Period 8 1945-1952 4/1/2025 Flashcards
Who took command during this period?
Eisenhower
What was Eisenhower’s reputation?
Spotless
What was the reputation of Eisenhower’s running mate?
Opposite of Eisenhower’s, used campaign funds for personal use
Who was Eisenhower’s running mate?
Richard Nixon
What almost happened to Nixon during the campaign?
He was almost kicked off the ticket
What type of speech did Nixon give to gain support?
A heartbreaking speech
How did the public react to Nixon’s speech?
Millions of America were on his side
What was Eisenhower’s first priority?
To balance the budget
Eisenhower focused on fiscal responsibility during his presidency.
What was Eisenhower’s stance on New Deal programs?
He accepted most of the New Deal programs and even extended them
This indicates his support for existing welfare initiatives.
What social programs were implemented under Eisenhower?
- Social Security
- Raised minimum wage
- Public housing
- Many welfare programs
These programs aimed to improve the standard of living and provide support to citizens.
What term did Eisenhower use to describe his approach to governance?
Modern Republicanism
This term reflects a blend of traditional Republican values with a commitment to social welfare.
What act regarding highways did Eisenhower authorize?
Interstate highway act
The construction of 42,000 miles of interstate highways
This project linked all major cities across the nation, transforming transportation.
Who was Eisenhower’s Secretary of State?
John Foster Dulles
What was Dulles’ idea to combat the Cold War?
Brinksmanship
What does brinksmanship entail?
Challenging the communist powers to the brink of war
What was Eisenhower’s view on brinksmanship?
He believed it was too extreme
What type of military strategy did Eisenhower advocate for?
Greater reliance on nuclear weapons and air power
Did Eisenhower support the immediate use of nuclear weapons?
No, he believed it was good to have them in the U.S. back pocket but not to use just yet
What did Gamal Nasser ask the United States to help fund?
The Aswan Dam on the Nile River
Nasser was an Arab nationalist general from Egypt.
Why did the United States refuse to help fund the Aswan Dam?
Because Egypt threatened Israel’s security.
Which country did Egypt turn to for help after the U.S. refusal?
The Soviet Union.
What action did Nasser take to secure more funding?
Seized the British and French owned Suez Canal.
Why was the loss of the Suez Canal significant?
It would hinder the supply line to Middle Eastern oil.
What did France and Britain do in response to Nasser’s actions?
Carried out a surprise attack on Egypt.
How did Eisenhower react to the surprise attack on Egypt?
He was furious he was kept in the dark about the attack.
What was the outcome of the pressure on troops after the attack?
Troops were withdrawn.
What was part of the Eisenhower doctrine?
Middle Eastern countries could request U.S. economic and military support if threatened
Also if a communist country tries to overtake Israel the U.S. will go to war with them
What year did the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) form?
1960
Which Arab nations were involved in the formation of OPEC?
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Iraq
- Iran
Who was the U.S. President during the formation of OPEC?
Eisenhower
True or False: OPEC was formed by Arab nations to cooperate in petroleum production.
True
Fill in the blank: The formation of OPEC in 1960 will come to be trouble for many ______.
decades
Who took over as the leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin’s death in 1953?
Nikita Khrushchev
What significant action did Khrushchev take regarding Stalin’s legacy?
He denounced Stalin
What policy did Khrushchev support in relation to the United States?
Peaceful coexistence
What was introduced by the U.S. during the meeting in Geneva?
The idea of open skies
What was the Soviet response to the U.S. proposal of open skies?
It was rejected by the Soviets
What major event occurred in 1957 that shocked the U.S.?
The launch of Sputnik 1 and Sputnik II
What was created in 1958 as a response to the Soviet satellite launches?
NASA
Fill in the blank: The Soviet Union launched _______ to orbit Earth in 1957.
Sputnik 1 and Sputnik II
What is open skies
Freedom of the seas but for the sky and outer space
Who took over as leader of Cuba in 1959?
Fidel Castro
What political ideology did Fidel Castro represent?
Communism
Which U.S. President cut off ties with Cuba due to Castro’s communism?
Eisenhower
Which U.S. President had to deal with the issues arising from Cuba’s communism?
Kennedy
Fill in the blank: Fidel Castro took over as leader of Cuba in _______.
1959
True or False: Eisenhower maintained strong ties with Cuba after Castro took power.
False
What was brown v Board of education?
9 black students (Little Rock nine) wanted to go to a white school which was closer instead of a black school that was farther. They fought for it in court and chief justice Earl Warren said to get rid of segregation. (Repealing Plessy v furgeson separate but equal)
Troops came to protect the students when they went to school u til things settled down
What happened regarding the civil
Rights movement and sports in 1947?
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and played for the Brooklyn dodgers
What happened regarding the civil
Rights movement in 1957?
The civil rights act was passed
Who was the Democratic nominee in the Election of 1960?
John F. Kennedy
Massachusetts Senator
What was John F. Kennedy’s campaign promise?
To get America moving again.
Who was the Republican nominee in the Election of 1960?
Richard Nixon
What strategy did Nixon hope to use to get elected?
Riding the popularity of Eisenhower.
What was significant about the 1960 presidential debates?
They were the first televised debates.
What event occurred in Atlanta during the campaign involving Martin Luther King Jr.?
He was arrested for sitting at a segregated lunch counter.
What was the outcome for Martin Luther King Jr. after the arrest?
He was sentenced to months of hard labor.
How did Eisenhower and Nixon respond to King’s arrest?
They had no opinion.
What action did Kennedy take regarding Martin Luther King Jr.’s situation?
Called King’s wife to express sympathy and had him released on bail.
How did Kennedy’s actions during King’s arrest affect his campaign?
It won the attention of the African American community.
Who won the Election of 1960?
John F. Kennedy
What was a notable difference in the campaign focus between Kennedy and Nixon?
Kennedy addressed civil rights while Nixon did not.
What did Kennedy call on Americans to be?
New pioneers
What challenge did Kennedy see from the Soviets?
Sending a cosmonaut into space
What was America’s goal in response to the Soviet challenge?
To be the first to send a man to the moon
In what year did the U.S. achieve the goal of landing a man on the moon?
1969
Who was the first person to land on the moon?
Neil Armstrong
Fill in the blank: Kennedy aimed for America to be the first to send a man to the _______.
moon
True or False: The world watched Neil Armstrong land on the moon.
True
What event occurred two weeks before Kennedy took office?
Eisenhower cut off relations with Cuba
This action was due to Fidel Castro being a communist leader receiving aid from the Soviet Union.
What was the Bay of Pigs?
A failed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles supported by the U.S. military
It occurred in April 1961 with the aim to take out the Cuban Air Force.
What was the outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion?
The plan backfired due to incorrect intelligence from the CIA and Pentagon
Kennedy took public blame for the failure.
Who promised to defend Cuba with Soviet arms?
Nikita Khrushchev
He was an ally of Fidel Castro.
What significant weapons were sent to Cuba in 1962?
Soviet weapons including nuclear missiles
This escalation led to heightened tensions during the Cold War.
What did Kennedy warn regarding missiles in Cuba?
Any missiles in the hands of Cuba would result in an all-out attack on the Soviet Union
This was a critical moment in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
What agreement was reached after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles if America pledged not to invade Cuba
This agreement helped to de-escalate the crisis.
What is the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba
It was one of the most tense moments of the Cold War.
Fill in the blank: The Bay of Pigs invasion aimed to take out the _______.
[Cuban Air Force]
True or False: The Bay of Pigs invasion was a success.
False
Fill in the blank: The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in _______.
[1962]
What was the primary purpose of the Berlin Wall?
To stop refugees from East Berlin (communist) to West Berlin (democratic)
The wall was built by the Soviets to prevent migration from East to West Berlin.
Who constructed the Berlin Wall?
The Soviets
The construction aimed to stop people from East Berlin moving to West Berlin.
What did people in West Berlin think about moving to East Berlin?
They did not want to go to the east
This reflects the differing political ideologies and living conditions.
What did Khrushchev want regarding American access to Berlin?
He wanted America to give up access to Berlin
This demand was part of the tensions during the Cold War.
How did President Kennedy respond to Khrushchev’s demands?
He refused
This refusal contributed to the ongoing tensions between the US and the USSR.
What did the Berlin Wall symbolize?
Communist oppression
The wall became an iconic representation of the divide between the communist and democratic worlds.
What was established between Kennedy and Khrushchev to improve communication?
A hot line
This direct line connected the White House and the Kremlin for crisis communication.
Fill in the blank: The Berlin Wall was constructed to stop refugees from East Berlin to _______.
West Berlin
True or False: The Berlin Wall was built to encourage movement from East Berlin to West Berlin.
False
The wall was built to prevent this migration.
Image of Berlin Wall
When was John F. Kennedy assassinated?
November 22, 1963
What was the location of John F. Kennedy’s assassination?
Dallas
What type of vehicle was John F. Kennedy in during the assassination?
Open-air limousine
Who was arrested for the murder of John F. Kennedy?
Lee Harvey Oswald
What was Lee Harvey Oswald’s background?
Ex-marine who lived in the Soviet Union and supported Castro
What happened to Lee Harvey Oswald while being transferred between jails?
He was shot and killed by Jack Ruby
Who shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald?
Jack Ruby
Who was sworn into office after JFK was assassinated?
Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)
What significant legislation did Johnson push for in 1964?
The Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, etc.
What was the purpose of the Economic Opportunity Act enacted by Johnson?
To approve $1 billion for youth programs, anti-poverty measures, small business loans, and job training programs.
What was a notable limitation of Lyndon B. Johnson’s changes?
They were only good for the short term.
What was LBJ’s Great Society?
A legislative program aimed to end poverty and racial injustice
What did Medicare (1965) establish?
A comprehensive health insurance program for all elderly people
Financed through the Social Security system
What is the purpose of Medicaid (1965)?
To provide health and medical assistance to low-income families
Funded by federal and state governments
What did the Child Nutrition Act (1966) aim to improve?
Poor children’s nutrition through school breakfast and lunch programs
What was the focus of the Office of Economic Opportunity (1964)?
To oversee programs aimed at improving life in inner cities
What did the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) target?
Aid to students and funding for adult education and job training
What did the Higher Education Act (1965) support?
College tuition scholarships, student loans, and work-study programs
What was Project Head Start (1965)?
A preschool program funded for the disadvantaged
What was established by the Housing and Urban Development Act (1965)?
New housing subsidy programs and easier access to federal loans and public housing grants
What did the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act (1966) do?
Helped revitalize urban areas through various social and economic programs
What did the Water Quality Act (1965) support?
Development of standards and goals for water and air quality
What was the aim of the Highway Safety Act (1966)?
To improve highway safety through better coordination and training standards
What did the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (1966) require?
All consumer products to have true and informative labels
Fill in the blank: The ‘War on Poverty’ was a major initiative under the _______.
Great Society
True or False: Medicaid was established to assist elderly people.
False
Medicaid provides assistance to low-income families, not specifically elderly people
What were the 4 parts to LBJ’s Major Great society program?
Health and Welfare, education, the “war on poverty”, consumer and environmental protection
Who was the Chief Justice associated with the Warren Court?
Chief Justice Earl Warren
What did the case Mapp v. Ohio establish?
Evidence seized illegally can’t be used in court
What is the significance of Gideon v. Wainwright?
Courts will provide free legal counsel to those who can’t afford it
What right was established in Escobedo v. Illinois?
The accused person has the right to a lawyer present when being questioned
What does Miranda v. Arizona require?
All suspects must be read their rights before questioning
