Passing the Georgia High School Graduation Test

and the State End of Course Test

United States HistoryPart Two

U.S History Since 1865

Review Material for GHSGT and SEOCT

Prepared by Michelle Drayton and Marjorie Seckinger

ECHS – 2007-2008

SSUSH10 The student will identify legal, political, and social dimensions of Reconstruction.

Reconstruction – the act of bringing the South back into a political union with the North.

Problems resulted from power struggle between the executive and legislative branch over who would control the reconstruction process.

Presidential Reconstruction

After the assassination of President Lincoln, Andrew Johnson became president.

He also believed that the South had not seceded from the Union

Wanted to treat the South as in rebellion Wanted to restore the Union as quickly and

painlessly as possible

Congressional Reconstruction

Controlled by “Radicals” who wanted to punish the South for the war and…

Called for strict readmission standards Wanted to restructure the South’s political

power away from the Planters

10% Plan – Presidential Plan

10% of the voting population must swear allegiance to the Union

Congress felt that this plan was too lenient and refused to admit representatives from the South into Congress

Radical Reconstruction

Divide the South into military districts with military commanders instead of elected officials

Must ratify 14th Amendment –equal protection of all citizens – gave citizenship to former slaves

Grant Black citizens the right to vote (15th Amendment)

Former Confederate officials could not hold office

Freedman’s Bureau

Agency set up to aid former slaves in adjusting themselves to freedom.

Furnished food and clothing to needy blacks and helped them get jobs.

Able to attend school for the first time African Americans started newspapers, served in

public office, and attended new colleges and universities established for them.

Morehouse College -

Reconstruction

Congress did not provide African Americans with land

With few skills – many returned to work on farms as sharecroppers and tenant farmers.

Reconstruction comes to an end in 1877 when the last state was re-admitted to the Union

African Americans were left with few protections against laws that discriminated against them (Jim Crow Laws)

13th, 14th, 15th Amendments

Known as the Civil War Amendments 13th – abolished slavery 14th – defined citizenship to include African Americans

and guaranteed that no citizen can be deprived of rights without due process

15th – protected the right of African Americans to vote These amendments were designed to protect the rights

of African Americans – however – they were not effective in preventing discrimination and abuse of voting rights.

Black Codes and the KKK

Founded in 1866 – the Ku Klux Klan used terrorism and violence to scare blacks and other minorities.

Tried to prevent Reconstruction governments from giving power to blacks.

Black Codes – were restrictions on former slaves, passed by Southern governments – Could not own weapons, meet together after sundown, etc.

Grandfather Clause – poll taxes – literacy tests were all ways in which blacks were denied the right to vote

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

President Johnson had been a supporter of Lincoln’s plan of reconstruction which would have re-admitted Southern states w/o restrictions

Congress attempted to weaken Johnson’s power by passing several laws that made Reconstruction fall under their control –

Congress wanted weaken his power even more – brought impeachment charges against him even though the evidence was weak

Johnson escaped a conviction by one vote in the Senate but was weakened by the process -

SSUSH11 The student will describe the growth of big business and technological innovations after Reconstruction

After the end of Reconstruction – people wanted to move west

Congress helped that movement by loaning millions of dollars to railroad companies to build railroads for the west coast

Railroads made it possible for the spread of population to the west coast

Transcontinental Railroad

Union Pacific - Began in Omaha and went west – Central Pacific – Began in Sacramento and went

East Railroads met in Utah to form the first trans-continental

railroad. Guilty of corruption in their business by overcharging

the government Use cheap Chinese labor – conditions were hazardous

–low pay – labor was exploited by the wealthy

Railroads

Had impact on other industries Farming – surplus supplies of grain and animal products

could shipped to market faster Towns grew up around junctions of railroads Steel industries grew to supply iron for the building of the

railroads Railroads organized their business around owning major

supply of raw materials for building and running the railroads as well as owning the railroad company

Railroads were the first of the “big” business organizations – led to growth of monopolies

Steel Industry

Andrew Carnegie made money in the steel industry

Used business tactics to drive the competition out of business

Introduced new process to make steel cheaper and stronger

Leading industry in aiding the spread of the Industrial Revolution

John D. Rockefeller

Rockefeller, Carnegie, Vanderbilt were called “Robber Barons” because the got wealthy by exploitation and ruthlessness

Extreme wealth and lavish lifestyle Held great economic and sometimes political power –

caused government to stay out of their business Set prices where they liked, drove competition out of

business Part of the Gilded Age -

Monopolies and Trusts

Trusts are companies that combine for the purpose of reducing competition an controlling prices

Monopolies when one company or individual owns and controls all of an industry, a raw material, or a means of production

Inventions

Thomas Edison – one of the most important inventors in American history

Light bulb Motion picture Phonograph Impact on American Life: - first lab set up for scientific experimentation, - created

new industries – led to improvements in living conditions and the expansion of factory jobs

SSUSH 12 The students will analyze important consequences of American industrial growth.

Ellis Island – entry point for inspection of immigrants coming into the U.S.

The second major wave of immigration to the U.S. – 25 million new immigrants

Changed from Western and Northern Europe to Southern and Eastern Europe

Came to escape poverty – persecution -

New Immigration

Language barriers and cultural differences produced mistrust by Americans

Most settled in crowed conditions – tenements for factory workers

Settled in urban areas - close to groups of other immigrants from the same country

Fear of new immigrants led to new call for restrictions on immigrants

Led to nativist movement – favoring the interest of native born people over that of foreign born people

American Federation of Labor and Samuel Gompers

Began in 1886 – first successful labor union Samuel Gompers – organizer and first

president It is a combination of different unions into one

large organization Represented skilled workers (cigar makers) Worked on collective bargaining – to reach

agreement on pay, hours, and conditions Successful strikes helped raise the pay and

improve the conditions of factory workers

Growth of Western Population – Wounded Knee and Sitting Bull

As white men moved west to settle – the Native Americans were pushed into smaller and smaller areas

The destruction of the buffalo and constant battles with settlers forced them to abandon their traditional plains life

Growth of Western Population – Wounded Knee and Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull – leader of Hunkpapa Sioux never signed an agreement to move his tribe to a reservation – finally forced to surrender and live on a reservation –

Wounded Knee – 300 starving Sioux Indians were killed when a fight broke out between the Calvary and the Indians

Brought the Indian Wars to a bitter end

Pullman Strike

Strikes were often violent Strike begins after the Pullman Company had

drastically wages and refused to negotiate with the workers

Workers began to strike and sponsored a boycott of Pullman Trains

Pullman hired strikebreakers – had the leaders of the strike jailed

Workers were fired and blacklisted so that they could not work in the railroad industry again.

SSUSH 13 The student will identify major efforts to reform American society and politics in the Progressive Era.

Upton Sinclair – wrote “The Jungle” Exposed unsanitary conditions in the Chicago’s

meat processing plants “Muckrakers” – named because the raked up

the “muck” of the business world Meat Inspection Act – and Pure Food and Drug

Act during Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration

Social Reforms

Ida Tarbell – muckraker – wrote “The History of Standard Oil Company” -

Exposed the ruthless business practices of Standard Oil Company

Her writing along with others made public aware of abuses occurring in trusted services and companies.

Women in Reform Movements

Jane Addams – One of the most influential members of the settlement house movement –19th century reformer who responded to the call to help the urban poor

Part of the reform movement known as Social Gospel –

Hull House – settlement house established in Chicago, ILL. - educational, cultural, and social services

Instrumental in cultivating social responsibility

Need for Civil Rights Reforms

Jim Crow- created a racial caste system in the South- Prevented African Americans from voting and created segregated facilities

Plessy vs. Ferguson – 1896 – Supreme Court decision that upheld that segregation (separation of the races) was lawful as long as separate facilities were and services equal commonly known as “separate but equal” principle

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Organization founded in 1909 – by W.E. B. DuBois to draw attention to the problem of discrimination and promote full racial equality

Founded by a number of African Americans and a number of prominent whites in New York.

Progressive Reforms

Reforms of Elections Initiative was instrumental in giving citizens the power to

create laws. (A bill originated by people rather than by lawmakers on the ballot)

Referendum – a vote on the initiative – allows voters to accept or reject the initiative.

Recall – enables voters to remove public officials from elected positions by forcing them to face another election before the end of their term.

Direct Elections – 17th Amendment – the people would elect U.S. Senator instead of state legislators

Labor Laws

In response in to poor working conditions – workers organized into labor unions

Improved wages, work week, and child labor laws

Work place safety standards Minimum age for work

SSUSH114 The student will explain American’s evolving relationship with the world at the turn of the century.

Chinese Exclusion Act – 1882 law passed by Congress banning entry into the U.S. to all Chinese except – students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials for 10 years

Extended in 1902 – repealed in 1943 Response to Nativism -

Immigration

Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907-1908 – Japan’s government agreed to limit immigration of unskilled workers to the U.S. In exchange for repeal of the San Francisco Segregation Order

Spanish American War

1898 – war between U.S. and Spain Helped Cuba to win independence from Spain Other causes include yellow journalism and the

De Lome Letter – Direct Cause – U.S. blamed Spain for the

explosion that sand the U.S.S. Maine in the harbor of Havana, Cuba

War starts in Philippines – colony of Spain and is also fought in the Caribbean Islands

Spanish American War

Results – Spain freed Cuba and gave Islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S.

Sold Philippines to U.S. for $20 million Treaty began great debate of “Imperialism” in

the U.S.

U.S. in Latin America

Roosevelt Corollary was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine

The U.S. claim the right to protect its economic economic interest by means of military intervention in the affair of Western Hemisphere nations (North and South America)

Panama Canal

Panama Canal – built on the isthmus of Panama to provide a short cut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans – 1914

Took over project for the French

SSUSh15 The Student will analyze the origins and impact of U.S. involvement in World War I

World War I – U.S. remained neutral at beginning of WWI in 1914

German provocation led to U.S. involvement in the war Supported Allied Forces by selling arms and war

supplies to Britain and France U.S. enters war in 1917 as a result of ….- Zimmerman Note – note from Germany to Mexico

proposing an alliance- Sinking of unarmed American merchant ships-

War at Home - Impact

The Great Migration – large scale movement of hundreds of thousands of African Americans from the rural South to factories in the North

Job opportunities and to escape the Jim Crow laws of the South

War at Home - Impact

Espionage and Sedition Act – a person could be fined up to $10 thousand and sentenced up to 20 years in jail for interfering with the war effort or saying any thing disloyal.

Targeted socialist and labor leader – such as Eugene B. Debs - a known socialists and labor leader of the IWW – given ten year prison sentence for speaking against the draft

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Wilson’s ideas that he wanted included in the WWI peace treaty – included freedom of the seas and League of Nations – first peace keeping organization

U.S. never joined the League of Nations because Senate failed to approve treaty

Amendments

18th Amendment – due to the women’s temperance movement – banned the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcoholic beverages - known as Prohibition

19th Amendment – Women’s suffrage - gave women the right to vote in 1920 - result of women’s efforts during WWI

SSUSH16 The student will identify key developments in the aftermath of WWI

Red Scare and the rise of communism and socialism The panic began in the U.S. in 1919 after the

communist take over of Russia Communist Party was formed in the U.S. Bomb scare to public officials and business leaders Public became fearful of communist take over Palmer (U.S. Attorney General) took action to combat

RED SCARE

Immigrant restriction

As a result of the Red Scare – the U.S. began a quota system

It established the maximum number of people who could enter the U.S. from Europe

Greatly limited immigrants from southern and eastern Europe

1927 law reduced the total number to 150,000 in one year

Industrial expansion

Henry Ford is most noted for the introduction of assembly line which created the emergence of mass production

Produced identical items in large quantities Made car affordable Model T was the most popular automobile

Harlem Renaissance

1920’s literary and artistic movement celebrating African American culture in Harlem, New York

Langston Hughes – was the movement’s best known poet

Louis Armstrong – famous jazz artist during this time – known as one of the most important and influential musicians in the history of jazz

(played trumpet)

Modern forms of Culture

Tin Pan Alley (often shortened to TPA) is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Irvin Berlin – Composer Mass Media – Radio and movies changed the

speed with which people gained information

SSUSH17 The student will analyze the causes and consequences of the Great Depression

Causes –

- Tariffs (to protect American goods) and war debts (WWI)

- Over production of farm goods

- Availability of easy credit

- unequal distribution of income

- Stock market speculation and crash

Effects of the Great Depression

People out of work Rise of shanty towns (Hoovervilles) World economy suffers Bank failures Schools close Hoover begin active governmental involvement

too little – too late

Dust Bowl

Drought – 1930’s wreaked havoc on the Great Plains Farmers had exhausted the land due to over

production of crops Grasslands became unsuitable for farming Windstorms picked up millions of tons of dust and

carried to East coast cities Dust Bowl consisted of Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado,

Texas and New Mexico People were plagued by dust storms and evictions –

most migrated to California and Pacific coast states.

Great Depression

Great stress on American families Men suffered from unemployment No federal system of direct relief for the needy Working women became targets of enormous

resentment Children suffered High suicide rates – neglected medical care

SSUSH18 The student will describe Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response to the depression and compare the ways governmental programs aided those in need.

New Deal was a series of programs designed to give direct relief to the needy and to stimulate the economy

The first part of the New Deal was in the first 100 days…

The second part

The New Deal

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - federal corporation established in 1933 to construct dams and power plants in the Tennessee Valley region

Design to generate electricity as well as to prevent floods

The New Deal

Wagner Act – AKA the National Labor Relations Act – 1935

To protect workers rights Protected rights to join unions and to collective

bargaining Could not interfere with union organizing – Set max. hours at 44 per week Set rules for under 16 Ban hazardous work for those under 18

The New Deal

Social Security Act – most important achievement of New Deal

Old age insurance for retirees 65 or older and their spouses.

Un-employment compensation system Aid to families with dependent children Aid to disabled

Women’s Activism

Eleanor Roosevelt – (wife of FDR) instrumental in the Second New Deal

Encouraged husband to set up social programs and to appoint women to government positions

Traveled to bring attention to social conditions and the suffering of the nation’s people.

Challenges to Roosevelt

Huey Long (Senator of Louisiana) challenged New Deal policies – proposed a share our wealth program – promised something for everyone

Assassinated

Challenges to FDR

FDR tried to increase the number of Supreme Court justices from 9 to 15 because he wanted to stop the court from interfering with his New Deal policies

Not passed by Congress – but many justices did retire or resign – thus he was able to appoint justices that who agree with his policies

Challenges to FDR

WWII broke out in Europe Neutrality Act – a series of acts passed in

1935-36 to prevent U.S. involvement in arm sales and loans to nations at war.

SSUSH 19 The student will identify the origins, major developments, and the domestic impact of WWII, especially, the growth of the federal government.

A. Philip Randolph – president and founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porter and the nation’s most respected African American Union

Protested discrimination both in the military and in industry

March was cancelled when FDR promised to end discrimination in defense industry

(Prior to WWII 75% of defense contractors refused to hire African Americans) (15% hired them only as janitors)

U.S. entry into WWII

Pearl Harbor – Dec.7, 1941 (Hawaii) – largest U.S. naval base in the Pacific

Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor without warning –

Hoped destroy the ability of the U.S. navy to protect areas of the South Pacific

President FDR – called on Congress to declare war on Japan (also declared war on Germany 2 days later)

U.S. enters WWII

Japanese Internment – (confinement in camps) War Dept. called for the mass evacuation of all Japanese

Americans – to be placed in camps Occurred in Hawaii, California, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona Justified as a necessary for national security Placed in remote relocation centers – 2/3 were people who were

born in this country. No charges had been filed against them – no evidence against

them – forced to sell homes and property for less than true value German and Italian Americans also faced discrimination

U.S. enters WWII

Lend Lease Program - Prior to our entry into WWII

Allowed the U.S. to ship arms and supplies to nations fighting the AXIS powers

“Arsenal of Democracy” Allied Powers were Great Britain, France,

USSR and U.S. (and many others Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, Japan

Major Battles WWII

Midway – Major naval battle on strategic island in Pacific

Turning point in the Pacific War Allied Victory – ended the power of the

Japanese Navy

Major Battles

D-Day - June 6, 1944 Largest invasion force ever assembled Allied invasion code name Operation Overlord Allies invaded Europe and began a push to

liberate France and the rest of Europe from German forces

Major Battles

May 1945 – fighting across Europe pushed the German army back into Germany

Soviets came from the west into Germany Rest of Allies came from the East to attack

Berlin Hitler commits suicide – leads to VE DAY May

8th

Germany surrenders to Allies

Getting ready for war

Selective Service – draft was expanded Factories were converted from civil products to making

war materials War Production Board created to manage the economy Great Depression ends as factories produce war

materials Women – served in special units of the armed services

and took the place of men in the work force By the end of the war - women made up 1/3 of the

work force

The Atomic Bomb

Los Alamos – The Manhattan Project was the code name

FDR – created the Office of Scientific Research and Development

Their most important achievement was the production of the Atomic Bomb

Decision to use the bomb was based on the belief that the bomb would save American lives over a land invasion of Japan

Forced the surrender of the Japanese Sept. 1945

Atomic Bomb

Some people believed that the use of the bomb was also necessary to show USSR that we would have the power to defend Europe from the spread of Communism

Standards 20-25

The majority of the information in these standards are not tested on the GHSGT.

They may be included in the State End of Course Test

Cold War

Name given to the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union for influence in the world after WWII.

Soviet Union set up Communist governments in Eastern Europe

Europe

Cold War

Containment Policy – belief that the best way to keep Communism out of Europe was to confront the Russians wherever they tried to spread their power

Truman Doctrine – stated that the U.S. would support any nation threatened by Communism

Cold War

Marshall Plan – Introduced by Secretary of State George Marshall (1947)

Proposed massive American economic aid to Europe

Hoped to rebuild them and prevent the spread of Communism

Cold War

North Atlantic Treaty Organization – member nations agreed to fight for each other if attacked. (opposed Communism)

Warsaw Pact – to oppose NATO – Soviets formed a military alliance with nations of Eastern Europe

Cold War

Fall of China (Mao Zedong) Mao led Communists in China during Civil War

after WWII against Chiang Kai-Shek The Communist won in 1949 Chiang Kai-Shek forced to flee and set up rival

government in Taiwan

Korean War

After WWII – Korea divided along the 38th parallel

Northern part controlled by Soviet Union – set up Communist government

Southern part controlled by U.S. –set up a democratic government

1950 North invaded the South in an attempt to take over

Korean War

The United Nations formed an international army – led by the U.S. – to stop the North

War ends in truce Stopped spread of Communism to S. Korea Communism continued to be a threat in

Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia

Cold War and Communism

Senator Joseph McCarthy – gained national attention by claiming that Communists had infiltrated the State Department

Created a “red scare” by his accusations of Communist activity in all levels of government

Later discredited when he could not prove his accusations

Baby Boom

1946 to 1960 huge population growth Levittown was one of the first massive suburbs

built for the baby boomers. Interstate Highway Act - under Pres.

Eisenhower – built a system of highways across the U.S.

Baby Boom

Led to an economic boom as people began to demand new products

Televisions became very popular First televised presidential debate was

between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy John Kennedy won a narrow victory because

he did better in the debates on television

Arms Race to the Space Race

Competition between the United States and the Soviet Union led to the race to outer space

1957 The Soviets launched “Sputnik” – the first satellite in space

This sparked the growth of the American Space program

Eisenhower encouraged more science and math in the schools systems

Arms Race

U.S. created larger and more deadly atomic and nuclear weapons.

The Soviet Union kept pace with U.S. production of weapons

Competition to build more bombs than the other

Cuban Revolution

1959 Fidel Castro overthrows the government of Cuba and established a communist government with the help of the Soviets

Bay of Pigs

1960 – Kennedy becomes President CIA get permission to carry out plan to help

Cuban exiles (those who left Cuba) to overthrow Castro –

It was a failure – Kennedy is embarrassed by the disaster

Soviets believe that they are stronger than U.S.

Cuban Missile Crisis

U.S. spy plane spot missile bases being built in Cuba

Soviets are planning to deliver nuclear missiles to the base

U.S. threatens action unless Soviet ships turn around and the bases are destroyed.

U.S. uses a naval blockade around Cuba Soviets back down and remove missiles

Vietnam War

France ruled Vietnam and treated the people badly

The revolt led by Ho Chi Minh – 1954 the Vietminh defeated the French in the

North and split the country Anti-communist government supported by the

United States controlled the south

Vietnam War

Ngo Dinh Diem - the leader of South Vietnam was corrupt

A rebel group –the Vietcong – formed in the South to defeat Diem – The communist North under Ho Chi Minh support the Vietcong.

Diem was assassinated

Vietnam War

Johnson becomes President and continues to support the new leader of South Vietnam

Wanted to stop the spread of communism from the North into the South

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson more military power to go to war

Vietnam War

1965 the war escalates U.S. unable to defeat the North Vietnamese

and the Vietcong

1. fighting style – hit and run (guerilla)

2. Vietcong refused to surrender

3. Unable to win the support of the Vietnamese people

Vietnam War

1968 Tet Offensive – North Vietnamese launched a massive attack on several major cities in the South

Even though the U.S and South Vietnamese forces were able to defend the areas – it turned public against the war

Protests at home became even more vocal as people began to refuse to serve in the war

Anti-war protests 1968

Pres. Johnson decided not to run for re-election

Protests spread across college campuses Kent State – 4 demonstrators were killed Richard Nixon is elected on the promise that

he will end the war

Vietnam War

1974 – U.S. pulls out of South Vietnam 1975 – South Vietnam is over run by the

communist North

Opposition to the War

Some Americans objected to U.S. involvement in Vietnam.– Stressed repressive character of the South Vietnamese government– Objected to massive aerial bombings, to the use of napalm and

defoliants and the killing of civilians by American troops– Deplored the heavy loss of life—58,000 American dead – Resulting deficits forced the government to borrow huge sums of

money, causing interest rates to soar and pushing prices higher.

Civil Rights Movement

1948 President Truman ordered that all areas of the military and the federal government be desegregated as rapidly as possible

Marked a period of increased activity in civil rights

Civil Rights

Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas – declared that separate but equal was unconstitutional

Ordered desegregation of all schools

Civil Rights

Montgomery Bus Boycott – Rosa Parks Central High School – Little Rock, Arkansas –

military used to enforce integration laws Freedom Riders – rode through out the South

on buses to integrate segregated bus stops and lunch counters

MLK Jr. “I Have A Dream” speech

Civil Rights

Civil Rights Act 1964 outlaws most forms of discrimination in the United States

Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated most barriers designed to limit African-American voting

Racism was a major problem Violence and police brutality were common

MLK, Jr. assassinated

Civil Rights Movement

“I Have a Dream” speech 1963 supporting a non-violent approach to achieving civil rights.

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail” MLK answers criticism for his involvement in Alabama as an “outsider” – states that he wants to fight injustice wherever it exists – he was arrested for participating in a march.

Worked to unify groups in a common cause

Civil Rights

Southern Christian Leaderships Conference (SCLC) – Led by MLK – coalition of churches and Christian organizations who worked for a nonviolent answer to civil rights problems

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) – a student civil rights movement that organized voter registration drives

SNCC – later followed the Black Power movement – sit ins – protests – some violence

Civil Rights

Jackie Robinson became the first African American to integrate baseball

Women in the 1960’s

National Organization for Women – Betty Frieden, a reform organization that battled for equal rights with men, employment opportunities, pay, ERA, divorce laws and legal abortion

The Warren Court

Miranda Decision – expanded rights of the accused –

Right to an attorney- gave even more rights

Very liberal court

Assassination of Pres. Kennedy

November 22, 1963 Many civil rights programs began under

Kennedy had to be completed by L.B. Johnson

Lyndon Johnson

Program was called “the Great Society” Started a “war on poverty” Created Medicare and Medicaid Spending on the Vietnam war limited the “war

on poverty” Led to deficit spending and expanded the role

of government in everyday life

1968 – a very bad year

Johnson decides not to run for President because of unpopular war in Vietnam

Martin L. King, Jr. is assassinated Robert Kennedy decides to run for President

and is assassinated Democratic National Convention – sight of riots

and protests

United Farm Workers Movement

Cesar Chavez organized Latino migrant workers

Wanted to improve working conditions and pay Called for a nation wide boycott of grapes Led to successful negotiations

Environment

“Silent Spring” Rachel Carson – Marine biologist wrote about DDT and the food chain- and harming humans – led to the banning of DDT

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established to regulate pollution of the environment and set standards for health and safety.

Conservative Movement in Politics

Richard Nixon – tried to decrease the power of the government

Followed “law and order” policies to stop riots and protests

Richard M. Nixon

China – visited in order to open trade talks and to improve relations

Watergate Scandal – Nixon will be forced to resign because he was involved in an attempt to cover up the burglary at the Democratic National Headquarters

He resigned to avoid impeachment

President Gerald R. Ford

Nixon resigns to avoid being impeached Ford becomes President and gives Nixon a

Presidential Pardon for any crimes he may have done

The Watergate Scandal led to distrust of the Presidency

Supreme Court Decisions

Increase the rights of citizens Roe V. Wade- allowed women to decide if

they wanted an abortion

Affirmative Action – giving special treatment to minorities

Bakke decision – reverse discrimination – a young white man was denied admission to a medical school even though he had better scores than some minority applicants who had been admitted under affirmative action

Courts ruled that schools could not make decisions based on race

Affirmative action was a quota system that required colleges to admit a certain percentage of minorities even if they were not as qualified as white applicants

President Jimmy Carter

Troubled by crisis in the Middle East Worked to bring peace to the region Camp David Accords – helped create a peace

agreement between Israel and Egypt

Jimmy Carter – Middle East

1979 – The Shah of Iran was overthrown by an Islamic leader (Ayatollah Khomeini)

Carter allowed the Shah to come to the United States for treatment of Cancer

Angry Iranians took 52 Americans hostage and held them for 444 days

Carter was unable to get them released

President Ronald Reagan

The hostages were freed minutes after Reagan took the oath of office.

Reagan tried to reduce the size of the government

Reagonomics – policy that cutting taxes would motivate people to work, save, and invest.

The economy grew

President Ronald Reagan

End of the Cold War The Soviet Union Collapsed because of

economic problems – former republics became independent

Russia and the United States agreed to decrease nuclear weapons by 75%

President Ronald Reagan

The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal which was revealed in November 1986 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration. It began as an operation to increase U.S.-Iranian relations, wherein Israel would ship weapons to a moderate, politically influential group of Iranians opposed to the Ayatollah Khomeini; the U.S. would reimburse Israel for those weapons and receive payment from Israel. The moderate Iranians agreed to do everything in their power to achieve the release of six U.S. hostages, who were being held by Hezbollah. The plan eventually deteriorated into an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages, without the direct authorization of President Ronald Reagan.

Bill Clinton

North America Free Trade Agreement It provided for free trade between United

States, Mexico, and Canada. The Republican Party controlled both houses

of Congress – and often opposed his programs Impeached for lying about his association with

a young female – he was acquitted by the Senate

2000 Presidential Election

George W. Bush won the election based on the number of electoral votes even though Al Gore actually had more popular votes.

The election results was held up due disputed ballots in Florida – the Supreme Court put an end to recounts

Later recounts showed that Bush did win Florida.

Sept. 11, 2001

Terrorists attach New York and Washington Bush began waging war against terrorist

networks in Afghanistan and Iraq. The war was successful in eliminating the

Taliban in Afghanistan. Iraq has established a democratic government

but has yet to end the fighting by insurgents.

Web Links to practice tests for U.S. History and Government

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