The 1960s Vocabulary List

Communism Definition: A way of organizing a society in which the government owns the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) and there is no privately owned property

The Peace Corps Definition: A U.S. organization that trains and sends people who work without pay to help poor people in other countries.

Revolution Definition: The usually violent attempt by many people to end the rule of one government and start a new one

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Definition: The Central Intelligence Agency is a part of the U.S. federal government that is responsible for collecting information about other countries or foreign groups.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion Definition: A military debacle in April 1961, during an American- organized effort to invade Cuba and drive Fidel Castro, the communist ruler, from power. The invasion force of 1,500 Cuban exiles was defeated at the Bay of Pigs, a major embarrassment for President John F. Kennedy.

The Berlin wall Definition: A barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.

The Cuban Missile Crisis Definition: The showdown between the United States and the Soviet Union during October 1962, after the Soviet Union snuck medium-range nuclear missiles into communist Cuba. After President John F. Kennedy publicly demanded their removal and ordered the blockade of Cuba, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to do so, preventing a nuclear war.

Capitalism Definition: A way of organizing an economy so that the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) are owned by individual people and companies rather than by the government.

Nationalist Definition: a member of a political group that wants to form a separate and independent nation.

Guerrillas Definition: A member of a usually small group of soldiers who do not belong to a regular army and who fight in a war as an independent unit.

The Vietcong Definition: A guerrilla member of the Vietnamese communist movement.

Civil Disobedience Definition: A refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something.

“Sit-in” Definition: A strike or protest in which people sit or stay in a place and refuse to leave until they are given what they demand.

Black Panther Definition: A member of a militant black American organization (Black Panther party) active in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, formed to work for the advancement of the rights of African Americans, often by radical means.

Militant Definition: Having or showing a desire or willingness to use strong, extreme, and sometimes forceful methods to achieve something.

Reform Definition: To improve (someone or something) by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.

Domestic Policy Definition: The set of decisions that a government makes relating to things that directly affect the people in its own country.

Foreign Policy Definition: A government’s policy on dealing with other countries, for example in matters relating to trade or defense.

The Great Society Definition: The domestic plan of President Lyndon B. Johnson for the United States. The plan desired to end poverty, promote civil rights, and improve housing, health care, and education.

Poverty Definition: The state of being poor.

The Beat Movement Definition: Members of the generation that came to maturity in the 1950s, whose rejection of the social and political systems of the West was expressed through contempt for regular work, possessions, traditional dress, etc, and espousal of anarchism, communal living, drugs, etc.

Commune Definition: A group of people who live together and share responsibilities, possessions, etc.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Definition: An organization created by college students in the early 1960s. The activist organization protested racism, corporations, and the Vietnam War.

Activist Definition: A person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) to help make changes in politics or society.

Democratic Nation Definition: A form of government in which the people choose leaders (by voting).

Hippie Definition: A usually young person who rejects established social customs (such as by dressing in an unusual way or living in a commune) and who opposes violence and war.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Definition: Congressional action, undertaken at President Johnson’s request, giving the President the authority to deploy U.S. troops to repel aggression in Southeast Asia.

Hawks Definition: Members of American society who supported America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

Doves Definition: Members of American society who were against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Tet Offensive Definition: A wide-ranging offensive, launched by North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops throughout South Vietnam in February It failed to cause the South Vietnamese government to collapse, but convinced many Americans that the war was not winnable.