final

Question 1

Harlem Renaissance

Answer 1

A 1920s African American cultural movement centered in Harlem, NYC. It celebrated Black identity through music (jazz), literature, and art. Claude McKay’s poem “If We Must Die” is a powerful call to resist racial oppression with dignity and courage.

Question 2

The Great Migration

Answer 2

Between 1916–1970, over 6 million African Americans left the rural South for Northern and Western cities to escape segregation and find better jobs, reshaping U.S. demographics and culture.

Question 3

Scopes Monkey Trial (1925)

Answer 3

A high-profile court case in Tennessee where teacher John Scopes was tried for teaching evolution, violating state law. It symbolized the clash between modern science and traditional religious values.

Question 4

Black Tuesday (Oct. 29, 1929)

Answer 4

The stock market crashed, marking the start of the Great Depression. Panic selling led to billions lost in a day, wiping out investors and leading to massive unemployment and bank failures.

Question 5

Causes of the Great Depression

Answer 5

Stock speculation and market crash

Bank failures and loss of savings

Overproduction and underconsumption

Decline in international trade

Unequal wealth distribution

Question 6

Effects of the Great Depression

Answer 6

Unemployment reached 25%

Breadlines and homelessness

Family and farm failures

Collapse of global trade

Rise of extremism in some countries

Question 7

Caroline Henderson and the Dust Bowl

Answer 7

A farmer who chronicled the 1930s Dust Bowl in personal letters. She gave firsthand accounts of dust storms, crop failures, and family hardships on the Great Plains.

Question 8

Causes of the Dust Bowl

Answer 8

Severe drought in the Midwest

Over-plowing and lack of crop rotation

Wind erosion from bare topsoil

Collapse of prairie ecosystems

Question 9

Effects of the Dust Bowl

Answer 9

Migration of over 2.5 million (mostly to California)

“Okies” faced discrimination and poverty

Abandoned farms

Federal government started soil conservation efforts

Question 10

FDR’s New Deal

Answer 10

A series of programs (1933–1939) to fight the Great Depression via “Relief, Recovery, and Reform.” Expanded federal power and reshaped the U.S. economy and government.

Question 11

Bank Holiday (1933)

Answer 11

FDR closed all banks for inspection to restore public confidence. Only stable banks reopened, calming panic.

Question 12

FDIC (1933)

Answer 12

Insured individual bank deposits up to a certain amount. Prevented future bank runs and restored trust in the banking system.

Question 13

SEC (1934)

Answer 13

Regulated the stock market to prevent fraud and insider trading. Increased transparency for investors.

Question 14

Social Security Act (1935)

Answer 14

Established pensions for retirees, unemployment insurance, and aid for disabled and dependent children. Key legacy of the New Deal.

Question 15

FDR’s Court Packing Scheme (1937)

Answer 15

FDR tried to add 6 more justices to the Supreme Court to pass New Deal laws. Congress rejected it, and it hurt FDR’s public image.

Question 16

What ended the Great Depression?

Answer 16

World War II. Massive government spending and industrial mobilization created jobs and demand, ending high unemployment.

Question 17

McCarthyism (1950s)

Answer 17

Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, it was a campaign of accusing Americans of being communists without evidence. Led to blacklisting, fear, and suppression of dissent.

Question 18

Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948–49)

Answer 18

Soviets blocked Western access to West Berlin. In response, the U.S. and allies flew in food and supplies for 11 months to support the city and resist Soviet pressure.

Question 19

Sputnik (1957)

Answer 19

First artificial satellite launched by the USSR. Shocked Americans and sparked the space race, leading to increased investment in science and education in the U.S.

Question 20

Korean War (1950–1953)

Answer 20

North Korea (with Soviet/Chinese support) invaded South Korea. The U.S. and UN intervened.
MacArthur vs. Truman: MacArthur wanted to invade China; Truman fired him to avoid WWIII. War ended in stalemate at the 38th parallel.

Question 21

Mendez v. Westminster (1947)

Answer 21

California case where Mexican-American parents sued for their children’s right to attend white schools. Court ruled segregation of Mexican-American students was unconstitutional.

Question 22

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Answer 22

Supreme Court decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson. It launched the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Question 23

Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)

Answer 23

MLK’s response to white clergy urging patience. Defended civil disobedience as a moral response to unjust laws. A foundational text in civil rights history.

Question 24

I Have a Dream Speech (1963)

Answer 24

MLK’s speech during the March on Washington calling for racial harmony, justice, and the end of segregation. Became a symbol of the civil rights movement.

Question 25

Little Rock Nine (1957)

Answer 25

Nine Black students who integrated Central High School in Arkansas. Faced violent opposition; President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect them, showing federal power over state resistance.

Question 26

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Answer 26

Outlawed segregation in public places and banned job discrimination. Enforced by the federal government—landmark civil rights law.

Question 27

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer 27

Ended literacy tests and poll taxes. Allowed federal oversight in areas with histories of voter suppression. Greatly increased African American voter turnout

Question 28

Domino Theory (Vietnam War)

Answer 28

Belief that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism, others would follow. Justified U.S. intervention in Vietnam.

Question 29

Containment Policy

Answer 29

U.S. Cold War strategy to stop the spread of communism through diplomacy, military alliances, and conflict when necessary (e.g., Korea, Vietnam).

Question 30

War Powers Act (1973)

Answer 30

Limited the president’s power to deploy troops without Congressional approval. Passed after Vietnam to prevent unchecked military actions.

Question 31

Anti-war Movement (Vietnam)

Answer 31

Mass protests against the Vietnam War, especially among students. Helped sway public opinion and increase pressure to withdraw troops.

Question 32

Credibility Gap

Answer 32

Mistrust of government during Vietnam due to misleading statements about the war’s progress. Increased media scrutiny and public skepticism.

Question 33

Persian Gulf War (1991)

Answer 33

U.S.-led coalition responded to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Quick victory with limited American casualties. Established U.S. as a dominant military power in the Middle East.

Question 34

September 11, 2001 (9/11)

Answer 34

Terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda. 4 hijacked planes hit: Twin Towers (NYC), Pentagon (DC), and a crash in PA. Nearly 3,000 dead. Led to War on Terror, invasion of Afghanistan, and homeland security measures.