Chapter 30: Economic and Social change in the Late 20th Century

Chapter 30: Economic and Social change in the Late 20th Century

1. How have the various social movements of the post-1960s era affected social life, culture, and the ways in which people see their own personal identities?

The various social movements of feminism, egalitarianism, gender equal, and racial equality brought liberation to the people. Citizens began to feel more comfortable in their skin as the government began to comply with their needs.

2. What is the agenda of the so-called New Right?

The new right consisted of neoconservatives, Evangelicals, and fundamentalists, who sought to end federal social programs, oppressed policies, condemned gays, and pushed their religion on schools. They believed colleges were closing the American mind and opposed changes with curricula.

Terms:

Stonewall Inn:

A bar with a vast homosexual population that was raided by New York City police officers. It marked an important benchmark in sexual politics because of its mainstream coverage.

AIDS:

A contagious sexually transmitted immunodeficiency disease. It was prominent amongst gay men and there was no prevalent research or cure.

AIM:

The American Indian movement performed a sit in on Alcatraz to dramatize the broken treaty promises, created by young activists in 1968. However federal officials illegally put surveillance and targeted them.

La Raza Unida:

A political party founded in 1967. It was a Mexican American movement that bloomed Mexican culture in communities.

Proposition 209:

A proposition passed by California voters to abolish affirmative action and racial or gender preference in the state of hiring, contracting, and admitting.

Phyllis Schafly:

Feminist who formed a conservative women’s group to stop ERA because she believed women were fragile and require special treatment.

Jerry Falwell:

A conservative democratic religious figure who joined Reagan’s new coalition.

NCPAC:

New right activists formed the NCPAC and many other organizations to lobby Washington, back republican candidates, and developed political positions on a wide range of family values.

Chapter 29: America during its Longest War 1963-1974

Chapter 29: America during its Longest War 1963-1974

1. What were the goals and policies of the Great Society?

Johnsons Great Society sought to alleviate poverty, launch or enhance Medicare, Medicaid, legal aid, job study programs, and barred discrimination on the bases of race and gender.

2. Why did the US become involved in the war in Vietnam?

He responded to exaggerated reports about communist threats close to home. The containment's policy and domino theory warned the communist against expansion, the danger of involvement by China or the Soviet Union, and the authorization of an air war in northern Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution).

3. What were the consequences of America's involvement in the Vietnam War for its economy and social fabric?

The devastation at the countryside had greatly destabilized the economy. The pacification, or rounding up of Vietnamese farmers caused even further chaos and Buddhist priests consistently demonstrated against foreign influence. It had also become a living room war as many retained information from the media.

4. What were the sources of domestic dissent, especially among young people, during the 1960s?

During the 1960s, the youth began to rebel against conventional ways and sought to expand their minds with the influence of drugs, rock music, and living alternative lives. The movement of movements epitomized this dissent through two ideals: faith in political group pluralism and parallel conviction that deeply held spiritual beliefs ultimately united rather than divided. These movements exemplified anti establishment, ridiculing traditional attitudes and urged a less regimented take on life (counterculture).

5. How did Watergate ultimately force Nixon's resignation from the Presidency?

Nixon manipulated his resources to form his own secret intelligence agency known as the plumbers to and gained money illegally to silence those aware of his dirty secrets. However when his secrets were being leaked to the media about the location of the political espionage scandal he resigned.

Terms:

OEO:

Mandated loans for work training programs called the job corps, created VISTA, a domestic vision of peace corps, provided low wage jobs for young people, began a work study program to assist with college students, and authorized the creation of federally funded social programs to be planned in concert with local community groups. The Office of Economic Opportunity.

Civil Rights Act:

Denied federal funding to segregated schools and barred discrimination of gender and race.

EEOC:

Equal Economic Opportunity Commission monitored the civil rights act.

Freedom Summer:

The summer when a coalition of civil rights groups enlisted young volunteers for voter registration campaign in Mississippi.

HUD:

The department of Housing and Urban Development built on earlier plans for coordinating urban revitalization programs.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution:

Provided authorization for air warfare on Northern Vietnam after US destroyers rumored to be attacked by torpedoes. This essentially expanded the Vietnamese war.

Domino Effect:

Johnsons speculation on the withdrawal from Asia causing communist insurgencies in Latin America to increase Soviet pressure on West Berlin and damage US credibility around the world.

Hawks and Doves:

Hawks were supporters of the intensified military efforts in the Vietnam War. Doves opposed the military action and wanted to quickly end US involvement.

New Left:

Countercultural movement of young juveniles going against the conventional regimented ways of living.

Port Hurston Statement:

The pledge to fight the loneliness of isolation that afflicted so many people. Declaring that the dominant insider culture valued bureaucratic skill as opposed to citizen engagement, and economic growth over meaningful work.

Teach ins:

College campuses held forums of debate between supporters and opponents of Johnson’s policies in Vietnam.

Black Power:

The movement led by Malcolm X and MLK liberating Africans Americans and demanded their own sector of rights and amenities.

NLF:

National Liberation Front

Vietnamization:

Policy that placed the burdens of war on the Southern Vietnamese and allowed the US to withdraw its troops.

Stagflation:

Condition of both economic stagnation and price inflation that struck America in 1971.

Rachel Carson:

Questioned the use of pesticides and helped to stimulate the modern environmental movement. Best known for her book Silent Spring.

Miranda vs. Arizona:

Archibald Cox:

Involved in Nixon’s Watergate operation and cover-up. Was fired immediately after his resignation. 

NOW:

Roe vs. Wade:

The decisions that left much controversy regarding a women's privacy of an abortion. Abortion being illegal violated a women's privacy, it flustered many pro-life rally activists.

SALT:

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks were conversations between the two superpowers regarding the limitation of the development of missiles.

My Lai:

Shortly after the 1968 Tet episode, the South Viet hamlet of My Lai was raided by troops massacring 200 civilians.

VVAW:

CREEP:

Committee to Re-elect President was a campaign organization that secretly raised millions in illegal contributions.

John Sirica:

Republican appointee presiding over the trial of the Watergate burglars who pushed for further information to find that Nixon’s attorney general had engage in illegal activities and was head of CREEP.

John Dean:

Chief legal council whose testimony linked Nixon to covering up Watergate.

Saturday Night Massacre:

The night that every member of Nixon’s cabinet and secret Plumbers unit was fired. 

Chapter 28: Affluence and its Discontents 1953-1963

Chapter 28: Affluence and its Discontents 1953-1963

1. How could economic prosperity be seen as both an opportunity and a problem during the 1950s?

Economic prosperity during the 1950's brought back what was known as the golden age prior to the war. The gap between the wealthy and impoverished began to vanish and more Americans owned homes vehicles, and could afford luxurious amenities such as an entertainment center with a TV. However, it is believed that this growth in prosperity sparked the loss of individuality in the people as work and entertainment became the epicenter of American's daily life. The establishment of comic books and Rock 'n' Roll was believed to lead to juvenile delinquency.

2. How did the fight against discrimination raise new political issues during the 1950s and 1960s?

Racial discrimination blew up during the 1950's and 1960s. African Americans and other minorities no longer tolerated the unconstitutional segregation of public facilities and disintegration of schools and jobs. As a result, this brought issues of civil rights to play. During both Eisenhower's and Kennedy's presidency, the people fought for their right to vote and be treated equally.

3. What was the response of the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations to the Civil Rights movement?

Eisenhower and Kennedy had no choice, the Civil rights movement mobilized at a swift pace and expanded exponentially. Participants began to use civil disobedience and non-violent tactics to establish their message. Rosa Parks arrest lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott which dropped the revenue of the transit companies dramatically, several citizens participated in sit in's, and demanded their right to vote. To avoid further action, the presidents sought to end discrimination and segregation with the establishment of the Civil Rights Act of 1947 granting the right to vote for African Americans.

Terms:

C. Wright Mills:

A sociologist of the mid 20th century who saw the affluent cultural climate as dulled down. He stated that much sought after American way of life consisted of increasingly scheduled work routines and pointless dissatisfying leisure activities.

'Buy American':

Blackboard Jungle:

A hit movie in 1955 about a group of mixed sexually active teens that mocked the authority of adults and terrorized teachers for fun. Epitomized the media of the mid 20th century and targeted teens as they were seen to be rebellious and delinquent.

Sun Records:

A record company that lacked capital and sold Presley's contract to RCA.

Brown vs. board of education:

The case handled by chief of justice Earl Warren regarding the separate but equal doctrine restricting and segregating minorities from public schools. Push the civil rights movement further and desegregated public schools, it also gave the motivation to the people to fight for their civil rights.

SCLC:

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference formed by Martin Luther King a several other black ministers. They demanded the desegregation of public facilities, organized sociopolitical movements for permanent change. MLK brought the SCLC to registering black voters and established the efficiency of civil disobedience.

Little Rock:

The events of Little Rock, Arkansas negating children of color from entry to their school obliged Eisenhower to enforce a federal court decree desegregating Central High School. Eisenhower sent Army troops to escort the kids into the school against the established National Guard. 

Civil Rights Act of 1957:

The first civil rights act following the Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act, secured the right to vote for African Americans.

'Sit in':

A civil disobedience action during the Civil Rights movement toward the equality of service in public facilities that involved minorities to literally sit in public facilities until they received the service the whites received.

CORE:

The Congress of Racial Equality sought after new ways of opposing discrimination. One of their most effective tactics involved sitting in public facilities to integrate them.

SNCC:

Student Non violent Coordinating Committee fought for integration and equality. It was originally formed by young students who performed sit ins to get their message across.

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom:

In an attempt to influence the Civil Rights Activists and prevent further demonstration, the White House banned racial discrimination in public facilities in housing, and protected voting rights. However it could not prevent the movement and later endorsed it.

Chapter 27: The Age of Containment, 1946-1954

Chapter 27: The Age of Containment, 1946-1954

1. What were the principle elements of the foreign policy called containment?

The global anticommunist movement national security policies that were adopted by America stop the expansion of communism. During the Korean War the US acquired several bases, opposed any left-leaning movements, restricted activity of labor unions, utilized media to oppose soviet propaganda and barred communists from entering the congress or Universities.

2. What major conflicts shaped the Cold War and what instigated these conflicts?

In order to ease tensions between the nations the NATO was established between the US, Canada and 10 European nations pledging that an attack against would be one against all. However tensions arose as China's leader, lost ground to Mao Zedong. Then the Soviets set off a brutal nuclear device causing Truman to begin development of a deadly hydrogen bomb. Paul Nimtze's NSC-68 further pressured the economy, propaganda campaigns, covert action, and a massive military buildup as a result of despairing fruitful negotiations. They further pushed containment believing that attacking Korea would send a message to the world, however this further aggressed the Soviets whom supported communist Korea.

3. How did the foreign policy of containment affect domestic policy and American life?

Americans, specifically minorities and those suspected of communist affiliation began to face conflictive times. The Taft-Hartley act negated the ability of labor unions power to conduct boycotts, conduct strikes, set up closed shops, and to sign affidavits stating they were not in any Communist party of subversive organizations. Those who refused were denied protection under national labor laws.

Terms:

Baruch Plan:

A special representative at the UN, Bernard Baruch, proposed that the US abandon its nuclear weapons if the USSR met certain conditions. Soviet would be obliged to monitoring and verification of their atomic energy programs to surrender veto power in the UN in cases regarding nuclear issues. Soviet leaders evidently reject the plan, and proposed the US destroy its atomic weapons as the first step toward any final bargain.

Truman Doctrine:

Encountering much international criticism Truman announced to Congress about the civil war in Greece, where a pro western government was being attacked by communists. His advisers claimed that a leftist victory would expose a nation critical to US strategy, Turkey, to Soviet expansionism. He also declared that it is the US's duty to aid those resisting subversion by armed forces to prevent the spread of totalitarian communism.

George Kennan:

The state departments Soviet expert, known for his article in the journal 'Foreign affairs coined the term containment. He argued that main element in any US policy “must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies". It was quickly associated with the Truman Doctrine.

Ex. Order 9835:

Essentially known as the loyalty order, put several workers under investigation of communist or subservient affiliation.

VENONA files:

In 1943 a secret army counter-intelligence agency begun intercepting transmissions between Moscow and the US revealing the USSR had aided the finance of America's communist party, placed informants in government agencies, and begun collecting intelligence on US atomic work as early as 1944.

National Security Act:

In reaction to the VENONA files, the US implemented several new bureaucracies. The old navy and War departments were unified into the Department of Defense, a new arm of executive branch called the National Security Council was given broad authority over planning foreign policy, and the CIA was created.

CIA:

Under the National Security Act, the Central Intelligence Agency was created to gather information and conduct covert activities. It was immune to public scrutiny, and proved to be the most effective bureaucracy. It also prevented the election of the Italian communist party.

Marshall Plan:

Established by secretary of state George Marshall to allocate funds to war ridden European nations in aid of reconstruction. The plan succeeded in brightening Western Europe's economic scene, improved the standard of living, enhanced political stability, and undermined the appeal of communism.

Berlin Airlift:

When the Soviet blocked of Berlin failed, British pilots delivered virtually all of the items needed to continue their daily routines. Truman also sent a squadron of b-29 bombers to Britain, Stalin then abandoned the blockade, and the soviets created the German Democratic Republic out of their East German sector.

NATO:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949 with the US, Canada, and 10 other European pledging that an attack on one of the nations would be an attack on all of the nations. Taft declared the NATO a provocation to the Soviet Union.

NSC-68:

National Security Council Document number 68 providing rationale and strategic vision for US policy during the cold war. It essentially called on the US for a full-scale effort of enlarging US power and armaments. This meant larger spending on military, and budget deficits.

Yalu River:

Invasion of 40,000 Chinese troops to Korea through the Yalu River established communism.

Douglas MacArthur:

Taft-Hartley Act:

In the effort to effectively tapp the anticommunist sentiment, the Republican Congress negated the labor unions power to conduct boycotts, conduct strikes, set up closed shops, and to sign affidavits stating they were not in any Communist party of subversive organizations. Those who refused were denied protection under national labor laws.

HUAC:

The House of Un-American Committee was a congressional committee that zealously investigated the suspected communist sympathizers opening hearings into Communist influences in Hollywood. The Hollywood 10 then claimed the first amendment barred the HUAC but then were imprisoned for contempt of Congress. Studios then held a blacklist of alleged subversives whom they would not hire. Many could not attain a job unless they gave names of those whom they knew where subversives.

Loyalty Program:

The EX. Order 9835 that called for reasonable ground to resign those in government whom belonged to a political organization of political risk. This later developed a list of subversive organizations declared the attorney general. It essentially sought out to eliminate Soviet espionage.

Alger Hiss:

Despite legal technicalities preventing his indictment for espionage, Alger was charged of lying to the Congress and went to prison. This further aggressed the hunt for subversives considering his role in advising FDR in the Yalta conference.

Rosenberg Case:

The epitome of the Cold War melodrama. Parents of two young children and members of the America Communist party were sentenced to death despite their several legal appeals, and worldwide protests. This stirred worldwide controversy, however it was believed that they were involved in some sort of nuclear espionage.