Unit 3 Test Flashcards
Characterization of the United States during the 1950s
Although white, middle-class Americans enjoyed unprecedented economic growth, the idealized image of America at the time was much more complicated in terms of race and class, and many feared what the new age of nuclear terror might bring.
Senator Joseph McCarthy’s power began to unravel when he made reckless charges about Communist influence in
The U.S. Army
The postwar economic boom was fueled mainly by:
cold war–related military spending
What increased during the postwar years?
The number of shopping centers, urban populations, and advertising.
The GI Bill
Helped veterans buy new homes, increased college enrollments dramatically, and led to the creation of the Veterans Administration. However, its huge cost was not justified by the benefits.
During the 1950s suburban growth was spurred by:
Veteran benefits, highway construction, and increases in car ownership.
After World War II women were encouraged to:
give up their jobs to returning veterans.
How did religious revival and neo-orthodoxy fit into the culture of the 1950s?
The culture of the 1950s was fearful of Communism spreading into the American government and communities. Christianity and religion in general were seen as a way to combat communism because many Christian principles were reflected in the American spirit. The gospel of Christianity also gained popularity because it was used to replace negative thinking generated by the tensions of the Cold War with positive thoughts.
Discuss possible reasons why American youth rebelled during a decade of unprecedented prosperity rather than during the hard times of the Great Depression.
The American youth most likely decided to rebel during a time of prosperity because they had the resources to do so. Due to the increase of consumerism, automobile, and secular entertainment the youth had more access to have their voice heard as well as be influenced by mass culture. I think the generation of youth during the Great Depression were unable to do this because they had to focus on survival instead of societal issues. That is also a reason the youth during the 1950s rebelled, civil issues like the civil rights movement and desegregation were becoming more popular.
The Beats
Helped inspire the youth revolt of the 1960s. They were a group of Bohemian writers, artists, and musicians who flouted convention in favor of liberated forms of self-expression.
Elvis was known for
blending different music styles
In the Brown decision, the Supreme Court:
struck down “separate but equal” in public education
The 1960 presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon
highlighted the impact of television on political campaigns.
What obstacles did John F. Kennedy face in terms of enacting his domestic programs?
Conservative southern Democrats joined with Republicans in blocking efforts such as those to increase federal aid to education.
The protest tactic initiated by black students in Greensboro, North Carolina, was:
Sit in
The Freedom Rides:
were launched by CORE and led the Interstate Commerce Commission to order buses and terminals desegregated.
Malcom X
Was a spokesman for the black power movement and believed that militance and black nationalism should be used in response to racism.
To what extent did the year 1964 represent a turning point for American politics and society?
The year 1964 was a turning point in American politics because it was the point where federal legislation backed the 14th and 15th amendments in the constitution by assuring that African American citizens received the same rights and treatment as White citizens. It was also a turning point politically because the Civil Rights Act was pushed by both Republicans and Democrats. In society this legislation caused societal norms to be disrupted.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964:
outlawed segregation in public facilities
During the 1964 campaign, Republican nominee Barry Goldwater:
offered a sharply conservative alternative to Johnson’s policies
What were the main domestic achievements of the New Frontier and the Great Society? Which accomplished more? Why?
The main goals of Kennedy’s New Frontier domestic program were geared toward discovering new areas of interest such as space as well as increase federal welfare programs and assist underdeveloped countries. However, due to the push back from Congress many of his goals were not accomplished, but he was able to get America in the space race, expand unemployment benefits, and help defuse the Cold War. Johnson’s goals for his agenda of a creating a Great Society were to end poverty and end racial injustices. In his presidency he was able to help create Medicare and Medicaid health insurances, sign in the Immigration and Nationality Services Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which helped protect the voting rights of African Americans, as well as sign in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which helped end segregation throughout the country. I think while both administrations where fruitful Johnson’s presidency did much more to aid the American people, however he was not good at handling foreign issues unlike Kennedy.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965:
dramatically expanded black votes in the South
One of Johnson’s major goals in Vietnam was to:
avoid losing it to communism
In early 1968, increasing opposition to the war within own party caused Johnson to
ultimately force him out of the presidential race
