Chapter 27

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee- SNCC (POL)

A group established in 1960 to promote and use non-violent means to protest racial discrimination; they were the ones primarily responsible for creating the sit-in movement. They were one of the principal organizations of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. It emerged from a series of student meetings led by Ella Baker held at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in April 1960. SNCC grew into a large organization with many supporters in the North.

Little Rock Crisis (POL)

A group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The ensuing Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and then attended after the intervention of President Eisenhower, is considered to be one of the most important events in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. On their first day of school, troops from the Arkansas National Guard would not let them enter the school and they were followed by mobs making threats to lynch.

Beatniks (CUL)

A group of rebellious writers and intellectuals led by Jack Kerouac (On the Road in which the characters travel for the joy of traveling) and poet Allen Ginsberg ("Howl" about the evils of modern society). This group advocated spontaneity, use of drugs, and rebellion against societal standards. This group became the models for the youth rebellion of the sixties.

Sit in Movement (POL)

A nonviolent approach to protest in the south in which African American citizens would "sit in" at establishments where they were denied service to make a statement. It was led by NAACP Youth Council in 1960 and launched a wave of anti-segregation sit-ins across the South and opened a national awareness of the depth of segregation.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (POL)

An organization formed by MLK in 1957. It aimed to mobilize the vast power of the black churches on behalf of black right.The organization trained and tested African Americans for ability to remain calm so they could participate nonviolently in marches and "sit ins". It taught that civil rights could be achieved through nonviolent protests.

Brinkmanship (WOR)

Brinkmanship was used first by the US Secretary John Foster Dulles during the Cold War regarding his policy against the Soviet Union. Dulles defined the policy of brinkmanship as "the ability to get to the verge without getting into the war". His critics blamed him for damaging relations with communist states and contributing to the Cold War.

Montgomery Bus Boycotts (POL)

In 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus, Dr. Martin L. King led a boycott of city busses. After 11 months the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public transportation was illegal., the first organized movement by african americans to fight segregation; intended to oppose the city's policy of racial segregation on its public transit system. Many historically significant figures of the civil rights movement were involved in the boycott.

U-2 Incident (WOR)

In 1960, two weeks before Eisenhower was scheduled to meet Khrushchev in Paris (a result of the "spirit of Camp David" which had diffused the tension caused by the Second Berlin crisis of 1958), a high-altitude U.S spy plane, a U-2, was shot down by the Soviets, exposing a U.S tactic for gaining information. The U.S had been sending these planes ever since the the Soviets had rejected the open-sky proposals in 1955. Eisenhower took responsibility after they were exposed by the U-2 incident, but Khrushchev had little choice but to denounce him and call off the Paris summit.

Military-industrial complex (POL)

In Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell speech to the nation the retiring president warned of the dangers of allowing a Military-Industrial Complex to take control of the United States. The Military-Industrial Complex is a term that denotes a symbiotic relationship between a nation's military, economy, and politics. The idea being that if the military becomes the biggest client for manufacturers then the nation will begin to invest more of its economy into military contracts. Politically, this leads to national budgets being heavily weighed in the military's favor in order to support the economic stability that this relationship seems to create.

Corporate America; Consumer Culture (CUL)

In this time period of corporate america, there were more white collar jobs than blue collar, conglomerates began to dominate industries, and large corporations promoted teamwork and conformity. Americans could also participate in consumer culture also now because they were able to spend what they had been told to save during the war (disposable income); led to increased purchasing of luxury items. All media outlets displayed aggressive advertising by name brands promoting common material wants, leading to a society driven by consensus and conformity.

Domino Theory (WOR)

Initially used to justify giving a lot of aid to South Vietnam, this theory was devised by Eisenhower. It stated that if South Vietnam fell under Communist control, one nation after another in Southeast Asia would also fall, until Australia and New Zealand were in danger. Thus, the U.S had to do anything in order to keep South Vietnam from going to Communist rule.

Brown v. Board of Education (POL)

The 1954 supreme court decision holding that school segregation in topeka, Kansas, was inherently unconstitutional because it violated the 14th amendment's guarantee of equal protection. This case marked the end of legal segregation in the US .

Eisenhower Doctrine (WOR)

The Eisenhower Doctrine, given in a message to Congress on January 5, 1957, was the foreign policy of US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The doctrine stated that the United States would use armed forces upon request in response to imminent or actual aggression to the United States. Furthermore, countries that took stances opposed to Communism would be given aid in various forms. It was used in the Middle East.

Highway Act; interstate highway system (WTX)

This act passed under Eisenhower authorized the construction of 42,000 miles of interstate highways that would link all the nation's major cities. This system would become a model for the rest of the world once completed. The new taxes on fuel, tires, and vehicles was justified as necessary for improving national defense. As a public works project, it created jobs, promoted the trucking industry, accelerated the growth of the suburbs, and contributed to a more homogenous national culture. It also hurt the railroads and public transportation (which the poor and old depended on), as well as the environment.

Rosa Parks (POL)

United States civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery (Alabama) and so triggered the national civil rights movement (born in 1913). She was responsible for starting the bus boycott and left a very strong impact in the US.

Modern Republicanism (POL)

What Eisenhower called his balanced and moderate approach to domestic affairs. He approved of helping the aged and poor while still limiting the power of the central government. For example, he extended Social Security to 10 million more citizens, minimum wage was raised, and more public housing was built. However, Eisenhower did not approve of federal health care insurance and federal aid to education. This policy also still called for a large arms buildup and an active foreign policy. Eisenhower's critics called this "the bland leading the bland".