Post-WWII American Society and Migration

Post-War Suburbanization

• The G.I. Bill created affordable home loans, leading to suburbanization
• The Interstate Highway System enabled easier transportation and development of suburban areas
• Construction of amenities like stores and shopping malls attracted people to the suburbs

Rock and Roll's Impact

• Rock and Roll music encouraged teenage rebellion against authority figures
• It countered the religiosity of the time, contributing to a cultural shift

Migration to the Sun Belt

• Better climate, better pay, and lower taxes drew people from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt
• The Interstate Highway System, developed under Eisenhower, facilitated this migration

International Relations

• The Berlin Airlift demonstrated American strength against the Soviet Union during the Cold War
• The Korean War ended in a stalemate, but the US successfully contained communism

1960 Presidential Election

• Televised debates significantly impacted the 1960 presidential election

Civil Rights Movement

• The Plessy v. Ferguson case established "Separate but Equal," setting the stage for the Civil Rights Movement
• Rosa Parks' act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by MLK
• The March on Washington featured MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech
• MLK advocated for non-violent action to end segregation and racism

Vietnam War

• The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution granted the President broad military powers
• Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign against North Vietnam
• The Tet Offensive was a massive attack on US bases, leading to increased media criticism of the war
• The Pentagon Papers revealed the government's deception about the war
• The war effort ultimately ended in a stalemate

Supreme Court Decisions

• Roe v. Wade established a woman's right to an abortion in the first trimester

Nixon's Foreign Policy

• Nixon's Détente policy aimed to relax tensions between communism and democracy
• He became the first president to visit the Soviet Union, seeking improved relations
• Nixon's visit to China was meant to show the Soviet Union the US was willing to work with communist nations

Energy Crisis

• OPEC's oil price hike and US government regulations caused the 1970s energy crisis

Watergate Scandal

• Nixon attempted to justify not releasing Oval Office tapes, citing national security concerns
• The Supreme Court ruled against Nixon, and the tapes were released
• Nixon's role was to cover up the break-in, not plan or order it
• President Ford's pardon of Nixon led to a decline in his approval rating

Reagan's Foreign Policy

• Reagan's "Peace through Strength" policy aimed to combat communism through military strength
• The policy forced the Soviet Union to keep pace, leading to an economic crisis and the collapse of communism

Iran-Contra Scandal

• The US sold weapons to Iran and diverted profits to the Contras in Central America
• The scandal involved illegal activities not approved by Congress
• Reagan knew about the weapons sale but not the diverted profits

Persian Gulf War

• The war was fought over oil, as Iraq invaded Kuwait to control its oil fields
• The US intervened to protect its oil interests and Kuwait, a major oil supplier
• The US used a bombing campaign to weaken Iraq before a successful ground invasion