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Balkans Crisis
Yugoslavia broke up after the fall of communism in 1991. Civil war broke out between Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia (Christian and Muslim). Serbia forces murder thousands of Muslim Bosnians. NATO brings in troops. Bombing Kosovo and Albania want independence from Croatia and Serbia. Genocide continues, NATO begins bombing sites to stop genocide. U.S. shows its commitment to human rights. -
Panama Canal
The French failed in the construction of the Panama Canal in the 1880's. Then the US began building a 50 mile stretch of the Panama isthmus in 1904. When it finally opened and everything was complete the total cost came to be 350 million dollars. The main reason the Panama Canal was built was to shorten the distance that ships had to travel to pass between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. This saved much more money and time. -
G.I Bill
(Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944). This offered World War Two veterans low interest rates on houses and college tuition. Money to start a business. From 1944 to 1949 about 9 million veterans received close to 4 billion from this program. This is still around today for veterans. -
Period: to
Contemporary
Contemporary history is a subset of modern history which describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. This period has been in use at least since the early 19th century. Contemporary is a politically dominate by the Cold War. -
38th Parallel
When the Japanese surrendered this was established as the boundary between Soviet and American occupation zones. This parallel divides the Korean peninsula. -
The Second Red Scare
This refers to the fear of communism that permeated American politics, culture and society from the late 1940's through the 1950's, during the opening phases of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Perceived losing to communism in nuclear technology. China, North Korea and Rosenberg's. -
Period: to
Cold War
The Cold War was after World War II ended. The Unites States and the Soviet Union were the world's strongest nations, they were known/called superpowers and both of them had different ideas about the government and economics. The world split into two large organizations NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the Warsaw pact. This was a fight that dealt between political system and power. -
Berlin Airlift
This was from 1948 to 1949, supplied of vital necessities to West Berlin by air transport primarily under United States auspices. It was initiated in response to a land and water blockade of the city that had been instituted by the Soviet Union in the hope that the Allies would be forced to abandon West Berlin. -
Fair Deal
Truman added to the New Deal. He wanted to focus on health care, public housing, education and public works. Minimum wage, electricity and telephone access. Forces to scale back because of Korea and anti-communist people, needed bi-partisan support. Truman success kept most of the New Deal intact. -
Beat Generation
The Beat Generation is a literary movement started by a group of authors whose world explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post World War Two era. Their work was published and popularized through the 1950's. The founders of the Beat Generation met at Columbia Universe in the early 1940's -
Rock 'n' Roll
African-American rhythm and blues. Rock & Roll referred to a slang for sexual intercourse. A time for teenagers, termed after World War two, allowed Rock and Roll to grow (white teens). Culturally rebelled against their parents. Lots of leisure time and money from after-school jobs. Bill Haley and the Comets "Rock around the Clock Tonight". This was the first song that made Rock and Roll popular. -
Period: to
1950's
During this time period the United States was the worlds strongest military powers, the economy was booming with new cars, suburban houses and other consumer goods were available to more people. The 1950s were was also a time period of great conflict, the nascent civil rights movement and the crusade against communism at home and abroad exposed the underlying division in American society. -
The Korean War (The Forgotten War)
The Korean War started when North Korea invaded South Korea. The Unites Nation with the Unites States as the principal force, came to the aid of South Korea. China came to the aid of North Korea and the Soviet Union gave some assistance. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. The war ended in July 1953, in all about 5 million soldiers and civilians died. The Korean peninsula is still divided today. -
Polio Vaccine
Polio is an infectious disease that is caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract. Dr. Jonas Salk announced on national radio that he successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis. More than 3,000 died from these disease. New polio cases dropped to under 6,000 in 1957 in the first year after the vaccine was widely available. -
Earl Warren Supreme Court
Earl Warren was a prominent 20th century leader of American politics and law. He was elected a governor of California in 1942, after this he was appointed the 14th chief justice of the Unites States Supreme Court in 1953. The Warren court unanimously determined the segregation of schools to be unconstitutional and also the Warren court sought electoral reforms, criminal justice equality. -
Elvis
Elvis Presley impacted the pop culture but Elvis wasn't really the first in the sing a rock 'n' roll style. His versions of the new music became widely popular during the mid-1950s. He was believed to have sold more than one billion records worldwide, he won second prize at the Mississippi- Alabama Fair and Diary Show. -
Period: to
Civil Rights
This is something important in history. Civil rights are a broad of privileges and rights that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the there are amendments and laws that guarantee fundamental freedom to all individuals. The civil rights accomplished a lot of things dealing with race and equal rights. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This court case is know seen as one of the greatest Supreme Court decisions of the 20th century. Also this court decided to overturn the Plessy v. Ferguson, that allowed "separate but equal" in school and other places. -
Televison
World War Two slowed down TV's introduction to the consumer market. By 1955 like 75% of American homes had a TV that was in black and white. TV's were used to see entertainment and also to see the news. -
Dr. Jonas Salk
Was an American medical researcher and virologist. Developed deactivated vaccine to combat disease, oral vaccine made available in 1961. After he chose to do medical research instead of becoming a practicing physician. In 1939 he earned his medical degree he then began an internship as a scientist physician. Eradicate Polio from the Unites States by 1994. -
Emmett Till Tragedy
He went to Money, Mississippi for a visit to see what segregation was like there. He accepted a challenge from his friends to ask a white girl out in a country store. Supposedly he used vulgar language. Carolyn's husband, Roy Bryant and John Milam came to Emmett's relative's house and abducted him. They shot him in the head and dumped him in the river. He was found 3 days later unrecognizable. This year 2017 Carolyn is sill alive and she admitted it was all a lie about what Till said to her. -
Vietnam War
This war was Cold War conflict pitting the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies who was known as Viet Cong against South Vietnam and its principal ally who was the Unites States. The president during the beginning of this war was Kennedy but after his assassination Lyndon Johnson became president. -
Albert Sabin
Albert was a Polish American medical researcher who was best known for developing the oral polio vaccine which played an important key role in nearly eradicating the disease. -
Little Rock Nine
Whites Resist integration, segregationists resist Brown v. Board for as long as they can. Moderate whites do half-way measures, integrating buses, libraries and parks like Little Rock, Arkansas. Little Rock decides to "slowly" integrate Central High School. Arkansas opposed integration due to fears on intermingling. -
Sputnik
This was the first orbiting satellite, it was the size of a basketball, made beeping radio signal (very simple). The Soviet Union successfully launched this, it weighed only 183.9 pounds and it took 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. -
Ike Turner
Ike Turner was a musician, songwriter, bandleader and producer, he was born on November 5,1931 in Clarksdale Mississippi. Ike Turners full name was Ike Wister Turner. Ike Turner made the first Rock and Roll song that's called "Rocket 88" . -
Period: to
1960
The 1960s was the time period where Americans believed they were standing at the dawn of a golden age. John F. Kennedy was the president during the 1960. He was confident that one historian would put in "the government possessed big answers to big problems" it seemed to set the tone for the rest of the decade. However that golden age never materialized. Something bad about this time period was that at the end of the year it seemed like the nation was falling apart. -
Feminism
Feminism is the belief of social, political and all other things like rights of women equal to those of men. A big deal dealing women rights is equal pay as men. -
Hippies
They rejected middle class values. Hippies are members of a liberal counterculture, that is an originally youth movement. -
LSD
This is the drug hippies would do, LSD was tightly integrated into their culture as a means to explore altered states of consciousness. -
Anti-War Movement
This is also known as a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing case. The in the anti-war where marches and protest such as students and other organizations. They were trying to support the three years. -
New Frontier
This term was used by liberal Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech in 1960 Unites States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the Democrat slogan to inspire America to support him. -
OPEC
This stands for (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Counties), controls much of the world's oil. Places an oil embargo on the United States for supporting Israel. Nixon convinces Israelis to give up some territory, embargo ends. -
Peace Corps
This was founded by President Kennedy and it mean to help spread capitalism. Inspired young college graduates to work in poor countries, humanitarian projects. -
Satellite Entertainment
This became important for communication, TV entertainment. This was a simple-transponder low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite. Many satellites were launched throughout the 90s and 2000s. This improved Americans quality of life with the Space program. -
Kennedy's Speech at Rice University
President Kennedy delivered a speech describing his goals for the nations space, it was a crowd of about 35,000 people in the football stadium at Rice University. This speech was also known as the "We choose to go to the moon". His speech was meant to persuade the American people to support the national effort to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth. -
MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail
Martin Luther King writes a letter stating his continued policy of non-violence. It was the only way black could succeed. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." King needs liberal and moderate whites for his Civil Rights plan to work. -
The March on Washington
Kennedy proposed a Civil Rights bill on TV. Congressmen threatening to filibuster bill. MLK takes Civil Rights to Washington D.C. to battle Southern Bloc. 500k people descend on Washington to walk to the Lincoln Monument. MLK gave his "I Have a Dream Speech" was watched live around the world. Most Americans agreed impossible win Cold War having 2nd class citizens. -
Birmingham Bombing
A bomb was thrown inside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham two weeks after MLK's march, 4 girls were killed. The KKK was behind the bombing because they were mad over Martin Luther King's march. Men responsible were never put on trial for the actual bombing until after A.D. 2000. Some are still in jail today, other died in jail. -
Assassination of JFK
Kennedy flew to Love Airfield in Dallas, he planned on traveling through downtown Dallas, he wanted maximum exposure to crowds to generate excitement, open air motorcade. Lee Harvey Oswald was an ex-marine with communist sympathies supposedly he was the only shooter. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Johnson gets through this legislation despite resistance. Banned segregation in businesses and places to the open public. Made it illegal not to hire based on race and religion and also ethnicity. This act was first promised by President by Kennedy's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Daisy Girl Ad
Daisy also known as "Daisy girl" or "Peace, Little Girl" was a controversial political advertisement. Daisy a 3 year old counted as she plucked Daisy petals. Her words were supplanted by a mission-control countdown followed by a massive nuclear blast. Plays to the fears of Cold War mentality. Response to Goldwater's NATO comments. Commanders should have authority to use nuclear weapons. -
Barry Goldwater
Was in the election of 1964 against Lyndon Johnson who was a democrat. Goldwater was a republican, Arizona senator, was very conservative. Wanted to get rid of the New Deal and Great Socety. -
Selma March
This march was in Selma, Alabama also known as Bloody Sunday. 600 marchers set out walking 50 miles to Montgomery for their right to vote, Martin Luther King was part of this march too. Country police waited at the end of Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma for them with clubs and gas. Ordered to go back, protesters kneeled 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, he announced the next day he would send a bill that had equal voting rights to everyone. August 1965 the act was signed into law. Prohibits literacy test, poll taxes. Only if the state didn't follow the 15th amendment. Department of Justice approving redistricting (every 10 years). SCOTUS has picked apart provisions of the act in recent years. -
Death of MLK
Martin Luther King traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to give a speech at a local church. He stayed at the Lorraine Motel (he was a frequent customer). On the forth of April King was shot talking to someone from the balcony. James Earl Ray was the killer of King, he shot him from a distance, and he was later arrested in London. King was shot through the cheek and it severed a major artery. MLK dies at a local hospital soon after. -
Nixon's Election
On 1968 the Republican nominee the former Vice President Richard Nixon won the election over the Democratic Vice president Hubert Humphrey. Nixon ran on a campaign that promised to restore "law and order". -
Nixon's Presidency
Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States. Nixon who was a republican, won the election over the democratic nominee who was Hubert Humphrey. -
Apollo 11
This is the space vehicle that carried the three American astronauts to the moon and back. This space ship consisted of a command module which stayed in lunar orbit and a lunar module that carried two of the three crewmen to safe landing on the moon. The first men who walked on the moon was Armstrong. -
Period: to
1970's
This period was a tumultuous time that followed the 1960s. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, gays and lesbians continued to fight for equality and many Americans joined the protest against the ongoing war in Vietnam. A "New Right" mobilized in defense of political conservatism and traditional family roles and the behavior of President Richard Nixon undermines many peoples faith in the good intentions of the federal government. -
Stagflation
This was high unemployment and rising prices (it was unusual). A situation where inflation rates are high, the economic growth rate slows down and the unemployment remains steadily high. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Congress passes in 1972, goes to sates for ratification, fails by 3 states in 1979. This equal rights amendment gave equality of rights where the law should not be denied by the Unites States or any state on account of sex. (It provided for the legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.) -
Roe v. Wade
Women protesting for legalized abortion for years. Most states totally outlawed it, sometimes allowed only for the life of the mother. Other extreme reasons. Norma McCorvey sued Texas for her right to privacy. Sued under the name Jane Roe, had baby before SCOTUS case, gave it for adoption. SCOTUS rules outlawing abortion is unconstitutional -
General Ford's Presidency
America's 38th president was General Ford, following the resignation of President Richard Nixon who left the white house over the Watergate scandal. Ford became the first president unelected president in the nations history. -
Nixon's resignation
On July, 1974, House Judiciary Committee issues articles of impeachment against Nixon. SCOTUS rules Nixon couldn't withhold information in his own wrongdoing. On August 5, 1974 Nixon releases unedited version of the tapes, showed Nixon's guilt in the cover-up. On August 8, 1974 Nixon is the first president to resign from office. General Ford (VP) became President. -
Jimmy Carter's Presidency
Jimmy Carter became the 39th president of the United States. Carter struggled to respond to formidable challenges that included major energy crisis as well as high inflation unemployment. Over the years Carter build a distinguished career as a diplomat, humanitarian and author pursuing conflict resolution in countries around the globe. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
U.S supported Shan Of Iran - major oil supplier, brutal dictator and anti-communist (became unpopular). Ayatollah Khomeini leads Islamic revolution, mistrusted the United States. U.S. game amnesty to the Shah. 52 Americans taken hostage from American embassy in Tehran. A special forces team was sent to rescue hostagesThis was 444 days. Released 1/20/1981. -
Sam Walton's Just-in-Time Inventory
This inventory is where products arrive at the precise time they are needed. Computers track inventory, no need for large in-house stock. At Walmart and Sams there is no place to keep all the things, there is no back rooms or storage room. -
Period: to
1980s
Here is when many Americans embraced a new conservatism in social, economic and political life during the 1980s also it characterized by the polices of President Ronald Reagan. During this time period they also saw the rise of the
'yuppie", and explosion of many new technology, new networks like MTV, that introduces the music video. -
Black Entertainment Television (BET)
This was started by Robert Johnson, first black billionaire. Features music and stories from African Americans community. -
Election of 1980
This election was with incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and the opponent was Republican Ronald Reagan as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson who ran as an independent. -
Reagan Presidency
Ronald Reagan is most known for being president during the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. He's also famous for his economic policy called "Reaganomics." -
A.I.D.S Crisis
Started affecting thousands of homosexuals. This would spread to heterosexuals community through blood transfusions. -
Music Television (MTV)
In MTV's early days it consisted of many music videos that were introduced by VJs and was provided for free by record companies. MTV created many cutting edge videos, it promoted the careers of performers such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and Duran Duran. By the late 1980's MTV started airing non-video programming, geared toward teenagers and young adults. -
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) "Star Wars"
Missile shield defense against Soviet incoming missiles. Satellites with lasers shoot down incoming missiles. Intended to give Soviets the same technology. SCI was a failure for the Unites States. Soviets challenged and spent more resources that the Unites States developing it. Soviets start resenting communism, didn't have enough food. -
Reagan Doctrine
Reagan thought that the Unites States had an important obligation to show support for guerrilla groups who were fighting communists or pro-Soviet government. This policy would lead to US intervention in several conflicts. The Reagan Doctrine pledged to support anti-communist freedom fighters who battled the Soviet Union. -
Iran Contra Affair
Sandinistas (pro-Communist) overthrow pro-American dictator in Nicaragua in (1979). Regan secretly arms Contras (against Sandistas). Congress find out. People in Reagan's administration continued to illegally support the Contras. Admi.l got money by selling weapons to Itan, exhcanged for the realse of American hostage in Lebanon. Colonel Oliver North was key in covering up their actions, plane crashes revealing the weapons (1986). -
Challenger Explosion
On the 28th of June the NASA shuttle orbiter mission STS-51-L and the tenth flight of Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into the flight killing all seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated off the coast of Cape Canaveral Florida. The space shuttle was not designed to fly under unusually cold conditions -
Fall of the Berlin War
On the 9 of November as the Cold War began to thaw across Eastern Europe the spokesman for East Berlins Communist Party announced a change in his city's relation with the west. Starting at midnight in this day the citizens of the GDR were free to cross the country's boarders. -
Period: to
1990s
The 1990's are characterized because of multiculturalism and alternative media. Many things spread around during this time period like hip hop, new technology such as cable television and the World Wide Web. -
Persian Gulf War/ 1st Iraq War
Fights Iran in 1980s, war ended in a stalemate, U.S. & Arab nations (Kuwait) lend Iraq billions of dollars. Saddam Hussein blames Kuwait for flooding the world with cheap oil, hurts Iraq. Invades Kuwait when they refuse to forgive the debt, claimed Kuwait historically part of Iraq. President Bush quickly deploy troops to Saudi Arabia, gets U.N resolution to use force against Iraq if they didn't withdraw. US worried Saddam would continue invading other counties. There were two phases. -
Rodney King Incident
Rodney King (African American) was chased 78 miles in his car by Los Angeles police. The chase ended with him being beaten, all of this was caught on tape. Riots take place for 4 days. Asian shops looted by black and Latino residents, angry for Asians not hiring people of color. -
World Trade Center Attack
Terrorist explode massive car bombs in the basement parking garage of the World Trade Center. The terrorist hoped this would have collapsed the building. The bomb left only six stories wholes in the ground. The incident was quickly forgotten. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
Encompasses Mexico, the Unites States and Canada. Knocks down trade barriers. The rules were put in place for several industries, like agriculture and technology. Americans lose many jobs from NAFTA, stopped Mexican knock-off products. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy
This was during Clinton's Administration, Clinton's new policy of allowing gays in the military. They just couldn't say they were gay in order to be able to be in the military. The old policy used to not let gays join the war. -
Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA) Federal law that defines marriage between a man and a women. States don't have to except gay marriage of other states. -
Lewinsky Affair
Clinton had an affair with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. Special prosecutor gets a hold of the affair from a Linda Tripp, Tripp told Monica in confidence. Media gets ahold of the story, Clinton denies the whole affair and he testifies to Starr that he did no wrong. House of Rep. impeaches Clinton for lying under oath, obstruction of justice. -
Bush v Gore
SCOTUS Case, Gore takes it to SCOTUS, there SCOTUS decides 5-4 that Bush won. Judges could not be told how to count votes. Gore wins popular vote by half a million. Bush won the electoral vote. -
Climate Change Findings Come Out
Scientist have and continue to warn great changes will occur without reduction in the burning of fossil fuels. Temperature have risen 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1800. Polar Ice caps are melting, beaches are eroding. Water starting to encroach coastal cities. The impact are, shifting weather patterns creating a migration crisis. Many will call for reduction in fossil fuels. -
9/11 Attacks
19 al-Qaeda hijachrs boarded four planes, had box cutters. Four planes turn course, 2 hit the World Trade Center buildings. One hit the Pentagon, they couldn't find the white house so they didn't crash here. The fourth plane passengers learn of the attacks, subdue the terrorist, terrorist nose divide the plane. 2,973 will die in the attacks. The US is still in Afghanistan today. -
PATRIOT ACT
Expands government's law enforcement powers. Security concerns lead to new federal legislation. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies allowed to conduct wide-sweeping searches and surveillance. Detained immigration, monitored bank accounts, wiretapped suspected callers without warrant. Many opposed it because of executive overreach in power. Threatened individual liberties, invaded a personal privacy. -
No Child Left Behind Education Act
This Act authorizes several federal education programs that are administered by the state. Under the 2001 law, states are requires to test students in math and reading from 3rd grade to 8th and once in high school. Reports of declining schools across the country, Bush send bill through Congress. Revamps standards and linking federal funding to students performance on standardizes tests. -
2nd Iraq War
Saddam used chemical weapons in war with Iran in 1980. Bombing campaign softened up the targets "Shock and Awe" (March 2003). Troops would be in Baghdad in three weeks. Iraq will fall soon after. Iraq Army was told to stand down. Saddam captured by the end of the year, executed by Iraqis for war crime. -
Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Mishandling of Hurricane Katrina Disaster in New Orleans added to unpopularity. Levee system fails to hold storm surge in New Orleans. 80 % of New Orleans flooded. This hurricane was a category of 3 rating. This storm did a big damage but the after math was even worse. The estimate that Katrina caused more than $100 billion in damage. -
Housing Bubble
Recession hit economy (2002-2003), Bush slashes taxes by 15 percent, most went to the wealthy. Housing prices double between 1997-2005. People made money off of it. People get into the sub-prime market with variables interest rates, rates will be low until 2008. -
The Great Recession
Economy went bust in the middle of the campaign (Fall 2008). Falling home prices, poor lending habits by banks, risky investment lead to massive foreclosures. Government forces to bail out failing banks, brokerage houses and insurance companies. Worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Was a stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States that was signed into law by President Barack Obama. $700 billion in government spending, created new jobs and also saved existing. Spur economic growth -
Affordable Care Act
This is also known as "Obama Care" it is a private health insurance. Everyone required to have insurance or pay a fine. Many liberals get upset because its not a single-payer system like in Europe.
