Eisenhower: tranquility and crisis, 1952–1960 key terms

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s.

Dynamic Conservatism

Eisenhower's approach that combined conservative economic policies with moderate social policies.

Consumerism

An economic and social order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

Suburbanization

The process of population movement from within cities to the rural-urban fringe, leading to the growth of suburbs.

Détente

A period of relaxed tensions and improved relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, particularly in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Brinkmanship

The practice of pushing dangerous events to the brink of disaster to achieve favorable outcomes, notably used in U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.

Civil Rights Movement

A social and political movement in the United States aimed at ending racial discrimination and securing equal rights for African Americans.

Desegregation

The process of ending the separation of two groups, typically referring to the integration of African Americans into public schools and facilities.