31-32 test Flashcards
(32 cards)
Richard M. Nixon
Definition:
Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. He was a Republican known for his foreign policy strategies, especially opening relations with China and the Soviet Union.
Importance:
Nixon shifted the role of government by promoting “New Federalism,” giving more power to states. He attempted to handle serious economic issues like inflation and unemployment. His presidency ended in scandal with Watergate, making him the only U.S. president to resign. His policies and resignation left a lasting impact on trust in government.
Stagflation
Definition:
Stagflation is an economic condition where high inflation occurs at the same time as slow economic growth and high unemployment.
Importance:
Stagflation challenged traditional economic thinking because inflation and unemployment usually don’t rise together. It made it hard for Nixon to improve the economy. His solutions, like price controls and cutting spending, had limited success. Stagflation influenced future presidents’ economic strategies.
SALT I Treaty
Definition:
The SALT I Treaty was a 1972 agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to limit the number of nuclear weapons each side could have.
Importance:
SALT I helped ease Cold War tensions between the two superpowers. It was part of Nixon’s policy of détente, which aimed to reduce conflict through diplomacy. The treaty showed that the U.S. and USSR could work together. It marked a shift from constant arms buildup to some level of cooperation.
OPEC
Definition:
OPEC is a group of major oil-exporting nations that work together to control oil production and prices.
Importance:
In the 1970s, OPEC limited oil exports, causing gas shortages and price spikes in the U.S. This worsened stagflation and exposed America’s reliance on foreign oil. It led to long gas lines and frustration among Americans. The crisis pushed the U.S. to start looking for energy independence.
Watergate
Definition:
Watergate was a political scandal where members of Nixon’s re-election team broke into Democratic headquarters and tried to cover it up.
Importance:
The scandal led to the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. It revealed corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of government. Watergate changed how Americans viewed their leaders and increased calls for transparency. It led to reforms meant to check presidential power.
Saturday Night Massacre
Definition:
The Saturday Night Massacre was when Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, leading to the resignations of the Attorney General and his deputy in October 1973.
Importance:
This event made the public and Congress more suspicious of Nixon. It showed that he was willing to interfere with the investigation into Watergate. The backlash increased pressure on Nixon to release the White House tapes. It pushed the scandal closer to Nixon’s resignation.
EPA
Definition:
The EPA is a federal agency created in 1970 to protect the environment and enforce laws on pollution and clean air and water.
Importance:
The EPA represented growing concern for the environment during the 1970s. It began to regulate industries and reduce harmful pollution. Its creation was influenced by books like Silent Spring and rising public awareness. The agency became a key part of U.S. environmental policy.
Camp David Accords
Definition:
The Camp David Accords were peace agreements between Egypt and Israel brokered by President Jimmy Carter in 1978.
Importance:
The accords ended 30 years of war between the two nations. They were one of Carter’s biggest foreign policy successes. The agreement improved U.S. influence in the Middle East. It showed that diplomacy could help solve long-term international conflicts.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Definition:
Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader who led the 1979 revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah and established an Islamic Republic.
Importance:
His rise to power changed U.S.–Iran relations dramatically. After the revolution, Iranian militants seized the U.S. embassy and held Americans hostage. The crisis hurt Carter’s presidency and shaped future U.S. policy in the Middle East. Khomeini’s leadership marked the start of strong anti-American sentiment in Iran.
Rachel Carson
Definition:
Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and author of Silent Spring, which exposed the dangers of pesticides to the environment.
Importance:
Her book inspired the modern environmental movement. It raised awareness about pollution and harmful chemicals. Her work helped lead to the creation of the EPA. Carson showed the power of science and writing to influence public policy.
Cesar Chavez
Definition:
Cesar Chavez was a Latino labor leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). He worked to organize farmworkers, especially in California, to fight for better working conditions.
Importance:
Chavez led nonviolent protests, including hunger strikes and boycotts, which brought national attention to the struggles of farmworkers. His efforts helped secure higher wages and union rights for thousands of laborers.
La Raza Unida
Definition:
La Raza Unida was a Latino political party founded in the 1970s to promote the rights of Mexican Americans. It focused on increasing political representation and improving social services.
Importance:
The party encouraged Latino voter registration and ran candidates for public office. It raised awareness of discrimination in education, housing, and employment.
American Indian Movement (AIM)
Definition:
AIM was an advocacy group founded in 1968 to address Native American rights, especially in urban areas. It worked to protect legal rights, preserve culture, and protest government mistreatment.
Importance:
AIM organized dramatic protests, including the Trail of Broken Treaties and the occupation of Wounded Knee. These actions pushed the government to listen to Native demands and address treaty violations.
Betty Friedan
Definition:
Betty Friedan was a writer and activist who published The Feminine Mystique and co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW). She challenged the idea that women should only be housewives and mothers.
Importance:
Friedan helped launch the modern women’s movement in the 1960s. Her work inspired women to demand equality in education, work, and the law.
Feminism
Definition:
Feminism is the belief in political, economic, and social equality for women. It challenges systems and traditions that limit women’s roles.
Importance:
Feminism led to major changes in laws regarding workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and education. It continues to influence debates about gender roles today.
ERA
Definition:
The ERA was a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee equal rights regardless of gender. It was passed by Congress in 1972 but failed to gain enough state support.
Importance:
The ERA sparked intense national debate and mobilized both feminists and conservatives. Its failure revealed strong divisions over gender roles and women’s place in society.
Phyllis Schlafly
Definition:
Phyllis Schlafly was a conservative activist who opposed the ERA and the feminist movement. She argued that feminism threatened traditional family values.
Importance:
She played a major role in stopping the ERA from being ratified. Her activism strengthened conservative movements and helped reshape national politics in the 1970s.
Haight-Ashbury
Definition:
Haight-Ashbury is a neighborhood in San Francisco that became the center of the 1960s hippie movement. It attracted thousands of young people seeking alternative lifestyles.
Importance:
It symbolized the heart of the counterculture and showcased the era’s focus on peace, music, and experimentation. It also became known for rising drug use and overcrowding.
Counterculture
Definition:
The counterculture was a movement in the 1960s–70s where young people rejected mainstream American values. It emphasized peace, love, freedom, and rebellion.
Importance:
It changed American culture through music, fashion, and attitudes toward authority. Though it faded, it left a lasting impact on art, politics, and social norms.
Woodstock
Definition:
Woodstock was a famous 1969 music festival held in New York that brought together hundreds of thousands of young people. It featured major rock musicians and became a cultural milestone.
Importance:
Woodstock represented the height of the counterculture’s ideals—peace, music, and protest. It is remembered as a peaceful gathering during a time of war and social unrest.
What strategies did both Cesar Chavez and the UFWOC use to achieve their goals? How did they successfully apply these tactics?
Definition:
Cesar Chavez and the UFWOC used nonviolent methods such as marches, hunger strikes, and consumer boycotts to push for farmworker rights. They organized workers and gained national attention to expose their harsh conditions.
Importance:
Their peaceful yet persistent tactics led to union contracts that improved wages and working conditions. These victories showed how collective action could bring about real change for marginalized groups.
What were the demands of the American Indian Movement organizers who staged “The Trail of Broken Treaties” march on Washington in 1972?
Definition:
The American Indian Movement (AIM) demanded that the U.S. government honor past treaties, return tribal lands, and improve conditions for Native Americans. They presented a 20-point proposal during their 1972 protest.
Importance:
Their demands highlighted centuries of mistreatment and neglect by the U.S. government. Though not all goals were met, the march increased awareness and led to some policy changes.
Name three changes that members of the National Organization for Women (NOW) advocated.
Definition:
NOW pushed for equal job opportunities, legal abortion rights, and better childcare options. Their goal was to remove legal and social barriers for women in society.
Importance:
These demands helped bring about laws banning gender discrimination in hiring and education. They also advanced women’s rights in areas like reproductive health and workplace equality.
What was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Roe v. Wade case?
Definition:
In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that a woman has the constitutional right to choose an abortion, especially in the early months of pregnancy. This decision was based on the right to privacy.
Importance:
This case became a major victory for women’s reproductive rights and remains a deeply debated issue in American politics. It shaped national conversations about individual freedom and the role of government.
