Test # 6 - Cold War to Civil Rights

Question 1

Truman Doctrine

Answer 1

Economic and Military aid to Turkey and Greece to fight communism

Question 2

Marshall Plan

Answer 2

Economic aid to rebuild Europe after WWII

Question 3

Why was the Berlin Airlift necessary? Was it successful? Provide evidence.

Answer 3

Dropped supplies via planes into West Berlin after a Soviet blockade of the city in 1948. It was successful because the communists never gained full control of Berlin.

Question 4

Whose idea was the Containment Policy? What was it?

Answer 4

Harry Truman; to stop Communism from spreading

Question 5

What was the significance of China falling to the Communists? Which American politician was blamed?

Answer 5

A major Asian country fell to Communism; Truman was blamed. People feared that other Asian countries would turn communist after China.

Question 6

5. What was the second Red Scare? Who was the major figure associated with the Red Scare?

Answer 6

A wave of fear that Communism was spreading in the United States; Senator Joseph McCarthy (McCarthyism).

Question 7

What development took place in Cuba that caused the US to get involved? Why was Cuba such a concern to the United States?

Answer 7

A communist revolution by Fidel Castro took over the government of Cuba. The US supported an attempt to invade Cuba by Cuban exiles known as the Bay of Pigs. Later the US had a standoff with the USSR over nuclear missiles in Cuba (Cuban Missile Crisis). The USSR removed missiles from Cuba. Cuba is a concern because it is so close to the United States (only 90 miles away).

Question 8

What was Sputnik? Why was it earth shattering to Americans?

Answer 8

Soviet satellite that was launched in 1957; showed the Americans were behind in technology to the Soviet Union and started the “Space Race”.

Question 9

What was the name of Eisenhower’s national security policy passed in response to the Cold War? What were its components?

Answer 9

Eisenhower developed the “New Look” strategy that included improving America’s economy at home, new nuclear weapons and missiles, and strengthening diplomatic ties with neutral countries.

Question 10

Was the United States successful in containing communism? Think geographically . . .

Answer 10

It was successful in Europe, but was not so successful in Asia.

Question 11

What was the significance of the GI Bill?

Answer 11

Provided low interest loans to WWII veterans to afford new homes and college.

Question 12

What was the Baby Boom?

Answer 12

Largest generation of Americans; took place following WWII. At its peak, a baby was born every 7 seconds in the United States.

Question 13

What was the significance of Levittown?

Answer 13

Community/suburb that developed after WWII; similar floor plans, pre-fabrication building techniques led to massive communities.

Question 14

How did the growth of television impact the 1950s and 1960s? How was the Civil Rights Movement impacted?

Answer 14

Allowed for more entertainment and television shows; also allowed for communication of news and events. As for Civil Rights, more Americans were able to follow what was happening and it brought it closer to home

Question 15

How did television impact the presidential election of 1960? Who won and why?

Answer 15

People all over the US could watch the presidential candidates debate at the same time. Kennedy was elected over Nixon because he looked young and healthy on television, while Nixon looked sick and weak.

Question 16

What president gave the order to integrate the military? Why was this significant?

Answer 16

Truman ordered the military integrated. It was significant because it was the first major segment of society to experience integration.

Question 17

Who was Jackie Robinson? Why is he an important figure in American history?

Answer 17

He was the first African-American player in major league baseball. He endured a great deal of abuse, but proved black players were just as skilled as white players.

Question 18

What was significance of the court case Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas? What amendment did the NAACP refer to in the lawsuit?`

Answer 18

Integrated public schools; ended “Separate but equal”. Used the 14th Amendment to fight segregation.

Question 19

18. Compare and contrast the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

Answer 19

MLK Malcolm X

Non-violent protest By any means necessary

Question 20

Compare and contrast the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

Answer 20

MLK Malcolm X

Non-violent protest By any means necessary

Question 21

What was the purpose of MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail?

Answer 21

To inform the white ministers of Birmingham why he is leading the protest and let them know blacks have been waiting for civil rights for decades.

Question 22

What message was sent in MLK’s I Have a Dream speech?

Answer 22

That in the future, all Americans will have the opportunity to achieve their goals regardless of race.

Question 23

Describe the role of Rosa Parks and the long term effects of her actions:

Answer 23

Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white person as was required by Montgomery law. She was arrested and a bus boycott was organized in the black community. After more than a year of the boycott, the segregation laws were changed. This victory inspired more non-violent protests throughout the South in an attempt to change/end Jim Crow segregation laws.

Question 24

Who is Stokely Carmichael and why is he significant to the Civil Rights Movement?

Answer 24

He was a civil rights leader first with SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) and later with the Black Panthers. He represents the change in the civil rights movement from non-violence to radical Black Power.

Question 25

Describe the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Be sure to include the causes and consequences

Answer 25

Banned discrimination in employment
Banned discrimination in public accommodations
Created Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Question 26

Describe the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Be sure to include the causes and consequences)

Answer 26

Banned literacy tests
Banned poll taxes
Sent election monitors to South

Question 27

Describe the Korean War

Answer 27

Cause: Communism spreading
Course: Fighting centered around 38th parallel
Outcome: Stalemate
Relation to Cold War: Containment

Question 28

Describe the Bay of Pigs

Answer 28

Cause: Communism in Cuba
Course: No American air support for Cuban exiles
Outcome: Cuban exiles captured; JFC accepted blame
Relation to Cold War: Attempt to overthrow Communism

Question 29

Describe the Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer 29

Cause: Missiles in Cuba
Course: Blockade; Diplomacy
Outcome: Soviets removed missile
Relation to Cold War: Containment

Question 30

What President had a vision of America’s “Great Society”?

Answer 30

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)

Question 31

What was the purpose of the Head Start program?

Answer 31

To give under privileged children a chance to start their formal education free of charge before kindergarten

Question 32

What does Medicare do?

Answer 32

Provides medical care and insurance for the elderly.

Question 33

In many ways, LBJ was waging a “war on poverty,” what does this mean? How did he plan to do so?

Answer 33

He was attempting to close the gap between rich and poor. By a number of social programs known as the “Great Society”.

Question 34

Describe the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Answer 34

He was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, after he went there to support a sanitation workers’ strike. Violent protests erupted across the country following his death.

Question 35

Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
He was killed in Los Angeles, California, following his victory in the Democratic primary in that state. He was the favorite to be the Democratic nominee for president in 1968. The Democratic Party fell into disarray following his death.

Answer 35

He was killed in Los Angeles, California, following his victory in the Democratic primary in that state. He was the favorite to be the Democratic nominee for president in 1968. The Democratic Party fell into disarray following his death.

Question 36

Democratic National Convention

Answer 36

Thousands of young, anti-war protesters demonstrated outside the convention hotel and in the parks of Chicago (where the convention was held). Protests became violent when police started beating defenseless protesters in the streets and parks of Chicago. Much of the violence was broadcast on national television.

Question 37

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC):

Answer 37

Headed by MLK; they used non-violent marches and protests to try and end segregation.

Question 38

Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC):

Answer 38

Headed by Stokley Carmichael; they staged sit-ins at lunch counters in department stores around the South to try and end segregation.

Question 39

What was the purpose of the freedom rides? What were the consequences?

Answer 39

The Freedom Riders was a group of blacks and whites riding in busses together in order to test if the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations (bus station waiting rooms) was being upheld throughout the South. They were often met with violence including having the busses they were riding on firebombed.