This Document Contains Chapters 29 to 30 Chapter 29: Affluence and Anxiety, 1945-1960 Multiple-Choice Questions 1) Who invented the concept of the mass construction of suburban homes? a. William Levitt b. Thurgood Marshall c. Joseph McCarthy d. Norman Vincent Peale e. Reginald Rose Answer: a 2) What group was rigidly excluded from all three Levittowns? a. the middle class b. the working class c. African Americans d. Protestants e. Catholics Answer: c 3) The most significant social trend in postwar America was __________. a. the decline of the nuclear family b. the decrease in the birthrate c. a decline in family size d. the emergence of the drug culture e. the flight to the suburbs Answer: e 4) The term "baby boom" refers to a significant increase in __________. a. the infant survival rate in America b. the American birthrate c. the amount of money spent on babies d. the popularity of adopting children e. C-section deliveries Answer: b 5) By 1960, America's gross national product was __________ the 1940 GNP. a. less than half of b. about 10 percent less than c. about the same as d. about 50 percent higher than e. more than double Answer: e 6) Which section of the nation benefited the most from the economic boom of the 1950s? a. the Hawaiian Islands b. the Great Lakes region c. the Midwest d. the Sunbelt states e. New England Answer: d 7) Which was critical to life in the suburbs? a. jobs close to the home sites b. efficient public transportation c. the automobile d. American school systems e. air conditioning Answer: c 8) What was Dr. Benjamin Spock's 1946 bestselling book about? a. infant and child care b. public education c. Cold War politics d. dating and marriage e. space travel Answer: a 9) What was the dominant social theme of 1950s America? a. individualism b. free love c. philanthropy d. consumerism e. political activism Answer: d 10) An immediate problem for rapidly growing suburban communities was providing adequate __________. a. water supplies b. schools c. waste disposal d. law enforcement e. mass transit Answer: b 11) What kind of programming became popular after television stations abandoned live dramatic programs? a. documentaries b. cooking shows c. quiz shows d. talk shows e. reality television Answer: c 12) The "beats" were __________. a. jazz musicians who experimented with folk music b. a light rock group popular on 50s-era TV variety shows c. writers and poets who rebelled against materialistic 1950s values d. a motorcycle gang whose members included Jack Kerouac and James Dean e. a group of talented screenplay writers in the early days of television Answer: c 13) What artistic movement is associated with the "beats"? a. abstract expressionism b. postmodernism c. cubism d. realism e. pointillism Answer: a 14) The first president to attempt seriously to alter the historic pattern of racial discrimination in the United States was __________. a. Harry Truman b. Franklin D. Roosevelt c. Theodore Roosevelt d. John F. Kennedy e. Herbert Hoover Answer: a 15) By 1960, the most racially integrated institution in American society was __________. a. the public high school system b. the private university system c. corporate America d. the armed forces e. the Protestant churches Answer: d 16) What was the first focus of NAACP efforts to end segregation practices? a. kindergartens b. elementary schools c. middle schools d. high schools e. universities Answer: e 17) In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the Supreme Court ruled that school segregation __________. a. was acceptable as long as the schools were actually equal b. could not be banned as long as local voters supported it c. violated the Fourteenth Amendment by creating feelings of inferiority and inequality d. was necessary in order to foster a strong sense of racial identity among students e. was protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution Answer: c 18) By 1960, what percentage of black children in the Deep South were attending schools with whites? a. less than 1 percent b. 10 percent c. 25 percent d. 45 percent e. more than 50 percent Answer: a 19) Who were the Little Rock Nine? a. black war heroes from Little Rock, Arkansas b. black students at a recently desegregated high school in Little Rock, Arkansas c. a group of black political activists from Little Rock, Arkansas d. nine black men who were murdered by white supremacists in Little Rock, Arkansas e. nine white police officers accused of brutality against black citizens in Little Rock Answer: b 20) Who inspired the Montgomery bus boycott? a. Martin Luther King, Jr. b. Ella Baker c. Rosa Parks d. Thurgood Marshall e. Orval Faubus Answer: c 21) Who led the Montgomery bus boycott? a. Martin Luther King, Jr. b. Ella Baker c. Rosa Parks d. Thurgood Marshall e. Bayard Rustin Answer: a 22) Martin Luther King, Jr. founded the __________ to obtain civil rights for African Americans. a. Black Panther Party for Self-Defense b. Fair Employment Practices Committee c. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People d. Southern Christian Leadership Conference e. Urban League Answer: d 23) Which of the following famous men had the greatest influence on the philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr? a. George Washington b. Napoleon Bonaparte c. Fidel Castro d. Niccolo Machiavelli e. Mahatma Gandhi Answer: e 24) Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy advocated __________. a. immigration to Africa rather than trying to gain rights in the United States b. acceptance of discrimination until the courts could act properly c. the use of violence to get the nation's attention for his cause d. the use of violence as the only way to gain equality in U.S. society e. nonviolent, passive resistance to unjust laws Answer: e 25) What organization was formed in 1960 as a result of "sit-in" demonstrations? a. the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense b. the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee c. the Southern Christian Leadership Conference d. the Urban League e. the Little Rock Nine Answer: b 26) The 1950s in America were characterized by __________. a. a lower standard of living b. migration from the suburbs to urban areas c. unprecedented restraint on consumerism d. a new affluence and a thriving economy e. economic recession and inflation Answer: d 27) Why did some people criticize American suburban life? a. They accused suburban families of snobbery, since only the wealthy could live there. b. They thought the houses were built with substandard materials and craftsmanship. c. They disliked the conformity and uniformity of suburban life. d. They were afraid that a mass exodus to the suburbs would harm city economies. e. They worried about the pollution generated by suburban automobile commuters. Answer: c 28) Which of the following was an important stimulus to American economic growth in the late 1940s and early 1950s? a. direct government aid to industrial development b. the surplus of consumer goods left over from World War II c. heavy government spending during the Cold War d. the American public’s debt that remained from overspending in previous decades e. huge exports to foreign countries in Europe and Asia Answer: c 29) The economic abundance of the 1950s __________. a. benefited all geographic regions of the country equally b. virtually erased unemployment in the United States c. did not benefit the steel industry and agriculture as much as other industries d. had very little effect on the American public outside of the upper class e. led to a surprising racial equality Answer: c 30) A change in labor practice that came about in the postwar era was that most people __________. a. started getting less than two weeks of vacation each year b. began working less than 40 hours each week c. began working on Saturdays until noon d. started working on Sundays after noon e. sent their teenagers to work for more disposable income Answer: b 31) The new American suburbs of the 1950s __________. a. were too expensive for most young couples b. allowed only upper-class inhabitants c. were mainly inhabited by working-class families d. showed a surprising occupational diversity among inhabitants e. were typically open to all races and religions Answer: d 32) How did the drive-in culture of the 1950s change the way America shopped? a. People shopped less often because traffic became a problem. b. Consumers began driving across state lines to avoid sales taxes. c. Consumers began buying products in bulk. d. Delivery services replaced shopping excursions. e. Shopping centers and malls were built all over the country. Answer: e 33) What was a drawback of suburban life for the family? a. Many families were torn apart by pressure to conform to suburban expectations. b. Many young families had to share their homes with extended family members. c. Many parents were too focused on earning money to make time for family bonding. d. Many people had only infrequent contact with extended family members. e. Many children received little attention from their hardworking parents. Answer: d 34) People's attitude toward organized religion in the 1950s was __________. a. incredibly positive, and religious affiliation boomed b. negative, and churches lost large numbers of members c. that it was not as important in their lives as in the lives of previous generations d. that it was the only way to deal with the emotional stress of the Cold War e. that it was something they simply did not have time for as life became more hectic Answer: a 35) Why did the government increase federal funding for science education in 1957? a. The country was starting to favor science over religion. b. The country became more interested in electronic gadgets. c. It was responding to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik. d. It was responding to critics of "progressive" education. e. It was responding to working-class criticisms of public education. Answer: c 36) In the 1950s, Americans experienced a contradiction in __________. a. their apparent obsession with technology but reluctance to embrace television b. their growing commitment to organized religion while they had less time for church activities c. moving to the suburbs yet longing for the excitement and opportunities found in cities d. saying they feared the onset of another Great Depression but refusing to spend the money needed to bolster the economy e. denouncing the Soviet Union for human rights violations while discriminating against African Americans Answer: e 37) The Truman administration failed to pass any civil rights legislation because __________. a. Truman himself secretly worked to defeat its passage b. most people said the civil rights movement was a communist plot c. black voters had traditionally backed the Republican Party d. southern politicians managed to block the legislation e. controversial social change during the Cold War could be divisive and dangerous Answer: d 38) During the Truman administration, __________. a. voting discrimination against African Americans came to an end b. public schools were desegregated in many states c. an order for desegregation of the armed forces was issued d. Congress established a permanent civil rights commission e. the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department was weakened Answer: c 39) As a result of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, __________. a. segregation in the South ended almost immediately b. the slow process of desegregating schools began c. the civil rights movement ended quietly d. African American students were fully accepted by white teachers e. African Americans could finally be teachers in the South Answer: b 40) How did the Deep South respond to court-ordered desegregation? a. by taking action to end discrimination in schools b. with grudging acceptance of the decisions c. with apathy and passive acceptance d. with massive and widespread resistance e. with violence and threats to once again secede from the Union Answer: d 41) President Eisenhower's approach to desegregation was to __________. a. actively fight to stop the process b. work behind the scenes to stop the effort c. misunderstand the importance of the issue d. work behind the scenes to support the movement e. publicly support desegregation efforts across the South Answer: d 42) Why did Eisenhower send 1,000 paratroopers to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957? a. to ensure that black students could attend a desegregated school b. to quell a violent race riot resulting from the desegregation of the military c. to investigate a planned terrorist attack from the Soviet Union d. to protect a top secret chemical weapon on its way to Washington, DC e. to arrest hundreds of alleged segregationist activists and supporters Answer: a 43) What was the driving force for social change that gained civil rights for African Americans? a. landmark court cases b. presidential intervention c. laws passed by Congress d. the religious revival of the times e. African American activism Answer: e 44) Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955 because she __________. a. instigated a race riot stemming from the desegregation of schools b. defied a court order by refusing to allow black students in her classroom c. refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man d. assaulted a white man who had insulted her on a city bus e. was suspected of being a communist or communist sympathizer Answer: c 45) What was the initial goal of the Montgomery bus boycott? a. to challenge the legality of segregated seating b. to create a semi-segregated seating arrangement on a first-come, first-served basis c. to challenge the racial discrimination in the hiring of bus drivers d. to make the bus fares equal for white and black passengers e. to bring more bus routes to African American neighborhoods Answer: b 46) The Montgomery bus boycott __________. a. moved Martin Luther King, Jr. away from his philosophy of passive resistance b. sparked an outburst of violence against blacks all over the South c. led to the emergence of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a black civil rights leader d. failed to change Montgomery's strict segregation laws e. ended when President Eisenhower sent in troops to stop the boycott Answer: c 47) What event prompted a massive wave of "sit-ins" across the country? a. African Americans went on a hunger strike after being refused service at a diner. b. An African American soldier refused to stand and salute an abusive white officer. c. A white restaurant owner assaulted a black customer when she asked to be served in a white area. d. Three African American college students refused to leave a lunch counter after being denied service. e. Three African American women refused to get off a bus after being asked to move to the back. Answer: d 48) What effect did memories of the Great Depression have on Americans in the 1950s? a. Many Americans became almost desperately obsessed with gathering material goods. b. Many Americans hoarded their money and refrained from purchasing expensive items, such as homes and cars. c. Many Americans had to be hospitalized for overeating disorders. d. Many Americans donated money to charities rather than engaging in consumerism. e. Many Americans were mistrustful of banks, and this damaged the economy. Answer: a 49) What effect did postwar life have on women in American society? a. Women tended to get married later, so they had more time to pursue careers outside the home. b. Couples tended to have fewer children, so the focus of many women shifted from childrearing to professional careers. c. Many suburban households included extended family members, so mothers had enough help to more easily pursue professional careers. d. Many women who had joined the workforce during the war returned to the home to assume the more traditional roles of wife and mother. e. Women were expected to maintain their wartime jobs while also meeting social expectations of the "perfect" wife and mother. Answer: d 50) How did political activism for African American rights change from the 1950s to the early 1960s? a. Direct, peaceful confrontation replaced reliance on court action. b. Reliance on court action replaced direct, peaceful confrontation. c. Reliance on court action replaced violent means of forcing social change. d. Violent means of forcing social change replaced direct, peaceful confrontation. e. Direct, peaceful confrontation replaced violent means of forcing social change. Answer: a Essay Questions 51) Analyze and describe the development of the U.S. economy between 1945 and 1960. Answer: The period between 1945 and 1960 marked a significant phase in the development of the U.S. economy, characterized by several key trends and events: 1. Post-War Recovery and Growth: Following World War II, the U.S. experienced a period of rapid economic growth and recovery. The war had stimulated industrial production, and with the end of the war, there was a shift towards consumer goods production, leading to increased consumer spending and economic expansion. 2. Population and Urbanization: The post-war period saw a significant increase in the U.S. population, driven in part by the baby boom. This demographic shift contributed to urbanization as people moved to cities in search of employment opportunities, leading to the growth of urban areas and the development of suburban communities. 3. Technological Advancements: The 1950s were characterized by significant technological advancements, particularly in the fields of electronics, aviation, and communications. Innovations such as the transistor, jet aircraft, and television revolutionized industries and contributed to economic growth. 4. Labor and Employment: The post-war period was marked by a strong labor market, with low unemployment rates and rising wages. Labor unions played a significant role in advocating for workers' rights and securing better working conditions and benefits. 5. Consumer Culture and Mass Media: The 1950s saw the rise of a consumer culture, fueled by advertising and the mass media. Television became a dominant form of entertainment and advertising, shaping consumer preferences and driving demand for new products. 6. Government Policies: Government policies also played a role in shaping the economy during this period. The GI Bill provided education and housing benefits to veterans, stimulating the economy and contributing to the growth of the middle class. The Marshall Plan provided aid to European countries, leading to increased trade and economic cooperation. 7. Cold War and Military Spending: The Cold War and the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union led to increased military spending, which stimulated economic growth and contributed to the development of new technologies. Overall, the period between 1945 and 1960 was characterized by strong economic growth, driven by factors such as post-war recovery, technological advancements, population growth, and government policies. These trends laid the foundation for the prosperity and economic expansion that would characterize the following decades in the U.S. 52) Describe American culture in the 1950s. Evaluate the extent to which 1950s culture was influenced by the experiences of the 1930s and 1940s. Answer: American culture in the 1950s was characterized by several key themes and trends, shaped in part by the experiences of the preceding decades: 1. Prosperity and Consumerism: The 1950s were a time of economic prosperity in the U.S., with a growing middle class enjoying rising incomes and increased access to consumer goods. This period saw the rise of a consumer culture, with advertising and mass media promoting the idea of the "American Dream" and the importance of material success. 2. Suburbanization and the Baby Boom: The post-war period saw a significant increase in suburbanization, as people moved out of cities and into newly built suburban communities. This trend was fueled in part by the baby boom, as returning soldiers started families and sought affordable housing outside of urban centers. 3. Conformity and Social Norms: The 1950s are often characterized as a period of conformity, with societal expectations emphasizing traditional gender roles, family values, and a conformist attitude towards dress and behavior. This conformity was influenced by the desire to avoid the social upheaval and economic hardship of the Great Depression and World War II. 4. Cultural Changes and Tensions: Despite the emphasis on conformity, the 1950s also saw the beginnings of significant cultural changes and tensions. The Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, challenging racial segregation and discrimination. The Beat Generation emerged, questioning mainstream values and advocating for personal freedom and expression. 5. Cold War and Cultural Anxiety: The Cold War and the threat of nuclear war also influenced American culture in the 1950s. There was a sense of cultural anxiety, reflected in popular culture through themes of nuclear apocalypse and invasion in movies and literature. The culture of the 1950s was undoubtedly influenced by the experiences of the 1930s and 1940s. The Great Depression of the 1930s had a lasting impact on American society, leading to a greater emphasis on economic stability and material success in the post-war period. World War II also left its mark, with the experiences of wartime mobilization and national unity shaping attitudes towards conformity and social norms in the 1950s. Overall, while the 1950s are often remembered as a period of prosperity and stability, the culture of the decade was also shaped by the experiences and challenges of the preceding decades, influencing everything from social norms to cultural movements. 53) Describe the beginnings of the civil rights movement in the 1950s, and compare and contrast the different approaches taken by the NAACP and African American activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Answer: The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a pivotal period in American history, marked by efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. The movement had its beginnings in the 1950s, with several key events and approaches shaping its early stages: 1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): The landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This decision laid the foundation for challenging segregation in other areas of society. 2. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): The Montgomery Bus Boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus. The boycott, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Montgomery Improvement Association, lasted for over a year and resulted in the desegregation of Montgomery's buses. 3. The NAACP Legal Strategy: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had been fighting against segregation through legal means since its founding in 1909. In the 1950s, the NAACP's legal team, including Thurgood Marshall, focused on using the courts to challenge segregation laws, leading to the Brown v. Board of Education decision. 4. Nonviolent Direct Action: Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists embraced the philosophy of nonviolent resistance, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. They organized sit-ins, boycotts, and marches to protest segregation and discrimination, believing that nonviolent protest could bring about social change. 5. Contrasting Approaches: While both the NAACP and activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to end segregation and discrimination, they differed in their approaches. The NAACP focused on legal challenges and legislative action, working within the existing political and legal system. In contrast, King and others believed in direct action and civil disobedience, often challenging unjust laws through nonviolent protest. 6. Shared Goals: Despite their differences in approach, both the NAACP and activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. shared the goal of achieving equality and justice for African Americans. Their efforts were instrumental in bringing about significant advances in civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Overall, the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s were marked by a variety of approaches, from legal challenges to nonviolent direct action. These efforts laid the groundwork for the broader social changes that would follow in the 1960s. Chapter 30: The Turbulent Sixties, 1960-1968 Multiple-Choice Questions 1) What was one major factor that helped Kennedy defeat Nixon in the 1960 presidential election? a. Kennedy's performance in the first televised presidential debate b. Nixon's poor performance in a presidential radio debate c. Kennedy's extensive political experience compared to Nixon's d. Kennedy's warm relationship with the Eisenhower administration e. the fact that the nation was familiar with Kennedy, but Nixon was a newcomer to politics Answer: a 2) John F. Kennedy's domestic program was known as the __________. a. Great Society b. New Deal c. Fair Deal d. New Frontier e. Camelot Era Answer: d 3) What was Kennedy's top priority when he assumed the office of the presidency? a. civil rights b. foreign policy c. health care d. poverty e. the economy Answer: b 4) What did President Kennedy do to help South Vietnam in 1961? a. He praised the South Vietnamese government but took no action. b. He sent money and advisers. c. He sent combat troops. d. He threatened North Vietnam. e. He badgered European countries into sending combat troops. Answer: b 5) Kennedy's failed 1961 covert operation to overthrow Cuba's Fidel Castro is called __________. a. the Monroe Affair b. the Cuban Missile Crisis c. the Bay of Pigs d. Operation Castro e. the Havana Project Answer: c 6) The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation that came very close to being a nuclear conflict between which two countries? a. Cuba and China b. Cuba and the Dominican Republic c. the United States and China d. the United States and Russia e. Russia and Cuba Answer: d 7) Which individual was an African American appointed to a prominent post in the federal government during the Kennedy administration? a. Philip Randolph b. Thurgood Marshall c. Martin Luther King, Jr. d. Malcolm X e. Stokely Carmichael Answer: b 8) What was the 1961 freedom ride? a. a march on Washington in which participants rode bicycles b. a sit-in during which thousands of college students experimented with LSD c. a protest in which thousands of college students blocked the routes of segregated buses and trains d. a protest in which thousands of people crossed the United States on motorcycles e. a protest in which a biracial group tested the desegregation laws on public transportation Answer: e 9) Who put the most pressure on Kennedy to openly support racial justice? a. Philip Randolph b. Thurgood Marshall c. Martin Luther King, Jr. d. Malcolm X e. Stokely Carmichael Answer: c 10) One of Lyndon Johnson's greatest assets in the White House was his __________. a. ability to persuade Congress b. acclaimed public speaking skills c. polish and sophistication d. excellent relationship with the media e. unassuming presence that caused others to underestimate him Answer: a 11) When Johnson became president after the assassination of Kennedy in 1963, what did he focus on first? a. ending the cold war b. passing JFK's tax cuts and civil rights bill c. escalating the war in Vietnam d. boosting the military e. bolstering international relationships Answer: b 12) Lyndon Johnson's main theme in the presidential election of 1964 was __________. a. rolling back communist gains around the world b. further advances in civil rights c. decreasing the size of the federal government d. winning the cold war e. ending poverty in America Answer: e 13) Lyndon Johnson's reform program was called the __________. a. Fair Deal b. New Frontier c. Great Society d. Great Future e. Morning in America Answer: c 14) In his health care program, President Lyndon Johnson secured __________. a. free health care for all Americans b. the Medicare program for the elderly c. more rights for private insurance companies d. a restriction on health benefits for welfare recipients e. a free prescription drug program Answer: b 15) In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson sent American soldiers to __________ in order to prevent a communist takeover there. a. Cuba b. Argentina c. the Dominican Republic d. Lebanon e. Madagascar Answer: c 16) In Vietnam, American military strategists counted heavily on __________. a. enthusiasm for the war which would generate recruits b. superior American firepower, especially airstrikes c. superior American counterinsurgency tactics d. the overwhelming number of American troops e. the overwhelming support from the Vietnamese people Answer: b 17) The most prominent student protest organization during the sixties was the __________. a. Students of America b. Students for a Democratic Society c. Yippie movement d. Southern Christian Leadership Conference e. Young Republicans Answer: b 18) What was the main issue that American college students protested during the sixties? a. the election of Lyndon Johnson b. the Vietnam War c. Lyndon Johnson's education policies d. civil rights e. tax increases for the middle class Answer: b 19) In the spring of 1968, students seized five buildings at __________ for eight days before police regained control. a. Arizona State University b. Duke University c. the University of California at San Francisco d. Harvard University e. Columbia University Answer: e 20) What was the touchstone of the new counterculture of the sixties? a. literature b. photography c. painting d. film e. music Answer: e 21) Who advocated "black power" as the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s? a. Martin Luther King, Jr. b. Phillip Randolph c. Stokely Carmichael d. Thurgood Marshall e. Robert Weaver Answer: c 22) Cesar Chavez __________. a. led a communist takeover of Nicaragua in 1969 b. organized a Chicano political movement known as La Raza Unida c. organized California grape and lettuce workers to strike for higher wages d. was the first Hispanic player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame e. campaigned for bilingual education programs in public schools in California and Texas Answer: c 23) Who wrote the 1963 book The Feminine Mystique? a. Jacqueline Kennedy b. Rosa Parks c. Ella Baker d. Betty Friedan e. Coretta Scott King Answer: d 24) The turning point of the Vietnam War which convinced U.S. leaders that the war would end in a stalemate was the __________. a. Tet offensive b. Gulf of Tonkin affair c. Battle of Pleiku d. Battle of Haiphong e. massacre at My Lai Answer: a 25) Which 1968 presidential candidate cut deeply into Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey's voter base by running on the American Independent Party ticket? a. Eugene McCarthy b. William Westmoreland c. Timothy Leary d. George C. Wallace e. Huey Newton Answer: d 26) Kennedy secured the African American vote in the 1960 presidential election by __________. a. promising to defend African nations from communism b. promising to appoint an African American as his running mate c. supporting the release of Martin Luther King, Jr. from jail d. publicly criticizing southern Democrats who supported segregation e. being a close personal friend of Stokely Carmichael Answer: c 27) Why did the United States become involved in the conflict between North and South Vietnam in 1961? a. to stop the spread of communism from North Vietnam to South Vietnam b. to gain control of valuable natural resources in South Vietnam c. to honor obligations to Russia from the treaty ending World War II d. to retaliate for North Vietnam's involvement in the Bay of Pigs operation e. to stop South Vietnam's bloody takeover of North Vietnam Answer: a 28) Why did Kennedy authorize a covert mission in which 1,400 Cuban exiles invaded Cuba? a. to check the island for nuclear weapons b. to topple the regime of Fidel Castro c. to gather information about Castro's relationship with Russian leader Khrushchev d. to steal classified documents related to the conflict in Vietnam e. to spark an anti-Communist movement among the Cuban people Answer: b 29) How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved? a. Cuba would remove its nuclear missiles in exchange for America's promise not to attack Russia. b. America would remove its nuclear missiles from Cuba in exchange for Russian promises not to aid North Vietnam. c. America would remove its nuclear missiles from Cuba in exchange for Russia's promise not to invade Cuba. d. Russia would remove its nuclear missiles from Cuba in exchange for America's promise not to invade North Vietnam. e. Russia would remove its nuclear missiles from Cuba in exchange for America's promise not to invade Cuba. Answer: e 30) What was a consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis? a. the end of the U.S.-Soviet arms race b. the Soviet-American telephone hotline c. a decrease in Kennedy's popularity among the American people d. a new maturity in John F. Kennedy's domestic policy e. a new policy of nuclear arms reduction by both the Soviet and American government Answer: b 31) John F. Kennedy played down civil rights legislation because he __________. a. feared the possibility of alienating southern Democrats b. did not think the country was ready to consider it c. did not want to offend conservative African American leaders d. thought it was unnecessary and should be left to the states e. thought there was little a president could do to combat racism Answer: a 32) What finally caused Kennedy to support racial justice openly? a. He visited segregated schools in the South. b. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. c. Kennedy wanted a united country to fight the war in Vietnam. d. Authorities attacked children in a segregation protest in Birmingham, Alabama. e. The Democratic party threatened not to support him if he did not speak out. Answer: d 33) When President Johnson managed to get Congress to pass Kennedy's proposed tax cut in 1964, the result was __________. a. huge budget deficits b. a sustained economic boom c. protests from welfare recipients d. a major recession e. cutbacks in certain social services Answer: b 34) Which statement about Johnson's war on poverty is correct? a. It was a failure; the poverty level actually rose while the program was in effect. b. It was barely passed by Congress and was never actually implemented. c. It lacked effective funding and, in the end, helped only about 80,000 people. d. It emphasized self-help and brought almost 10 million people out of poverty. e. It gave money directly to the poor and nearly solved the nation's poverty problem. Answer: d 35) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 __________. a. was resisted by blacks who believed voting was a white prerogative b. won President Johnson the public adulation he craved c. reduced President Johnson's popularity d. had little effect on the voting practices of southern African Americans e. led to a dramatic increase in African American voting registration in the South Answer: e 36) Which was a difference between John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson? a. Kennedy was more committed to a liberal reform agenda than Johnson. b. Johnson was considered more stylish than Kennedy. c. Kennedy was better at manipulating Congress than Johnson. d. Johnson was more popular with the media than Kennedy. e. Kennedy was a better public speaker than Johnson. Answer: e 37) The foreign policy of Lyndon Johnson __________. a. was dramatically different from that of John Kennedy b. was, in many respects, simply a continuation of Kennedy's policies c. indicated his strong opposition to the Cold War d. indicated his acceptance of existing communist states e. was isolationist by nature Answer: b 38) What caused the Gulf of Tonkin affair? a. American support for covert operations in Vietnam led North Vietnam to attack a U.S. ship. b. American intervention in Cuban politics led Castro to urge the North Vietnamese to attack U.S. ships. c. American hostility to Russia caused Khrushchev to ask the North Vietnamese to attack U.S. ships. d. Russian hostility to North Vietnam caused Khrushchev to ask the United States to seize North Vietnamese ships. e. North Vietnam attacked South Vietnamese ships carrying valuable natural resources to the United States, and the Americans retaliated. Answer: a 39) In part, Lyndon Johnson wanted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to demonstrate the American commitment to __________. a. making Vietnam an American colony b. remaining neutral in Vietnam c. defending South Vietnam d. invading North Vietnam e. cooperating with Russia in the Vietnam conflict Answer: c 40) American bombing of North Vietnam __________. a. proved an effective strategy in limiting North Vietnam's participation in the war b. destroyed North Vietnam's major port facilities at Haiphong c. impeded communist supply lines d. garnered approval from the international community e. was largely ineffective Answer: e 41) Lyndon Johnson must bear great responsibility for the American problems in the Vietnam War because he __________. a. failed to confront the American people with the stark reality of the war b. was the first U.S. leader to commit American financial resources to fighting the communists in Vietnam c. was not fully committed to containment and strayed from Kennedy's approach to foreign policy d. was more committed to the implementation of containment policy than his predecessors had been e. took funding away from the war effort to prop up his Great Society programs Answer: a 42) Lyndon Johnson's political downfall resulted primarily from his __________. a. Latin American policy b. pursuit of the Vietnam War c. failure in implementing his Great Society programs d. refusal to be a Cold Warrior e. advocacy of welfare programs Answer: b 43) Participation in the Vietnam War was connected to socioeconomic class primarily because wealthy young men __________. a. were more likely to be in college and thus could avoid the draft b. were more likely to volunteer and enlist without being drafted c. could hire someone to take their places in the military d. often bribed officials and bought their way out of the draft e. were often given safer desk jobs rather than combat duty Answer: a 44) How did the civil rights movement change in the mid- to late sixties? a. It cooled off, since African Americans had achieved most of their social goals. b. The movement became even more committed to nonviolent resistance to racism. c. It became more militant and considered violence to force social change. d. It focused less on protest in the streets and more on progress through the courts. e. The movement focused less on domestic social change and more on international social change. Answer: c 45) Which statement best describes the social change that American women experienced from the 1920s to the 1960s? a. The media no longer portrayed stereotypical gender roles for men and women in the 1960s, as it had in the 1920s. b. In the 1960s, there were actually fewer women enrolled in college and professional schools than there were in the 1920s. c. In the 1960s, there were a large number of female doctors and lawyers, unlike the situation in the 1920s. d. Women were no longer relegated to stereotypical occupations in the 1960s, as they had been in the 1920s. e. In the 1960s, women were no longer expected to maintain the household and raise children, as they were in the 1920s. Answer: b 46) Nixon's election signaled a public reaction against the __________. a. failure of the Democratic party to bring about social reform b. efforts to bring peace in Vietnam c. successes of the civil rights movement d. economic failures of the last Democratic president e. growth of the federal government Answer: e 47) The Vietnam War affected future U.S. foreign policy because it caused America to __________. a. pursue a more active containment policy abroad b. abandon its containment policies c. return to an isolationist policy abroad d. refuse to cooperate with nations in Asia for almost a decade e. abandon international efforts for almost a decade due to embarrassment Answer: b 48) What is one reason the Gulf of Tonkin affair was such a costly victory for Johnson? a. Johnson became ill during the Gulf of Tonkin affair and never fully recovered his health. b. The Gulf of Tonkin affair caused the deaths of thousands of civilians, which soured America's reputation abroad. c. The Gulf of Tonkin affair led Congress to reduce Johnson's ability to use force in Vietnam. d. When the war started in earnest, Johnson was vulnerable to the charge of deliberately misleading Congress. e. Johnson had to underfund his domestic social programs to finance the operation. Answer: d 49) What were Johnson's feelings about committing the United States to the war in Vietnam? a. He worried about the consequences of either withdrawal or invasion, so he committed to a large-scale but limited military intervention. b. He worried about the consequences of being too cautious, so he committed the American military to an all-out invasion of North Vietnam. c. He was worried about the consequences of a U.S. troop presence, so he withdrew troops to Taiwan and Japan while he reconsidered his options. d. He worried about the spread of communism, so he committed American troops to two fronts, both Vietnam and Europe. e. He was worried about domestic unrest in the United States, so he decided he could not commit more than 10,000 troops to the effort. Answer: a 50) African American activism affected social change for other ethnicities because other ethnic groups __________. a. were unimpressed with the strategies of African American activists and tried to enact social change in other ways b. had little success in making social change, since the country was weary of protests for racial justice c. were inspired by African American activism and launched their own protests d. were afraid to protest after seeing the violence African American activists endured from authorities e. were resentful of African American successes because the social changes of the sixties affected only African Americans Answer: c Essay Questions 51) Analyze President Kennedy's approach to the Cold War. How and why did Kennedy intensify the Cold War? Answer: President Kennedy intensified the Cold War through several key actions: 1. Flexible Response Doctrine: He adopted a strategy that included various military options, from conventional forces to nuclear arms, moving away from the policy of massive retaliation. 2. Increased Defense Spending: Kennedy significantly boosted defense budgets, enhancing both conventional and nuclear capabilities to deter Soviet aggression. 3. The Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961): Despite its failure, the invasion showed Kennedy's willingness to take aggressive action against communism in Cuba. 4. The Berlin Crisis (1961): Kennedy reinforced U.S. military presence in West Berlin and took a strong stand against Soviet demands, leading to the construction of the Berlin Wall. 5. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Kennedy's naval blockade of Cuba and diplomatic negotiations during the crisis demonstrated his resolve to confront Soviet threats while avoiding nuclear war. 6. Alliance for Progress and Peace Corps: These initiatives aimed at promoting development and countering communism in Latin America through economic aid and volunteer programs. 7. Space Race: Committing to landing an American on the moon, Kennedy aimed to demonstrate U.S. technological and ideological superiority over the Soviet Union. Kennedy's intensification of the Cold War was driven by the need to contain communism, respond to domestic political pressures, maintain global strategic balance, and uphold U.S. credibility and leadership in the world. 52) What successes did the civil rights movement achieve during the Johnson administration? How do these relate to the violent radicalism of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s? Answer: During President Johnson's administration, the civil rights movement achieved major successes: 1. Civil Rights Act of 1964: Ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. 2. Voting Rights Act of 1965: Outlawed discriminatory voting practices and authorized federal oversight of voter registration. 3. Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act): Prohibited discrimination in housing. Relationship to Violent Radicalism in the Late 1960s • Persistent Inequality: Despite legal gains, economic and social disparities persisted, leading to frustration and radicalization. • Black Power Movement: Emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, and self-defense, advocating for more militant approaches. • Urban Riots: Incidents of police brutality and systemic oppression sparked riots, reflecting deep-seated anger in African American communities. • Shift in Focus: The movement's focus shifted to economic justice, education, and housing, where progress was slower, fueling calls for more immediate and direct action. 53) Analyze President Johnson's strategy in the Vietnam War. Why did it lead to American defeat? Answer: Johnson's Strategy in the Vietnam War 1. Gradual Escalation: Steadily increased U.S. troop presence and military operations to pressure North Vietnam without provoking a wider conflict. 2. Operation Rolling Thunder: Sustained bombing campaign targeting North Vietnamese infrastructure. 3. Search and Destroy Missions: Engaged Viet Cong and North Vietnamese units to inflict heavy casualties. 4. Support for South Vietnamese Government: Backed a corrupt and unpopular South Vietnamese government. Reasons for American Defeat 1. Underestimating the Enemy: Misjudged the determination and resilience of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces. 2. Lack of Clear Objectives: Ambiguous goals made it difficult to measure progress and secure a decisive victory. 3. Domestic Opposition: Growing anti-war sentiment in the U.S. eroded political support for the war. 4. Strategic Missteps: Heavy bombing and search and destroy missions alienated the Vietnamese population. 5. Geopolitical Constraints: Avoiding a broader war with China or the Soviet Union limited U.S. military options. Test Bank for American Stories: A History of the United States H. W. Brands, T. H. Breen, R. Hal Williams, Ariela J. Gross 9780205990801, 9780205960897, 9780205962020, 9780133794113
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