US HIS B short answers
How have advances in telecommunications and the rise of the Internet affected the US standard of living?
Advances in telecommunications and the rise of the internet have required American workers to acquire new skills, increased productivity, and raised the nation's GDP by more than 20%.
How did the conferences at Dumbarton Oak and Yalta attempt to shape the postwar world?
The conferences at Dumbarton Oak and Yalta attempted to shape the postwar world by creating the United Nations and passing legislation to make sure all European countries had free elections.
What was the "domino theory"?
The domino theory was the idea that if Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of Southeast Asia would follow.
How did the end of the cold War lead to more global US military conflicts?
The end of the Cold War led to more U.S. military conflicts because the fall of the Soviet Union allowed regimes to appear around the world, and the U.S. wanted to try to free the world by interfering with them.
How did the post-World War II Red Scare compare and contrast with that following World War I?
The post-World War II red scare was non-violent to those accused of be communists, while the one following World War I was violent.
Why did the Potsdam Conference further increase tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union?
The postdam conference further increased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union because Stalin didn't get everything he wanted from the agreement, and Truman threatened Stalin with info about U.S. atomic bomb test.
How did World War II change life for women and minorities in the United States?
Women began to take more government and factory jobs, and laws were passed to stop the discrimination of minorities when hiring employees.
What political and economic gains did women make during this time?
Women gained the right to be paid the same as men and outlawed job discrimination, women also worked to repeal abortion laws and discrimination in housing and education. Some more gains included flexible working hours, on-site child care, and job sharing.
What events revitalized the women's movement?
Women were increasingly resentful of newspaper ads being separated by gender, banks denying women credit, and the wage gap.
Why was 1968 considered the most turbulent year of the 1960's?
1968 was considered the most turbulent year of the 1960's because there were two major assassinations, a political convention was held amid strident antiwar demonstrations, and the United Stated endured a surprise attack in Vietnam.
How did the election of 1960 change the way candidates ran their campaign?
After the 1960 election, candidates ran their campaigns by securing television and radio spots for advertisements.
How much power can a president wield to ensure national security?
After the Watergate scandal, the amount of power a President can wield became more limited and laws were passed to ensure national security.
Why did Americans disagree about the Vietnam War?
Americans disagreed about the Vietnam War because the government gave different accounts on how the war was going than the media, some believed it was a civil war the United States shouldn't be interfering with, some believed South Vietnam was a dictatorship, and the way people were drafted for the war was very unfair to poor people and African Americans.
For what purpose did Bosnian Serbs practice ethnic cleansing?
Bosnian Serbs practiced ethnic cleansing on non-Serbs after a civil war erupted between them and two other ethnic groups.
Why did Churchill and Roosevelt want to attack German-controlled areas in North Africa before areas in Europe?
Churchill and Roosevelt wanted to attack German-controlled areas in North Africa before areas in Europe because the invasion would give the army experience without requiring many troops, and it would help the British troops fight the Germans in Egypt.
How did African American civil rights leaders change their reform focus?
Civil Rights leaders began focusing on affirmative action.
How did civil rights legislation protect the civil rights of people with disabilities?
Civil Rights legislation was passed that required buildings constructed with federal funds to be accessible to disabled people, that prohibited discrimination against the disabled by any entity whom received federal funding, and discrimination against handicapped people was banned in employment, transportation, public education, and telecommunications.
How did the Clinton administration provide foreign aid to areas of conflict around the world?
Clinton's administration provided aid to areas of conflict around the world by interfering with militant regimes, stopping the genocide that Bosnian Serbs were committing, and by helping negotiate treaties between countries.
What are some core ideas of conservatives?
Conservatives distrust the power of government and wish to limit it. They are against government regulations of the economy, oppose high taxes, and believe social problems can be fixed by religious faith.
Do you agree or disagree with President Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb? Why or why not?
I disagree with Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb. I could never agree with it because I consider it to be an egregious war crime, since it killed anywhere from 115,00 to 194,000 people between the two bombs.
How are developing nations primarily different from industrial nations?
Developing nations tend to have economies based around agriculture, while industrial nations have economies based around industrial factory production.
How did discount retailing and new forms of media contribute to the economic boom of the 1980's?
Discount retailers sold goods in bulk at low prices, making consumers save money as the seller made more money by selling more produce at once, and the many new forms of media also helped contribute to the economic boom because there were so many more popular things for people to spend their money on.
What were the successes and failures of President George W. Bush's second term?
During President Bush's second term, he succeeded in enacting a new prescription drug program for seniors and appointing new supreme court justices, but the slow response time of FEMA after hurricane Katrina reflected poorly in his polls and he failed to keep the American economy to fall into a recession.
During his presidential term, what domestic policy areas did President Clinton focus on?
During his Presidency, Clinton focused on the domestic policy areas of keeping a balanced budget and putting children first by helping poor families.
How did Eisenhower's presidency signal a more conservative direction for the government?
Eisenhower's presidency signaled a more conservative direction for the government by balancing economic conservatism with activism. Eisenhower ended government price and rent controls, which many conservatives had found to be unnecessary.
How did fears of nuclear war affect American society?
Fearing nuclear war, schools began having bomb drills and cold war themes became popular, appearing in entertainment.
How did Gorbachev's attempts to revive the Soviet union's economy lead to a revolution?
Gorbachev's attempts to revive the Soviet Union's economy lead to a revolution because his reforms reached other Communist countries and weakened the Communist hold on them.
What economic conditions or problems led to a stagnant economy during the 1970's?
High oils prices, old inefficient American factories, the end of the gold standard, unemployment, and high inflation led to a stagnant economy during the 1970's.
If someone is living below the poverty line, what does that mean?
If someone is living below the poverty line, it means that they are making less than the minimum income required to support a family.
How did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's death affect the civil rights movement?
King's death caused national mourning and riots in more than 100 cities. In the wake of his death, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed.
Why did many Americans support isolationism? Why did President Roosevelt support internationalism?
Many Americans supported isolationism because the rise of dictatorships and militarism in Europe made their sacrifices during World War I seem pointless. The Nye Committee report showing arms factories making huge profits during the war creating the impression that businesses were influencing the decision to go to war turned more Americans towards isolationism. President Roosevelt supports internationalism because he believed that trade between nations creates prosperity and helps prevent war.
Why did many Mexicans migrate to the United States from the early to mid-1900's, and how did this affect American society?
Many Mexicans migrated to the United States due to the turmoil of the Mexican Revolution. The discrimination they faced led them to boycott and demand equal rights.
Why did many young African Americans join the black power movement?
Many young African Americans joined the black power movement because they believed that Dr. King's lack of progress in Chicago showed that nonviolent protests weren't enough and some believed that African Americans alone should lead their struggle.
How did the counter culture movement affect the nation?
More individualized dressing became generally accepted and counterculture musicians and their style of music became more popular.
Why did new activist groups form in the 1980's?
New activist groups formed to protect the rights of homosexuals, and many musicians and entertainers started activist groups to help those affected by social issues.
Write a description of the major events of the Watergate scandal in order.
Nixon feared the possibility that he might not be reelected, so his advisors ordered five men to break into the Democratic Party's headquarters and steal secret campaign information. Nixon ordered White House officials to destroy incriminating documents and gave a false testimony. It was proven that Nixon had knowledge of the incident when he was forced to turn over white house tape recordings that contained incriminating evidence.
What do you think was Nixon's greatest foreign policy achievement?
Nixon's greatest foreign policy achievement was the policy of Détente, which allowed him to relax tensions between the United States and Communist rivals.
Why did Eisenhower want to use covert operations to stop the spread of communism?
President Eisenhower wanted to use covert operations to stop the spread of communism by using the Central Intelligence Agency to prevent Communists from staging revolutions within countries.
How did Presidents Ford and Carter try to resolve the nation's domestic issue?
President Ford tried to resolve the nation's domestic issue by keeping taxes low. President Carter attempted to fix the economy by increasing government spending and cutting taxes, then he tried to ease inflation by reducing the money supply and raising interest rates. Carter also deregulated the oil industry to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
How did President Johnson's experience in Congress help him to get legislation passed?
President Johnson's experience in Congress helped him get legislation passed because he knew he needed to do favors, twist arms, bargain, flatter, and threaten in order to find consensus.
What were some domestic policies initiated when President Kennedy took office?
President Kennedy cut taxes, allowed advocated deficit spending, got businesses to hold down prices, raised the minimum wage, and proposed the Area Redevelopment Act, and the Housing Act. He also expanded women's rights with the Equal Pay Act.
Summarize President Nixon's major domestic and foreign policy initiatives.
President Nixon gave more control to state and local governments, he attempted to pass the Family Assistance Plan that provided needy families a yearly grant of $1,600, began Vietnamization by slowly removing troops from the warzone, and relaxed tensions with Communist rivals.
Why did President Reagan build up the military?
President Reagan built up the military because he believed the excessive military buildup would bankrupt and destroy the Soviet Union if they tried to keep up.
Why did riots break out in dozens of American cities in the late 1960's?
Riots broke out over allegations of police brutality.
How did technological advances change society?
Technological advances meant that more people were working office jobs that focused on management.
The 1960 debate between presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy was the first televised presidential debate. Assess the role that television played in this historic event.
Television played a large role in the 1960 presidential debate. For the first time, people all over the country were able to watch their presidential candidates debate each other. People who listened to the debate over the radio seemed to believe that Nixon had won the debate, but those who watched it on television seemed to believe that Kennedy had won the debate, since they could see Nixon sweating profusely during the debate and wearing a suit that made his body blend in with the background.
What factors were blamed for the rise in juvenile delinquency?
Television, movies, comic books, racism, busy parents, a rising divorce rate, lack of religion, and anxiety over the military draft were all blamed for the rise in juvenile delinquency.
What major actions marked the beginning of the United States war on terrorism?
The 9/11 attacks, the U.S. receiving international support for their deployment of troops in the Middle East, the creation of Homeland Security, and the PATRIOT Act marked the beginning of the U.S. war on terrorism.
What other major domestic events defined Barack Obama's first years as president?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, healthcare reform, and environmental regulations defined Obama's first years as President.
Why was the Battle of Midway a turning point in the war in the Pacific?
The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the war in the Pacific because the American forces had destroyed four of the Japan's large carriers, that were the heart of its fleet.
How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 allow the federal government to fight racial discrimination?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 allowed the federal government to fight discrimination by giving the U.S. attorney general more power to bring lawsuits to force school desegregation and required private employers to end desegregation in the workplace.
What concerns inspired the environmental movement?
The concern that a harmful pesticide might be poisonous and smog lowering the air quality of cities inspired the environmental movement.
How did new laws passed in this time period protect the environment?
The Environmental Protection Agency was created to protect the environment, and the Clean Air Act was signed to establish emission standards for factories and automobiles. The clean Water Act of 1972 restricted the discharge of pollutants into the nation's lakes and rivers, and the Endangered Species Act established measures for saving threatened species.
How does Great Society legislation influence current government programs and philosophies?
The Great Society Legislation has influences current government programs and philosophies by attempting to take care of the poor and elderly with healthcare coverage, and others with urban development and public transportation.
Why was the Korean War a major turning point in the war?
The Korean War was a major turning point in the Cold War because the United States embarked on a major military buildup to contain communism, instead of their previous political pressure and economic aid. The war also expanded to Asia.
Why was the Montgomery bus boycott successful?
The Montgomery bus boycott was successful.
How did the Nazi's try to exterminate Europe's Jewish population?
The Nazis originally tried to exterminate Europe's Jewish Population by shooting them and gassing them with exhaust fumes in trucks, but later decided to send them to concentration camps where they would work as a slave until they died, or be gassed in massive gas chambers
What economic and political conditions following World War I encouraged dictatorships?
The Treaty of Versailles, along with the economic depression that followed, contributed to the rise of dictatorships.
What was the state of the US economy after World War II?
The US economy after World War II had a greater demand for goods which caused higher prices, the inflation caused labor unrest, and workers began to strike as the living cost rose.
What was the policy of containment?
The policy of containment was keeping communism within its present territory through diplomatic, economic, and military actions.
Why did the United States want to overthrow the Taliban regime?
The United States wanted to overthrow the Taliban regime because they had sheltered Osama bin Laden and other members of al-Qaeda.
How was the political and cultural aftermath of the Vietnam War different from previous international conflicts?
The aftermath of the Vietnam War was different because the signing of the peace treaty appeared to be a loss for the U.S., as the domino effect occurred and more countries became communist, veterans of the war didn't receive a welcome return because of the huge disapproval for the war, and a law was passed that requires the president to inform Congress of any commitment of troops abroad within 48 hours, and to withdraw them in 60 to 90 days if Congress doesn't approve of the commitment.
How did the Allies achieve victory in Europe and Japan?
The allies achieved victory in Europe when the Germans surrendered after the allies broke through German defenses around Berlin and Hitler committed suicide.
Why did the budget deficit rise during the Reagan presidency?
The budget deficit rose because Reagan lowering taxes meant that the government was spending more than it made.
What techniques did the civil rights movement use to challenge segregation?
The civil rights movement used court cases, sit-ins, the Montgomery bus boycott, and nonviolent passive resistance to challenge segregation.
How has the federal government addressed immigration reform in the twenty-first century?
The federal government addressed immigration reform about how to deal with illegal immigrants, but Congress strongly disagreed on how to solve the problem. Some believed that people who had illegally been living in America since their childhood should be granted citizenship, but Republicans argued that it would just reward illegal behavior and penalize people who waited legally.
dentify the following image and explain what it means in a short paragraph (pic is nixon hanging from the watergate tapes)
The following image is a political cartoon that depict President Richard Nixon hanging from the tapes that proved he was involved with the break-in at the Democratic Party's headquarters. In the cartoon, Nixon is clinging to the tapes just as he was in real life in an attempt to keep them to himself, as he knew they proved his guilt.
Based on what you learned in this course, what do you think the following photograph is showing? (pic is black child being escorted in front of building)
The following image is showing Ruby Bridges being escorted to school by several U.S. marshalls. She was attending a southern school that had been desegregated by the United States' government, and needed the marshalls to protect her from the crowds of racist people who would angrily protest her being able to go to what had formerly been an all-white school.
What issues and events attracted supporters for Barack Obama's presidential campaign?
The horrible economy attracted supporters to Obama's Presidential campaign, as he proposed a domestic agenda to create jobs, relieve suffering families, assist home owners, and ease the financial crisis.
What was the most important foreign policy event of the Kennedy administration? Why was it the most important event?
The most important foreign policy event of the Kennedy administration was the signing of a treaty that banned testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. It was the most important event because it ended the Cuban missile crisis and stopped both countries from beginning a nuclear war.
How did US involvement in Vietnam change during the Kennedy and Johnson administration?
The number of U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam rose drastically and American involvement expanded during the Kennedy and Johnson administration.
How did the opponents of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 use the filibuster to try to block its passage?
The opponents of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 used the filibuster to try to block its passage by speaking continuously to prevent a vote.
Why was the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 a turning point in the civil rights movement?
The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 was a turning point in the civil rights movement because it meant that states could no longer discriminate between voters and had to let eligible African Americans vote.
What policies did Nixon employ to end the war?
The policies of linkage and Vietnamization were taken to employ the end of the war.
Using the secondary sources, what are the major opinions of historians concerning Truman's decisions?
The primary sources show that Truman believed the bombing was necessary because he thinks it shorten the agony of war and saved the lives of young Americans. On the contrary, William Leahy believed that the bombing was horrible and completely unnecessary, as he mentions that the Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender.
How were the protest techniques used by student protesters similar and different from those of the civil rights movement?
The protest techniques of students were similar because they involved sit-ins and were nonviolent. They were different because the campus protests involved shutting down classes, and the students didn't receive a violent response when protesting.
Why was the space race so important to the United States?
The space race was so important to the United States because Kennedy worried that Soviet successes in space might convince the world that communism was better than capitalism.
Why was the struggle for civil rights more difficult because of the "separate but equal" doctrine established in the Plessy v. Ferguson case?
The struggle for civil rights was more difficult because of the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson because the court case deemed segregation to be constitutional.
What was Vietnamization?
Vietnamization was the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops while the South Vietnamese assumed more of the fighting.
How did the wartime relocation of many Americans affect US government and society?
Wartime relocation of many Americans led to people living in tent cities, and the government creating the National Housing Agency.
Why did young people in the 1950's develop their own popular culture?
Young people in the 1950's developed their own popular culture because that had disposable income that could be spent on entertainment, and mass media meant teens could hear the same music and watch the same television shows.
