3. Xmas Quiz- Post War America Flashcards
Describe the ‘American Dream’
- The ‘American Dream’ is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work, ambition, and determination. It often focuses on owning a home, having a stable job, and living a comfortable life, free from poverty.
Name 2 examples of popular culture in the 1950s and 60s
- Rock ‘n’ roll music (e.g., Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry).
- Television (e.g., shows like I Love Lucy and The Twilight Zone).
Name 2 causes of America’s prosperity in the late 1940s and 1950s
- Post-WWII economic boom: The war had stimulated industrial production, and after it ended, the U.S. economy grew rapidly as people had more disposable income.
- The G.I. Bill: This bill helped returning veterans by providing them with benefits like low-cost mortgages, loans, and access to education, which boosted consumer spending and homeownership.
What was HUAC?
- The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated suspected Communist activities in the U.S. during the Cold War, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s.
Who were the Rosenbergs and what happened to them?
- Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American citizens accused of spying for the Soviet Union and passing nuclear secrets. In 1951, they were convicted of espionage and executed in 1953.
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
- Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who led a campaign against suspected Communists in the U.S. government and other institutions in the 1950s, known as the McCarthy Era or McCarthyism.
Define ‘McCarthyism’
McCarthyism was a time in the 1950s when many people in the U.S. were accused of being Communists without real proof. It caused a lot of fear and led to people losing their jobs or being blacklisted just because they were suspected of being disloyal to the country. This was all led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, who claimed there were Communists in the U.S. government and other important places.
What did it mean to be ‘blacklisted’ by McCarthy?
- To be ‘blacklisted’ meant that a person, often in the entertainment industry or government, was accused of being a Communist sympathizer or involved in subversive activities. Once blacklisted, they were denied employment or opportunities due to fear of association with Communism.
What 3 problems were African Americans facing in the late 1940s?
- Racial segregation (especially in the South) and discrimination in public facilities, schools, and employment.
- Lack of voting rights in many Southern states due to literacy tests and poll taxes.
- Economic inequality: African Americans faced high levels of poverty and limited job opportunities.
What are civil rights?
Civil rights are the rights that protect people from being treated unfairly because of things like their race, gender, religion, or other personal traits. It means everyone should be treated equally and have the same protection under the law.
Give 3 facts about the Montgomery Bus Boycott
- Started in December 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man.
- Led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the boycott lasted for 381 days.
- The Supreme Court ruled in 1956 that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
What happened during sit-in campaigns?
- Sit-ins were peaceful protests where African Americans (and later white allies) would sit at segregated lunch counters, demanding to be served. These protests began in 1960, most famously at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina, and helped to draw attention to racial inequality.
What do SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) all have in common?
- All three were civil rights organizations that played key roles in fighting segregation and promoting equal rights for African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. They organized protests, sit-ins, and marches, and fought for legislative change.
Who was Medgar Evers and what happened to him?
- Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist and the NAACP field secretary in Mississippi. He was assassinated by Byron De La Beckwith in 1963 outside his home, sparking national outrage.
Who killed 4 black children by bombing a church in Birmingham, Alabama?
- Four African American girls were killed in a bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. The bombing was carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
