Révisions DNL histoire géographie terminale

« The US at the end of the 60s : The late 1960s were a time of deep change and social unrest in the United States.

The country was divided over the Vietnam War, civil rights, and cultural transformations.  The Vietnam war (19551975): Overview: North Vietnam (led by Hô Chi Minh, communist, supported by USSR and China); South Vietnam (anti-communist, supported by the US and allies); Main goal of North Vietnam: Unify the country under communism; Main goal of the US: Prevent the spread of communism (part of the Cold War "Domino Theory"). The 17th Parallel: Much like Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, Vietnam was temporarily split at the 17th parallel after the Geneva Accords of 1954. Hô Chi Minh: Leader of North Vietnam, symbolising global communism and anti-colonialism. => One of the most significant and controversial conflicts of the 20th century.

Vietnam was a French colony before 1954 and the French defeat.

Because of Cold War tensions, (ex: Cuban Crisis, 1962), the US got heavily involved in the Vietnam War.

They wanted to stop communism from spreading in Southeast Asia and used the Gulf of Tonkin incident as a reason to send more troops and take stronger action. Gulf of Tonkin attack (1964): Alleged attack on US ships by North Vietnam led to Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Lyndon B.

Johnson power to escalate the war. Containment and the Domino Theory: The U.S.

followed a containment policy, the effort to stop the spread of communism worldwide, fearing that if Vietnam fell to communism, other countries in the region would follow.

After Korea fell into a divided North (communist) and South (capitalist) state following the Korean War, fears grew that Vietnam would be next. John F.

Kennedy: Increased U.S.

military involvement, sending advisors to support the South Vietnamese government. Guerrilla Warfare: type of fighting where small, hidden groups use surprise attacks, ambushes, and hit-and-run tactics instead of open, direct battles.

Used by the Viet Cong, a communist guerrilla group (hid in villages or underground tunnels, planted traps and ambushed US soldiers => made the war very difficult for the US army, which was trained for more traditional battles. Richard Nixon (elected 1968) : escalated the war initially with bombings in Cambodia and Laos but later introduced "Vietnamization," aiming to withdraw U.S.

troops and leave the war to South Vietnamese forces.

He signed the Paris Peace Accords in 1973 = agreement between the US, Vietnam (north + south), and the Viet Cong to end the U.S.

involvement in the war. Chemical Warfare: To root out hidden enemy forces in jungles and villages, the U.S.

used devastating weapons such as napalm (a flammable liquid) and Agent Orange (a toxic defoliant) => caused horrific injuries to civilians and long-term environmental and health consequences like birth defects, further turning public opinion against the war. Opium dilemma: While the U.S.

was involved in the Vietnam War, drug production increased in nearby areas like the Golden Triangle (Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar).

Some groups supported by the U.S.

were involved in the opium trade, reating a conflict between fighting communism and addressing drug trafficking.

Heroin use among U.S.

soldiers in Vietnam became a major issue. Public Opinion & Patriotism: The war sparked deep division in the U.S, with strong anti-war protests viewing it as an unjust and imperialist intervention, especially after events like the Tet Offensive (1968, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces launched a surprise attack on South Vietnam during the Tet New Year holiday) and the the My lai Massacre (1968, US soldiers killed between 300-500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, mostly women, children, and elderly, in the village of My Lai). Woodstock festival (1969): symbol of the anti-Vietnam War movement, bringing together youth to protest for peace through music and unity. Gerald Ford: After Nixon's resignation (1974) Ford oversaw the final phase of the war.

In 1975, South Vietnam fell to North Vietnam, who captured Saigon, marking the end of the war with US military evacuating in a chaotic and emotional withdrawal.

Ford requested aid for South Vietnam, but Congress refused. Impact: Over 58,000 U.S.

soldiers died, and millions of Vietnamese perished.

The war damaged America's global image, led to distrust in the government, and reshaped U.S. foreign policy.

The War Powers Act of 1973 was passed to limit presidential power over military commitments.

The war also had long-term effects on veterans, many of whom returned with physical injuries and psychological trauma, often with little support.

In Vietnam, the country faced years of rebuilding under a unified communist regime.  Civil Rights Movement: Overview: mainly from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s.

Pivotal period in American history marked by major progress in the fight against racial segregation, for racial equality.

During these years, African Americans and their allies organized mass protests, marches, and acts of civil disobedience to demand equal rights and end segregation.

These years were also marked by turbulent social unrest, and the emergence of more radical voices, including the Black Panther Party. Why was it needed? Black Americans faced legal segregation and discrimination, especially under Jim Crow laws in the South => denied them equal access to public spaces, education, and voting rights.

This injustice was made worse when the Supreme Court declared in Plessy v.

Ferguson (1896) that segregation was legal as long as facilities were “separate but equal,” a decision that allowed unequal treatment to continue for decades. → Key Civil Rights Events (showed the strength + determination of the movement): The Civil Rights Act of 1964: signed by President Lyndon B.

Johnson = major step toward equality in the U.S.

=> banned discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin, + put an end to segregation in public places like schools, restaurants, and buses.

This law gave the federal government more power to enforce civil rights and marked a turning point in the fight against injustice. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People): founded in 1909, one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States.

Its main goal was to fight against racial segregation, discrimination, and violence targeting African Americans.

NAACP focused on legal strategies to challenge unjust laws => most famous victories = 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v.

Board of Education => declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The Voting Rights Act: passed in 1965 under President Lyndon B.

Johnson => achievement of the Civil Rights Movement => remove barriers that stopped African Americans from voting, especially in the South, like literacy tests and intimidation.

The law gave the federal government the power to protect voting rights and helped increase Black voter registration across the country. Fannie Lou Hamer: activist and civil rights leader from Mississippi, endured beatings and arrests simply for attempting to register to vote => testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention exposed the brutal realities of racial discrimination + helped bring national attention to the fight for voting rights. → Turbulent Social Unrest: Watts Riots: a six-day uprising in Los Angeles in 1965, triggered by an incident of police brutality.

The riots highlighted the anger and frustration felt by many African Americans facing poverty, racism, and injustice in daily life. Civil Disobedience: Nonviolent protest was a key strategy in the Civil Rights Movement. Activists used sit-ins, freedom rides, and peaceful marches to challenge segregation and unfair laws.

Inspired by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., this approach aimed to show moral strength and attract public support. Martin Luther King Jr: most iconic leader of the Civil Rights Movement.

He believed in nonviolent resistance and led many peaceful protests => “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington became a symbol of hope.

His assassination in 1968 shocked the nation and marked a turning point in the struggle for justice. Desegregation: long and difficult struggle led by brave students, parents, and citizens who stood up against racial injustice, often facing violence and threats.

=> Ruby Bridges (integrated a all-white school at 6), James Meredith (first Black student at the University of Mississippi) Malcolm X: Key spokesman for the Nation of Islam (Black nationalist and religious movement that advocated for Black empowerment and separation from white society).

He encouraged Black pride, independence, and self-defense.

Unlike leaders who focused on nonviolence (like MLK), he believed African Americans had the right to protect themselves against oppression.

His ideas strongly influenced the Black Power movement and groups like the Black Panther Party.

He was assassinated in 1965 => major loss for the Civil Rights Movement + left a big impact on the fight for racial justice Black Panther Party (1966): Founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California, the Party was a response to police brutality and systemic racism, focusing on Black self-defense and empowerment.

Early activities primarily involved monitoring police activities in Black communities => armed patrols, known as "copwatching.", carrying legally permitted firearms.

Known for community programs like free breakfast for children and health clinics. Civil.... »