USA (1945-75) Social Changes Flashcards
Why was there spy scandals and McCarthyism?
The USSR had got an atomic bomb sooner than anticipated
What was set up in 1938 due to McCarthyism?
House Committee on Un-American Activities set up
Truman set up a board to review government employees, within 4 years how many had been dismissed?
1,200
In 1953 what did McCarthy have control of?
HUAC
What did Indiana ban?
Robin Hood books and classes the New Deal as Communist
What was McCarthy’s downfall?
He went after respected General including Marshall, and the TV trials were mocked and criticised, died from alcoholism in 1957
In 1950 what% of the population was under 24?
41%
Young people became a consumer power - had an average of how much to spend a week?
$10-15
How much was the teenage market worth in 1950?
$10 billion
How much was the teenage market worth in 1959?
$25 billion
What is an example of films which were aimed at the youth?
James Dean’s a Rebel Without a Cause
What did Rock and Roll create?
A generation gap
What movement emerged in the 70’s
Hippie movement
What did the Hippie movement want?
Wanted to be outside of established society, promoted love not war
What did Eleanor Roosevelt set up in 1960?
A commission to investigate the status of women at work
Which book did Betty Friedan write?
The Feminine Mystique
When was NOW set up and what does it stand for?
1966, National Organisation for Women
What did NOW do and were they successful?
Challenged cases of discrimination in court - successful as in 4 years they won $30 million worth of back pay owed to women
Who were the Women’s liberation movement?
A more radical group (feminists)
What did the Women’s liberation movement believe in?
Not wearing a bra/make up fought against male supremacy
Roe v Wade 1973
Legalised abortion
What Act was passed in 1963?
Equal pay Act
What was a limitation of women’s groups?
Very middle class, few working class members
What are two civil rights student groups?
SNCC and CORE
What were some methods student protest groups used?
Sit ins and Freedom Rides
What was set up in 1959 in relation to student protests?
Students for a Democratic Society
What did Students for a Democratic Society do?
Protested against drafts for Vietnam, held a sit in at Berkeley University when they banned political activities on campus
How many students marched against the war in 1969?
700,000
Which group became more radical in terms of student protesting?
“Weathermen”
Brown v Topeka 1954
Desegregated schools and overturned Plessy v Ferguson
Little Rock 1957
Governor Orval Faunus used national guard troops to bar the entry of nine black children to the central High School. Eisenhower sent federal troops and ordered the Arkansas National Guard to be under federal control so the soldiers kept white protesters back and escorted the children into school
Ruby Bridges
Parents pulled their children out of school when Ruby Bridges attended and only one person agreed to teach her
Bussing in students 70’s and 80s
Buses caused mass riots as people did not want the federal government deciding where their kids would go to school
Montgomery bus boycott
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest and 50,000 black supporters walked to work instead of getting the bus which lasted 381 days.
What did the Supreme Court rule in November 1956?
Segregation on buses was unconstitutional
How many people were involved in the march on Washington 1963?
250,000
Civil Rights Act 1964
Outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex and national origin
March on Selma 1965
(Bloody Sunday) political march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery. Demonstrators twice attempted to march but were stopped once violently by police
1965 Voting Rights Act
Prohibits racial discrimination in voting
What % of the Nation of Islam’s members were 17-25 and why were they drawn to Malcolm X?
75%, young people - wanted separation and black people to rule themselves in the USA
What was Black Power?
A way of resurrecting black pride and African American culture as black people were getting frustrated due to the Civil Rights Act not doing anything to help them economically
Who were the Black Panthers?
Had a 10 point plan to empower black communities economically and contained basic demands such as self-determination, decent housing, full employment etc.
How many members did the Black Panthers have by 1968?
5,000
