The Modern United States People, Events, and Places

From Mrs. Hodum’s Presentation, what did you learn about how children your age were affected during World War II?

Week #1 Cold War Space Race Berlin Wall Cuban Missile Crisis Korean War United Nations Peacekeeping Troops

Cold War Struggle between United States and Soviet Union Democracy (freely elected government and free enterprise) VS Communism (government owns all of the businesses and land, individuals have little freedom)

Cold War

Space Race A race between United States and Soviet Union to explore outer space. Sputnik, Oct. 4, 1957 by the Soviet Union First U.S. satellite, Jan. 1958, NASA founded in Oct. 1958 U.S. and Soviet Union continued to build and test new rockets and satellites, and soon space ships

Space Race

Berlin Wall A wall made of concrete, stone, and barbed wire, that prevented people in East Berlin from fleeing to the non-communist West Berlin. Those who tried to escape were shot.

Berlin Wall

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuba, with Soviet Unions help, became first Communist country in Western Hemisphere. Soviet Union set up nuclear missiles in Cuba (90 miles from U.S.) President Kennedy demanded they remove them. After some debate, they did remove missiles from Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Korean War Soviet Union helped North Korea start a Communist government. United States helped South Korea form a Democratic government. This was a Cold War fight: Communism vs Democracy. North Korea invaded South Korea to unite the country under Communism President Truman sent U.S. forces to protect South Korea. Ended with country still divided. 33,000 Americans died in the war.

United Nations Peacekeeping Troops One of the most useful tools to help countries UN Peacekeepers provide security and support to help countries get peace. During Korean War, the UN supported South Korea (the U.S. supported side) to fight against communism. Provided military and supplies

Week #2 Brown vs. Board of Education Central High School Martin Luther King Jr. Nashville Sit-ins Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa Parks Freedom Riders Diane Nash

Brown vs. Board of Education Linda Brown, 7, was not allowed to go to public school a few blocks from her home. She was bused to a school for African American students. Browns took their case to court May 17, 1954: Supreme Court ruled segregation of public schools was illegal under the Constitution.

Brown vs. Board of Education

Central High School a key event of the American Civil Rights Movement nine black students enrolled at formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in September 1957 Governor of Arkansas used National Guard to stop students from entering President Eisenhower sent federal troops and ordered “the Little Rock Nine” to be allowed to go to school

Martin Luther King Jr. Fought for Civil Rights of African Americans Promoted passive resistance Planned many of the resistances

Martin Luther King Jr.

Nashville Sit-ins  black and white college students used nonviolent methods to desegregate downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The students stage a sit-in at segregated city lunch counters in February 1960. First they are ignored, but when they return again and again, they are beaten and jailed. leads to a boycott of downtown stores. Business leaders apply pressure for a political solution. bombing of a prominent black lawyer's house prompts the students to march on city hall and confront the mayor. After he is forced to admit that segregation is wrong, Nashville begins to desegregate.

Montgomery Bus Boycott As a result of Rosa Parks being arrested, African Americans refused to ride the busses in Montgomery. Continued for more than a year. Ended with a Supreme Court decision declaring that segregation on public buses was illegal.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Rosa Parks Arrested when she refused to move so a white passenger could have her seat.

Freedom Riders Practiced passive resistance (oppose something without using violence) People who rode busses to see if public transportation was obeying the law. Often threatened, beaten, or arrested.

Freedom Riders

Diane Nash Civil Rights Leader Organized black and white students during this time Important student leader of Nashville, TN sit-ins Important leader of the Freedom Riders Her campaigns are among the most successful of the Civil Rights Movement

John F. Kennedy Civil Rights Act Voting Rights Act Vietnam War Week #3 John F. Kennedy Civil Rights Act Voting Rights Act Vietnam War

John F. Kennedy 35th President of the United States Assassinated on November 22, 1963

John F. Kennedy Broadcast interrupted television shows to give them the news of President Kennedy.

Civil Rights Act 1964: a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Civil Rights Act Explained

Voting Rights Act This act was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting.

Voting Rights Act

Vietnam War One of the most difficult wars fought by Americans United States fought with South Vietnam against North Vietnam (communists) Reason: to stop the spread of communism. Controversy: Most Americans were against the war. Outcome: America left and South Vietnam surrendered.

Vietnam War

Richard Nixon Watergate Ronald Reagan Week #4 Richard Nixon Watergate Ronald Reagan

37th President of the United States of America Richard Nixon 37th President of the United States of America

Richard Nixon Worked to improve relationships with China. No American President had ever been to China because of bad relationships with them. He went and this was an important step toward friendlier relationship with China.

Watergate 5 men were caught breaking into any office in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. The men confessed they were there to collect information from Nixon’s opponents Evidenced showed Nixon was involved Congress was prepared to impeach him He resigned as President (only U.S. President to do so)

Watergate Watergate Scandal

Ronald Reagan 40th President of U.S. (1981-1989) Was a popular two term president He cut taxes, increased defense spending, negotiated a nuclear arms reduction agreement with the Soviets, and is credited with helping to bring a quicker end to the Cold War. Ronald Reagan History Channel