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G.I. Bill
Legislation providing World War II veterans with educational benefits, housing loans, and other support. -
Truman Doctrine
U.S. policy to contain Soviet influence by offering political, military, and economic assistance to countries resisting communism. -
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Cold War
A prolonged period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. -
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Globalization
The accelerating integration of economies, cultures, and politics worldwide following World War II. -
Taft-Hartley Act
A law that limited the power and activities of labor unions in the postwar period. -
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Baby Boom
A dramatic rise in birth rates in the U.S. following World War II. -
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Second Red Scare
A period marked by heightened fears of communist influence and widespread suspicion in American society. -
Marshall Plan
A U.S. initiative that provided substantial economic aid to rebuild Western European economies after World War II. -
NATO
The formation of a military alliance among North American and European nations aimed at countering Soviet expansion. -
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Korean War
A conflict between North and South Korea that drew in U.S. and international military intervention. -
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Beatniks
A cultural movement among young people that embraced nonconformity, artistic expression, and a critique of mainstream values. -
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Sunbelt
The beginning of significant population and economic growth in the southern U.S. states. -
Levittown
The development of planned suburban communities that symbolized postwar housing expansion in America. -
Operation Ajax
A covert operation by the U.S. and Britain to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. -
Brown v. Board of Education
A landmark Supreme Court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
A protest against segregated seating on public buses in Alabama that became a milestone in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Interstate Highway Act
Legislation that funded the construction of a nationwide system of highways, transforming American transportation. -
Sputnik
The Soviet Union’s launch of the first artificial satellite, sparking the U.S.–Soviet space race. -
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
A student activist organization that called for social change and challenged U.S. government policies. -
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Sit-in Movement
A series of nonviolent protests by students and activists challenging segregated public spaces. -
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Counterculture
A broad cultural movement that rejected conventional social norms, promoting alternative lifestyles and radical politics. -
Farewell Address (Eisenhower)
President Eisenhower’s final address in which he warned of the potential dangers of the military-industrial complex. -
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Flexible Response
A U.S. military strategy aimed at developing a range of responses to communist aggression, rather than relying solely on nuclear deterrence. -
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson’s influential book that raised public awareness about the environmental hazards of pesticides. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A tense 13-day standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba. -
March on Washington
A massive civil rights demonstration in Washington, D.C., highlighted by Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. -
The Feminine Mystique
Betty Friedan’s book that challenged traditional roles for women and helped spark the second-wave feminist movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Landmark legislation outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congressional authorization that allowed President Johnson to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. -
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Great Society
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. -
Malcome X
An influential civil rights leader known for his advocacy for Black empowerment and critique of systemic racism -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Federal legislation designed to overcome legal barriers preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote. -
Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965
A law that abolished earlier quota systems, reshaping U.S. immigration policy. -
Black Panthers
A political organization that promoted Black self-defense and community programs in response to racial injustice. -
Election of 1968
A turbulent U.S. presidential election conducted against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and widespread social unrest. -
Tet Offensive
A major military campaign during the Vietnam War that shifted American public opinion by exposing the war’s harsh realities. -
Stonewall Riot
A spontaneous uprising by LGBTQ+ patrons against police harassment that marked a turning point in the gay rights movement. -
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Vietnamization
A U.S. policy aimed at gradually transferring combat responsibilities in Vietnam to South Vietnamese forces. -
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Détente
A period of relaxed tensions and improved diplomatic relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Kent State
Refers to the shootings at Kent State University, where National Guardsmen killed four students protesting the Vietnam War. -
Pentagon Papers
A top-secret government study of U.S. involvement in Vietnam that was leaked, revealing government deception. -
Equal Rights Amendment
A proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex, which ultimately was not ratified. -
Watergate
A political scandal stemming from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and a subsequent cover-up that led to President Nixon’s resignation. -
War Powers Act
Legislation intended to check the president’s ability to commit the U.S. to armed conflict without Congressional approval. -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
While the EPA was established in 1970, the early 1970s saw its rise as the key federal agency regulating environmental issues. -
Roe v. Wade
A Supreme Court decision that established a woman’s legal right to an abortion under certain conditions. -
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Stagflation
An economic condition characterized by slow growth, high unemployment, and high inflation during the 1970s and early 1980s. -
Indian Self-Determination Act
Legislation that empowered Native American tribes to have greater control over their own affairs and governance. -
Regents of California v. Bakke
A Supreme Court case that addressed affirmative action in higher education, ruling that racial quotas were unconstitutional but that race could be one factor in admissions. -
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Reaganomics
The economic policies of President Reagan focused on tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending to spur economic growth. -
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Iran-Contra Affair
A political scandal in which senior U.S. officials secretly facilitated arms sales to Iran and diverted the proceeds to support Contra rebels in Nicaragua. -
Breakup of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union into independent republics, marking the end of the Cold War. -
Persian Gulf War
A U.S.-led coalition effort to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait following Iraq’s invasion. -
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
A trade pact that created a free trade zone among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. -
Contract with America
A legislative agenda promoted by Republicans that helped reshape U.S. politics during the mid-1990s. -
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Dot-com boom
A period of rapid growth in technology and internet-based companies, leading to soaring market valuations. -
Bush v. Gore
A Supreme Court decision that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. -
9/11
Terrorist attacks on U.S. landmarks that resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and dramatically reshaped American foreign and domestic policy. -
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War in Afghanistan
The conflict begun by the U.S. to remove the Taliban from power and eliminate al-Qaeda safe havens following 9/11. -
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War on Terror
A global military and political campaign initiated in response to the 9/11 attacks, aimed at dismantling terrorist networks. -
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Iraq War
A military campaign led by the United States that began with the invasion of Iraq and resulted in long-term regional instability. -
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Great Recession
A severe global economic downturn sparked by the collapse of the housing market and financial institutions. -
Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act, a sweeping reform of the U.S. healthcare system designed to expand coverage and reduce costs. -
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Arab Spring
A wave of pro-democracy protests and uprisings across the Arab world that challenged longstanding authoritarian regimes. -
Death of Osama bin Laden
The U.S. operation that led to the killing of the al-Qaeda leader responsible for the 9/11 attacks. -
Tea Party
A conservative political movement that emerged to advocate for reduced government spending, lower taxes, and limited government intervention. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
A Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, affirming marriage equality. -
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COVID-19 Pandemic
A global public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus, leading to widespread illness, economic disruption, and changes in daily life.