1. Unit 13 Vocab U.S. History

2. Baby Boom After World War II, the birthrate soared. “Baby boomers” became the largest generation in U.S. History. Also, contributed to growth of suburban lifestyle Most Americans worked in cities, but new highways and affordability of cars led to growth of suburbs.

3. Levittowns – Mass produced houses in assembly-line fashion – Makes suburban houses affordable – Became prime example of 1950s suburban lifestyle and conformity

4. Impact of technology on Modern America In the 1950s, air conditioning use expanded significantly and was a part of the new suburban lifestyle. This allowed for growth of southern cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Miami. “electromechanical” personal computers were improved throughout the 1960s, before the personal computers appeared in the 1970s.

5. Kennedy – Nixon Debates Televised debates between candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. Kennedy won the debate and the election because he looked better on camera and was more charismatic

6. Nixon’s Opening of China Nixon reversed U.S. policy of not recognizing the Chinese communist government by visiting China in 1971 Significance: Opened up diplomatic and economic relations with the Chinese and was a huge success with the American public

7. Watergate Scandal Nixon and his administration tried to cover up their involvement in the burglary of the Democratic National Headquarters Effects of Watergate: American public and media developed a general distrust of public officials that still exists today

8. Gerald Ford Pardoned Nixon American’s distrust government Economy was bad (recession)

9. Camp David Accords Carter arranged a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt Significance: Israel and Egypt were long-time enemies and Carter managed to get Israel to sign its’ first peace agreement with an Arab nation

10. Iranian Hostage Crisis Revolutionaries seize U.S. embassy and took 52 Americans hostage because Carter allowed the Iranian Shah to come to the U.S. They refused to release hostages while Carter was president. Significance: Demonstrated the limits America faced in the 1970s and Americans also realized the limits on their resources

11. Reaganomics Conservative economic policy Based on budget cuts, tax cuts and increased defense spending “trickle down” economics

12. Iran Contra Scandal 1983 pro-Iranian terrorist groups took Americans hostage in Lebanon Reagan said U.S. allies should not sell weapons to Iran But, in 1986 Reagan approved selling weapons to Iran for the release of 7 American hostages Reagan’s staff used profits from those sales to send weapons to Contras in Nicaragua

13. Fall of the Soviet Union Gorbachev initiates reform to make the Soviet Union more democratic and had better relations with the U.S. In 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the Soviet Union dissolved.

14. NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement legislation brought Mexico into the free-trade zone that already existed between the U.S. and Canada Supporters: will strengthen all 3 economies and create more American jobs Opponents: would transfer American jobs to Mexico

15. Clinton’s Impeachment impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice Tried to cover up improper relationship with White House intern He was acquitted in the Senate trial. He remained in office and apologized for his actions.

16. 2000 Election Al Gore (Democrat) v. George W. Bush (Republican) came down to who won Florida Gore won the popular vote, but Bush won Florida in a recount by 500 Gore requested manual recounts, and Bush sued to stop them. Supreme Court sided with Bush.

17. Terrorist Attacks on 9/11 Terrorists (al-Qaeda) attack the World Trade Center and Pentagon killing many Americans Bush responds by declaring war on terror, forming Department of Homeland Security, increasing aviation security and pushing for anti-terrorism bill (Patriot Act)

18. War in Afghanistan coalition of forces led by U.S. bombed Afghanistan because they were harboring Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. broke up the al-Qaeda network, and bin Laden was killed in 2011

19. War in Iraq Bush feared that Saddam Hussein would supply terrorists with WMD (weapons of Mass Destruction) Hussein refused to cooperate with inspections, and U.S and British forces invaded Iraq in 2003. No WMD were found, but Saddam Hussein was defeated, went into hiding, and tried for crimes against humanity.