Period 8: 1945-1980

Question 1

What was the main focus of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?

Answer 1

Containment of communism

This strategy aimed to prevent the spread of communism beyond where it already existed.

Question 2

What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine (1947)?

Answer 2

The Truman Doctrine, announced by President Harry S. Truman in 1947, committed the United States to providing political, economic, and military assistance to democratic nations threatened by authoritarian forces, both external and internal. It essentially marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy, moving away from isolationism and towards active engagement in global affairs to contain the spread of communism.

Initially focused on Greece and Turkey.

Question 3

What was the Marshall Plan (1948)?

Answer 3

U.S. aid to rebuild Western Europe

Aimed to prevent communist influence by providing financial assistance.

Question 4

What does NATO stand for and when was it established?

Answer 4

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; 1949

A military alliance of Western democracies against the USSR.

Question 5

What was NSC-68 (1950)?

Answer 5

National Security Council report urging military buildup

This was a response to perceived threats from the USSR.

Question 6

What was the outcome of the Korean War (1950–1953)?

Answer 6

Ended in stalemate at the 38th parallel

North Korea remained communist, and South Korea was supported by the U.S.

Question 7

What significant event occurred as a result of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)?

Answer 7

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a 1964 congressional resolution that authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to take “all necessary measures” to repel any armed attack against U.S. forces in Southeast Asia, effectively granting him a broad mandate to escalate military action in Vietnam. It was passed in response to alleged attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin –> Gave LBJ broad war powers

This escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Question 8

What was the Tet Offensive (1968)?

Answer 8

The Tet Offensive was a series of surprise attacks launched by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, coinciding with the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in 1968. While a military failure for the communists, it had a significant political impact, damaging American public support for the war and demonstrating that the conflict was far from over.

It shocked Americans and turned public opinion against the Vietnam War.

Question 9

What was Vietnamization under Nixon?

Answer 9

Vietnamization was a U.S. strategy implemented by President Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War to gradually withdraw American troops and shift the burden of combat to the South Vietnamese military.

Question 10

What was the significance of the Fall of Saigon (1975)?

Answer 10

The Fall of Saigon, which occurred on April 30, 1975, marked the end of the Vietnam War. North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, leading to the collapse of the South Vietnamese government and a major evacuation of U.S. personnel and civilians. The event also signaled the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.

Question 11

Define the Domino Theory.

Answer 11

Belief that if one country falls to communism, others will follow

Question 12

What was the SALT I Treaty (1972)?

Answer 12

The SALT I Treaty, signed in 1972, was an agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union to limit their strategic offensive nuclear weapons and to restrict anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems. SALT I was a significant step towards arms control and détente during the Cold War, laying the foundation for future negotiations and treaties, including SALT II and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START)

Question 13

What does détente refer to in the context of the Cold War?

Answer 13

Easing Cold War tensions

Particularly Nixon’s policies towards the USSR and China.

Question 14

What was the main goal of the Civil Rights Movement?

Answer 14

Achieve equal rights for African Americans and other minority groups

Question 15

What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

Answer 15

Ended ‘separate but equal’ doctrine

Question 16

What sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956)?

Answer 16

Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat

Question 17

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Answer 17

Banned discrimination in public places and employment

Question 18

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 accomplish?

Answer 18

Ended literacy tests and other voting restrictions

Question 19

What was the March on Washington (1963) known for?

Answer 19

MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech

Question 20

What characterized the Black Power Movement in the late 1960s?

Answer 20

More militant approach; emphasized racial pride

Key figures included Malcolm X and the Black Panthers.

Question 21

What was the Chicano Movement?

Answer 21

Led by Cesar Chavez, the Chicano Movement, also known as El Movimiento, was a civil rights movement in the United States that emerged in the 1960s, primarily focused on the political, social, and cultural empowerment of Mexican Americans and other Latinx people. It aimed to combat racism, promote cultural pride, and achieve equal rights in areas like education, labor, and land ownership.

Question 22

What was the purpose of Title IX (1972)?

Answer 22

Prohibited sex discrimination in education

Question 23

What landmark decision did Roe v. Wade (1973) establish?

Answer 23

Legalized abortion

Question 24

What was the GI Bill (1944)?

Answer 24

Provided education and housing benefits to WWII veterans

Question 25

What was suburbanization in the postwar era?

Answer 25

Growth of suburbs and white flight

Question 26

What demographic trend was known as the Baby Boom?

Answer 26

Population surge from 1946 to 1964

Question 27

What did the Interstate Highway Act (1956) accomplish?

Answer 27

The Interstate Highway Act, particularly the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, was significant for creating a vast, interconnected network of roads across the United States, fundamentally changing the nation's landscape and economy. This act authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways, the largest public works project in American history at the time

Question 28

What was the significance of the OPEC Oil Embargo (1973)?

Answer 28

The 1973 OPEC oil embargo had significant global repercussions, primarily due to its impact on oil prices and the global energy market. The embargo, imposed by Arab OPEC nations in response to the Yom Kippur War and US support for Israel, led to a quadrupling of oil prices, triggering an energy crisis that had far-reaching economic and political consequences.

Question 29

What was the Fair Deal under Truman?

Answer 29

Expanded New Deal policies

Question 30

What was Modern Republicanism under Eisenhower?

Answer 30

Balanced budgets while maintaining New Deal programs

Question 31

What was JFK's New Frontier?

Answer 31

Focus on space race, Peace Corps, and civil rights

Question 32

What was the Great Society under LBJ?

Answer 32

Medicare, Medicaid, and War on Poverty programs

Question 33

What was Nixon's Southern Strategy?

Answer 33

Appealed to white conservatives

Question 34

What scandal led to Nixon's resignation?

Answer 34

Watergate Scandal

Question 35

What crisis occurred during Jimmy Carter's presidency?

Answer 35

Iran Hostage Crisis (1979–1981)

Question 36

What was the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?

Answer 36

Investigated suspected communists

Question 37

What was McCarthyism?

Answer 37

False accusations of communism by Senator Joseph McCarthy

Question 38

What did the Warren Court (1953–1969) focus on?

Answer 38

Expanded rights of individuals, especially the accused

Question 39

What did Mapp v. Ohio (1961) establish?

Answer 39

Exclusionary rule for illegally obtained evidence

Question 40

What was the significance of Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)?

Answer 40

Established right to an attorney

Question 41

What must individuals be informed of according to Miranda v. Arizona (1966)?

Answer 41

Their rights when arrested

Question 42

What was the outcome of Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)?

Answer 42

Protected student free speech

Question 43

What was the cultural significance of Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' (1962)?

Answer 43

Highlighted environmental issues

Question 44

What did the establishment of the EPA signify?

Answer 44

Government commitment to environmental protection

Question 45

What event marked the beginning of the Cold War?

Answer 45

The end of World War II in 1945.

Question 46

True or False: The Truman Doctrine was established to contain communism.

Answer 46

True.

Question 47

Fill in the blank: The _____ Plan was a U.S. program to aid European economies after World War II.

Answer 47

Marshall.

Question 48

Which two countries were primarily involved in the Korean War?

Answer 48

North Korea and South Korea.

Question 49

What was the primary goal of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s?

Answer 49

To end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

Question 50

Who was the first African American woman to refuse to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama?

Answer 50

Rosa Parks.

Question 51

What legislation did Lyndon B. Johnson push through Congress to combat poverty and racial injustice?

Answer 51

The Great Society programs.

Question 52

Multiple Choice: Which event is associated with the escalation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 52

Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

Question 53

What was the primary purpose of the Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961?

Answer 53

To prevent East Germans from defecting to West Berlin.

Question 54

True or False: The Watergate scandal led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Answer 54

True.

Question 55

What was the significance of the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education?

Answer 55

It declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Question 56

Fill in the blank: The _____ Movement sought to promote the rights and cultural identity of Native Americans.

Answer 56

American Indian.

Question 57

What was the outcome of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision?

Answer 57

It legalized abortion in the United States.

Question 58

Short Answer: What was the primary economic challenge faced by the U.S. during the 1970s?

Answer 58

Stagflation.

Question 59

Which U.S. President initiated the policy of détente with the Soviet Union?

Answer 59

Richard Nixon.