Unit 8 apush

Jul 31, 2024

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.