Period 8 Overview - US History Lecture Notes
Economic and Social Changes Post-WWII
- Economic Growth: Significant economic growth after WWII.
- GI Bill: Provided veterans with opportunities for college education and homeownership.
- Baby Boom: Contributed to the rise of the suburbs and Sun Belt region.
- Eisenhower's Interstate Highway Act: Improved trade, travel, and popularized road trips.
- Suburban Development: Levittown symbolized affordable mass-produced homes.
- Cultural Impact of Television: Shaped popular culture, influencing fashion, music, and politics.
- Culture of Conformity: Teens rebelled through rock and roll; Beat Generation criticized social norms.
Cold War Tensions and Policies
- Cold War Emergence: Post-WWII tensions with the Soviet Union.
- Containment Policy: Efforts to combat communism, initiated by George Kennan.
- Truman Doctrine: Successfully repelled communism in Greece and Turkey.
- Marshall Plan: Provided financial aid to rebuild Western Europe.
- Korean War: An early success of containment despite an armistice.
- Eisenhower's Policies: Continued Truman's Cold War policies with the Eisenhower Doctrine and brinkmanship.
- Cuba: Became a Cold War hotspot; Bay of Pigs failure, Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Domestic Impact: Second Red Scare, McCarthyism, nuclear fallout shelters, duck-and-cover drills, increased defense and space research.
Civil Rights Movement
- Landmark Cases and Actions:
- Brown v. Board of Education: Declared school segregation unconstitutional.
- Little Rock Nine: Faced hostility; National Guard intervention.
- Rosa Parks: Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
- Martin Luther King Jr.: Advocated non-violent protests; notable speeches and writings.
- Greensboro Sit-ins: Peaceful protest for equal treatment.
- Alternative Approaches: Malcolm X, Black Panthers advocated for empowerment and self-defense.
- Legislative Victories:
- Civil Rights Act of 1964: Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
- Voting Rights Act of 1965: Passed following events like Bloody Sunday.
- 24th Amendment: Outlawed poll taxes.
Vietnam War
- Domino Theory: Eisenhower's warning about the spread of communism in Asia.
- Escalation Under Kennedy and Johnson: From limited involvement to full-scale war.
- Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Authorized use of military force in Vietnam.
- Public Opinion and Protests: Fueled by the Tet Offensive, My Lai Massacre, Pentagon Papers.
- Nixon's Vietnamization: Gradual withdrawal of US troops; Paris Accords ended the war.
Johnson's Great Society
- War on Poverty: Addressed healthcare, education, housing.
- Significant Legislation: Medicare, Medicaid, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Controversy: Opposition from conservatives over increased government spending.
Nixon's Foreign and Domestic Policies
- Détente: Efforts to deescalate Cold War tensions.
- Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT): Limited nuclear arsenals.
- Opening China: Reopened trade and communication.
- Arab-Israeli War and Oil Embargo: Led to economic recession in the US.
- Watergate Scandal: Led to Nixon's resignation.
Ford and Carter Presidencies
- Gerald Ford:
- Pardoned Nixon: Angered many Americans.
- Fall of Saigon: Marked a victory for communism.
- Economic Struggles: Continued inflation, unsuccessful "Whip Inflation Now" campaign.
- Jimmy Carter:
- Economic Issues: Inflation, unemployment, oil shortages.
- Camp David Accords: Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.
- Iranian Hostage Crisis: Criticized for handling the crisis, contributed to Reagan's victory.
Environmental Movement
- Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring": Raised awareness on pesticide effects.
- Legislation: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, establishment of Environmental Protection Agency.
- Earth Day: First celebrated in 1970 to promote environmental issues.
Activism and Social Movements
- Feminism: Sparked by "The Feminine Mystique"; National Organization for Women advocated for gender equality.
- LGBTQ+ Rights: Stonewall Riots pivotal for the movement.
- Latino Rights: Cesar Chavez and the Chicano movement advocated for farm workers and Mexican-American rights.
- American Indian Movement: Fought for sovereignty, cultural preservation; notable for Alcatraz occupation.
Exam Preparation Tips
- Causation: Effects of the Cold War.
- Comparison: Tactics of various civil rights leaders, Cold War policies of different presidents.
- Change and Continuity: American foreign policy post-WWII.
For further study, refer to the APUSH Ultimate Review Packet for timelines, study guides, and essay practice.