Period 8 Overview

Economic Growth Post-WWII

• GI Bill: Provided veterans with education and housing benefits.
• Baby Boom: Increase in population.
• Sunbelt Region: Rise due to economic opportunities.
• Interstate Highway Act: Enhanced connectivity, trade, travel.
• Suburban Growth: Affordable housing, exemplified by Levittown.
• Cultural Shifts: Television shaped pop culture, conformity; teens rebelled with rock and roll.

Cold War Developments

• US vs. Soviet Union: Led to global tensions.
• US Foreign Policy:
  • Shift from isolationism to containment (George Kennan).
  • Truman Doctrine: Prevented communism in Greece, Turkey.
  • Marshall Plan: Rebuilt Western Europe.
  • Proxy Wars: Korean War as containment success.
• Eisenhower's Influence: Military aid via Eisenhower Doctrine; brinkmanship policy; warned against military-industrial complex.
• Cuban Missile Crisis: Heightened nuclear tensions under Kennedy.
• Domestic Impact:
  • Red Scare: Led by Senator McCarthy.
  • Nuclear Preparedness: Drills, fallout shelters.
  • Arms and Space Race: Increased defense, space investments.

Civil Rights Movement

• Legal Landmarks:
  • Brown v. Board of Education: Ended school segregation.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964: Outlawed discrimination.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: Eliminated voting barriers.
• Key Figures: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X.
• Methods: Non-violent protests, civil disobedience (e.g., Montgomery Bus Boycott, Greensboro Sit-ins).
• Black Power Movement: Advocated by Malcolm X, Black Panthers.

Vietnam War

• Domino Theory: Fear of communism spread.
• US Involvement: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution enabled military action.
• Public Opinion:
  • Tet Offensive: Shifted public perception.
  • Pentagon Papers: Exposed government misinformation.
• Nixon's Withdrawal: Vietnamization policy led to troop reduction.

Johnson’s Great Society

• War on Poverty: Legislation for vulnerable groups.
• Notable Programs: Medicare, Medicaid, Education Act, Housing Department.

Nixon’s Foreign Policy

• Détente: Eased Cold War tensions.
• Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT).
• China Engagement: Reopened diplomatic and trade channels.
• Middle East: OPEC embargo led to economic recession.

Watergate Scandal

• Political Crisis: Illegal activities by Nixon’s administration.
• Aftermath: Nixon resigned, succeeded by Gerald Ford.

Environmental Movement

• Awareness Rise: Influenced by Rachel Carson’s "Silent Spring".
• Legislation: Clean Air, Clean Water Acts; EPA established.
• Earth Day Initiated: Promoted environmental consciousness.

Social Movements

• Feminism: Fueled by "The Feminine Mystique"; National Organization for Women.
• LGBTQ+ Activism: Stonewall Riots; push for legal rights.
• Latino Rights: Led by Cesar Chavez.
• Native American Advocacy: American Indian Movement, Alcatraz occupation.

Exam Preparation Tips

• Causation: Understand Cold War effects.
• Comparison: Compare civil rights strategies; Cold War policies.
• Change/Continuity: Note shifts in US foreign policy post-WWII.

Additional Resources

• Ultimate Review Packet: Timelines, study guides, essay practice.
• Video Subscription: Encourage following educational content.