1950s to Modern Day (VAP Readings)

Question 1

“Containment”

Answer 1

1946
George F. Kennan (“father of containment”) sent a telegram to State Department explaining historic basis of Soviet foreign policy and warning of Soviet threat to U.S.

Question 2

“NSC-68, A Blueprint for the Cold War”

Answer 2

1950
depicted the Cold War in stark terms, arguing that the U.S. and Soviets were polar opposites with little hope for compromise or peaceful resolution of differences

Question 3

“Communists in the Government”

Answer 3

1950
McCarthy’s speech claiming he had names of 57 cases of individuals who would appear to be either card carrying members or certainly loyal to the Communist Party

Question 4

“Life in the Suburbs”

Answer 4

1953

Harry Henderson’s observations of life in Levittowns

Question 5

“Governor Herman Talmadge’s Statement on the Brown Decision”

Answer 5

1954
Georgia Governor Herman E. Talmadge Jr.’s Brown v Board of Education decision statement, which reflected the sentiments of many whites in the lower south

Question 6

“Viewpoint on the Emmitt Till Murder Trial”

Answer 6

1955

James Boyack talks about what he witnessed during the Emmitt Till tiral

Question 7

“The Impact of Television”

Answer 7

1955
An article that explains tv’s attraction and influence
* kept people from going places/doing things
* interfered with schooling
* arouses morbid emotions in children, glorifies violence, and causes juvenile crime
* giving the U.S. a primitive language
* making politics a “rich man’s game”
* distorted and debased salesmanship

Question 8

“Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address”

Answer 8

1961
Eisenhower talked about his knowledge of the military and changes that had taken place in the country, warning against dangers to American values and individual rights

Question 9

“Poverty in the Age of Affluence”

Answer 9

1962
Harrington’s depiction of poverty in America ; because of America’s mass production, a person living in poverty can even look prosperous

Question 10

“The problem That Has No Name”

Answer 10

1963

Friedman’s book challenged happy suburban housewife myth

Question 11

“Silent Spring”

Answer 11

1962

the uncontrolled use of chemical pesticides, especially DDT, had disastrous environmental consequences

Question 12

“Letter from Birmingham Jail”

Answer 12

1963

King’s in-jail response to white clergymen criticizing his tactics

Question 13

“Malcolm X on Race Relations”

Answer 13

1964

Explained that America is in a position to have a bloodless revolution, but is not morally equipped to do so

Question 14

“Lyndon Johnson on the Great Society”

Answer 14

1964

we begin building the Great Society in our cities, countrysides, and classrooms

Question 15

“SDS Call for a March on Washington”

Answer 15

1965
“…our real problems lie not in Vietnam but at home - that the fight we seek is not with Communism but with the social desperation that makes good men violent, both here and abroad.”

Question 16

“Views of the War in Vietnam”

Answer 16

1967
cartoons that comment on some of the issues of the Vietnam War
* government spending for the war and not the country
* “All I can tell you is that we’re winning”

Question 17

“I Made Promises to Dead People”

Answer 17

1967-1968

insights of Jack McCloskey, an Army medic who served in Vietnam

Question 18

“A Report on Racial Violence in the Cities”

Answer 18

1968

• pervasive discrimination and segregation
• black migration and white exodus
• black ghettos
• frustrated hopes
• legitimation of violence
• powerlessness
• incitement and encouragement of violence
• the police

Question 19

“Cesar Chavez and La Causa”

Answer 19

1975
“Fighting for social justice, it seems to me, is one of the profoundest ways in which man can say yes to man’s dignity…”

Question 20

“Perspectives on Soaring Oil Prices”

Answer 20

1973, 1974, 1976
cartoons offering commentary on the rising costs of oil
* a gas truck driver can’t even afford gas
*Uncle Sam on a bed of “nails” (oil towers)
* OPEC - American Lifestyle

Question 21

“Sam Ervin on the Watergate Crisis”

Answer 21

1974
Objectives:
1) destroy the integrity of he process by which the President is nominated and elected
2) hide the identities and wrongdoing of those officials and employees who had undertaken the task

Question 22

“The Differences Between Men and Women”

Answer 22

1977

1)
2) women have babies and men don’t
3) no difference except sex organs ; physical, cognitive, and emotional differences are the result of centuries of restraints imposed by a male-dominated society and sex-stereotyped schooling
4) fundamentals of life (men, philosophers ; women, practical)

Question 23

“The Question of Affirmative Action”

Answer 23

1978

white student gets denied admission into a college while blacks below his rating were accepted ; won his court case

Question 24

“Iranian Hostage Crisis”

Answer 24

1979-1981

congressional hearing where Muskie and Christopher testified on behalf of the Carter administration

Question 25

“The Christian Right’s Call to Action”

Answer 25

1980

“Through the ballot box Americans must provide for strong moral leadership at every level.”

Question 26

“The Reagan Revolution”

Answer 26

1981

initial broad themes of Reagan’s administration

Question 27

“Reagan’s Evil Empire Speech”

Answer 27

1983

Reagan hoped to affirm the support of the Christian Right and their devout anticommunist stance

Question 28

“An Editorial on the Removal of the Berlin Wall”

Answer 28

1989

removal of Berlin Wall in historical perspective

Question 29

“Catholic Bishops Call for ‘Economic Justice’”

Answer 29

1986

• human dignity comes from God
• economy should serve the people, not the other way around
• “love our neighbor”
• all people have the right to participate in the economic life of society
• special obligation to the poor and vulnerable

Question 30

“A Perspective on AIDS”

Answer 30

1987

1) statewide AIDS education should be available
2) adequate counseling must be available
3) anonymous testing should be available
4) system of contact notification should be developed
5) dispel fear of losing one’s job or apartment
6) reduce financial burden of AIDS

Question 31

“A View on Hispanic Assimilation”

Answer 31

1991
role of Hispanics and the government
* “people from the outside gradually become apart of the community itself
* public schools should make sure all students are fluent in English
* best way to learn about native cultures is living in own communities
* register to vote to gain freedom and opportunity
* encourage children’s educational aspirations

Question 32

“Bill Gates and Microsoft”

Answer 32

1998
“The position of a product is never secure because it is impossible to know when the next new idea will come along that could render that entire product category less important or even obsolete.”
“innovate or Die!”
“If Microsoft fails to keep pace… let it be because we failed in innovate fast enough, not because we were hobbled by government intervention…”

Question 33

“The Changing Demographics of America”

Answer 33

1999
“…national economy struggled when the Boomers were young and inexperienced, and took off as the Boomers hit their productive stride.”
“As they retire, the Boomers will convert themselves from producers to pure consumers.”
“…won’t Boomers’ dis-saving and disinvesting ultimately tank the market?”

Question 34

“The Issue of Same-Sex Marriage”

Answer 34

2001
“…marriage was about children and so gays couldn’t marry.”
“…worried that if one state granted such a right, the entire country would have to accept same-sex marriage.”
Federal Marriage Amendment
“Within gay subculture, marriage would not be taken for granted.”
gay marriage helps heterosexual marriages

Question 35

“George W. Bush Responds to the Terrorists Attacks”

Answer 35

2001

“We are not immune from attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans”

Question 36

“A Response to the USA Patriot Act”

Answer 36

2001

1) overly broad definition of “terrorism”
2) indefinite detention of immigrants based on Attorney General’s certification of a danger to national security
3) expanded wiretap authority
4) use of “sneak and peek” searches to circumvent the 4th Amendment
5) eviscerating the wall between foreign surveillance and domestic criminal investigation

Question 37

“The United States and the World”

Answer 37

2003
America’s place in the world
“America will act as it chooses, using the allies it can find in any given situation.”
“… it must make the world comfortable with its power by leading through consensus.”

Question 38

“A Perspective on Limiting Immigration to the United States”

Answer 38

2006

“It is our responsibility to protect and defend our borders”

Question 39

“An Economist on the Financial Crisis”

Answer 39

2007
“Cash is available, and we should use that in larger amounts, as is necessary, to solve the problems of the stress of this.”

Question 40

“Barack Obama’s Victory Speech”

Answer 40

2008

explains how America is constantly changing

Question 41

“Editorial on the Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court”

Answer 41

2009

“… not all compelling personal stories are equal.”

Question 42

“Immigration in the 21st Century”

Answer 42

2010

story of two Mexican immigrants going through the desert to get to America

Question 43

“Offshore Oil Drilling and the Environment”

Answer 43

2010

BP oil spill and how BP is planning to permanently stop the leak