed women could do everything men could, focusing on equal treatment, opportunity and pay. Movement tries changing the mentality instead of legislating female equality, will introduce a new format title “ms.” -
Warren Burger Supreme Court
Richard Nixon Wants burger to scale book desegregation, Burger goes forward with integration. Whites will be forced to go to schools across town, Burger court upheld 1966 miranda decisions requiring police to explain a persons right upon arrest and his decisions worked to improve the efficiency of the judicial system -
Period: to
1970's
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Stagflation
Increased the unemployment in USA due to still business activity and persistent inflation rate. The residents of US started expecting continuous increase in the prices of goods and service and as a consequence they bought more. The economic growth rate slows, and unemployment remains high. -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Protects the environment, setting air, and water pollution standards controversial for some conservative politicians today. Environmentalism starts in the Kennedy administration many tired of pollution and adverse effects on human health. The consumer product safety commission established to ban hazardous products from the public, wanted to maintain earth in its purest way and keep the environment safe -
The New Right
Collection of different conservative groups in business, religious rights, and former democrats. Many were angry over liberal policies welfare, and busing wanting smaller government, industrial jobs back. South starts voting republican, new right was a combination of Christian religious leaders conservative business who claimed that environmental and labor regulations were undermining the competitiveness of American firms in the global market. -
Roe v. Wade
Women protesting for legalized abortion for years. Most states totally outlawed it. Norma MCcorvey used Texas for her right to privacy, but sued under the name Jane Rae, had baby before SCOTUS case and gave it up for adoption. SCOTUS rules outlawing abortion is unconstitutional, provisions women can’t be criminalized for abortion during the 1st trimester, SCOTUS never agreed when life begins, still controversial today (prolife , prochoice) -
Watergate Hotel
Headquarters of democratic party, 5 of Nixon “plumbers” stole campaign information, they were "fixing" a broken wire-tap, but were caught by a security guard and got arrested. Nixon does this to get democrats. Although, Nixon was never prosecuted the Watergate scandal changed Americans politics forever, leading Americans to question their leadership and think more critically about the presidency. -
Heritage Foundation
Promoted conservative policies, free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, values, and strong national defense. Took a leading role in the conservative movement during the presidency of Ronald Reagan whose policies were taken from heritages policy. -
Panama Canal
President Jimmy Carter signs a treaty that will give panama control over the panama canal. The treaty ended an agreement between president Roosevelt and panama which gave the U.S. the right to build the canal and a renewable lease to control five miles of land along either side of it. U.S. control over the canal helped guarantee Americas status as an international power -
Camp David Accords
Treaty between Israel and Egypt, Israel withdraws from Sinai Peninsula Gaza and west bank, Palestinians promised their own government. Israeli prime minister and US president jimmy carter signed this treaty -
The Moral Majority
Prominent American political organization associated with the Christian right and republican party, by Jerry Falwell. This established to preserve traditional American values and to combat increasing acceptance of social movements as well as culture changes. Political influence in its opposition to gay rights, abortion, feminism, and other liberal movements -
Period: to
1980's
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Election of 1980 (Jimmy Carter)
He was a democrat, haunted by a bad economy, hostage crisis in Iran brought down his popularity down. Attacked Reagan and was accused of being a “mean” campaigner, supported equal rights amendment, national health insurance program, -
Election of 1980 (Ronald Reagan)
A republican, former governor of California who defeats Carter in 1980. He campaigned for a smaller government and he was an effective campaigner, but made a number of serious mistakes on the campaign trial that ultimately forced the campaign to limit his access. -
Discount Retailing
More popular than the average supermarket and department store in the U.S with discount store chains such as kmart, two guys, jamesway. Discount stores had 42% of overall retail market share. Sam Walton (Walmart) created a chain of stores offering large variety of products at low prices, just in time inventory, products arrive at the precise time in they are needed -
Music Television (MTV)
Cable TV boosted, rap music became popular, video games and video arcades, rock and roll became very popular throughout the years. More record companies and artist began making video clips for their music than in the past realizing the popularity of MTV and the growing medium -
Video Head System (VHS)
A standard for consumer level, video recording on tape which were cassettes, peak of VHS there were videotapes format wars in the home video industry, 60% of North American market, and emerging as the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period. -
Space Shuttle Program
Space shuttle Columbia soar into orbit from NASA’s Kennedy space center in Florida, the orbiter would launch like a rocket and land like a plane, voyager 2 arrives at Saturn and it begins sending back images of the planet and its moons. Satellites become important for communication TV entertainment, Sally Ride 1st American woman in space, 1986 challenger explosion -
Reagan Doctrine
U.S supports guerrilla groups, fighting communists. Strategy orchestrated and implemented by US. focused much of its energy on supporting proxy armies to limit Soviet influence. -
Sandra Day O’Connor
1st woman appointed to the U.S. supreme court, a republican who was considered a moderate conservative, appointed by Ronald Reagan. She wrote the majority opinion in Mississippi university for Women v Hogan in which the court ruled 5-4 that a state nursing school had to admit men after traditionally having been a women's only institution. Focused on letter of law and voted for what she believed best fit the intentions of the U.S constitution later supported liberal -
Satellite Entertainment
Joint venture owned by Warner communications, developed interactive television shows in the 1970 and 80s. Initiating several successful cable networks that remain well known indicated to arts and films. Seeing the potential in the creation of new cable networks (Star Channel and Pinwheel) -
Robert Johnson
Founded BET (black entertainment television) first cable network targeting African Americans market, African American entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, and investor. First African American billionaire, BET consisted of music videos and comedy. -
Period: to
1990's
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Period: to
Contemporary
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Climate Change findings come out
Scientist have and continue to warn great changes will occur without reduction in the burning of fossil fuels, the changing sign temperatures have risen 1.8 degrees F since 1800. Polar ice caps are melting, beaches are eroding, impacts shifting weather patterns could create a migration crisis, creating many to call for reduction in fossil fuels, factories and automobiles, many challenge the science behind climate change. -
Lewinsky Affair
Clinton has affair with a white house intern ( Monica Lewinsky), special prosecutor got a hold of the affair from a Linda Tripp, Tripp told by Monica in confidence. Media soon gets a hold of the story, Clinton denies the whole affair he testifies to Star that he did no wrong. House of rep. impeaches Clinton for lying under oath obstruction of justice, the charges didn’t get the 2/3 vote required to remove Clinton, but many were tired of the lies and scandals. -
Internet
Internet starts on military bases in the 60s exchange data, 80s supercomputers allow communication on college campuses, in tens of millions of homes by the late 1990s, America online (AOL) 1994 6 mil uses. In 1995 Microsoft is launched proved to be an eventful year in the formation of contemporary internet culture. -
Affordable Cell Phones
Cell phones start replacing landlines, smart phones allowed people to be on the internet without a computer, and improved Americans lifestyle. Could talk and receive message whether it be people who were in isolated areas or in a long distance. -
Rodney King Incident
(African american) chased 78 miles in his car by LA police, chase ends with him being beaten. The incident was caught on tape and broadcast to the nation, riots took place for 4 days, Asian shops ransacked by black and Latino residents, angry for Asians not hiring people of color. -
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Encompasses Mexico, US, and Canada, knocks down trade barriers, rules put in place for several industries, ag and technology. Americans lose many jobs from NAFTA, stopped Mexican knock off products -
Bill Clinton Presidency (dont ask, dont tell policy)
Clinton's new policy of allowing gays in the military, they didn’t tell anyone about it, old policy did not allow gays. Allowed closeted members of the military to serve while prohibiting those in the military who were openly gay to serve. -
Health Care Reform
Clinton wants a longtime liberal goal of nationalized healthcare, it was an almost 100-year goal. Clinton gives task to his wife Hillary Clinton, republicans put out media blitz, called it socialized medicine, and healthcare reform fails until 2009. -
World Trade Center Attack
Terrorist explode massive car bombs in the basement parking garage of the world trade center, hoped to collapse the building. Left only six story hold in the ground, the incident was quickly forgotten, Osama bin laden tries again, gas enhanced device was intended to send the north tower crashing into the south tower. Killed six people and injured over a thousand, -
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
U.S federal law that allowed states to refuse to recognize same sex marriages performed under the laws of other states and which restricted federal marriage benefits, the law passed both houses of congress by large majorities and was signed into law by president Bill Clinton. -
Election of 2000 (Al Gore)
Clinton VP environmentalist who was a democrat and wanted to save the new government surplus for social security, baby boomer retirements. He won the national popular vote but lost the electoral college vote. After a bitter legal battle over disputed vote counts in the state of Florida. -
Bush v. Gore (SCOTUS case)
Gare takes it to SCOTUS, they decide that bush won, judges couldn’t be told how to count votes. Gore wins popular vote by half a million, Bush won the electoral college. People went to bed that night thinking that Al Gore had won, only to discover in the morning that George Bush had been declared the winner. -
Election Controversy
Florida the center of the contested election (Florida decides winner), no one can decide who won the state. Gore 266 electoral votes bush 246, counting and lawsuits last over a month hanging chads, Florida announces bush won the state. -
Compassionate Conservatism
Bush promised to use private industry charity and religious organizations to help poor, not relying on the government, argued poor became over- reliant on the government, lost desire to better themselves, wanted to reduce size of the government -
The Great Recession
Economy went burst in the middle of the campaign, falling home prices poor lending habits by banks risky investments lead to massive foreclosures, government forced to bail out failing banks brokerage houses and insurance companies, worst economic collapse since the great depression -
No Child Left Behind Education Act
Reports of declining schools across the country, bush sends bill through congress, revamps standards and linking federal funding to student performance on standardized tests. States are required to test students in reading and math in grades 3-8 and once in high school -
9/11 Attacks
4 planes turn course, 2 hit the world trade center buildings, 1 hit the pentagon, couldn’t find the white house, 4th plane passengers learn of the attacks, subdue the terrorists. Terrorists dropped the plane killing 2,973 people in the attack. Saddest event, changed the view on people, scared everybody, never forgotten. President Bush demands Afghanistan (Taliban) turn over al-qaeda terrorist, -
Patriot Act
Expands government law enforcement powers, uniting, and strengthening America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism. The security concerns lead to new federal legislation, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies allowed to conduct wide sweeping searches and surveillance. Detained immigrants, monitored bank accounts, wiretapped suspected callers without warrant. Many opposed it because of executive overreach in power -
Housing Bubble
Recession hit economy, Bush slashes taxes by 15% and most went to the wealthy housing prices. People made money off of it, people get into the subprime market with variable interest rate, rates will be low until 2008. -
Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Storm devastates the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, making Katrina the most destructive natural disaster. Total damage $108 billion, the storm did a lot of damage, but its aftermath was catastrophic. The federal government was slow to meet the needs of people affected by the storm.
