PEEPS
PLACES
TECHNOLOGY
ENTERTAINMENT
WILD CARD
100
America put real troops near hydrogen bomb tests. How did they fare? Why do you think they did this?
Most of them died before they got old due to radiation poisoning. The government did this to understand if our troops could still fight after our enemies hit us with nuclear bombs (assuming our troops didn't get blown up immediately).
100
What country launched the first man-made satellite? What was the satellite’s name? What did it mean in English? What was it as big as? Why did such a small thing scare America so much?
The Soviet Union. It's name was "Sputnik." It meant "satellite." It was scary because it meant that the USSR was ahead of American technologically, and that a missile that could put a satellite into space could also deliver a nuclear bomb to America.
100
What was the advantage of the transistor radio over previous technologies? What technology did it replace?
The transistor was smaller than vacuum tubes, enabling radios to become pocket-sized.
100
Which 1960 American movie was copied from Japan’s 1950s movie “The Seven Samurai?” Briefly describe the plot they had in common.
The Magnificent Seven. Each movie was about poor villagers who hired fighters (samurai or gunslingers) to protect their villages from bandits.
100
What were the two metaphorical "booms" of the 1950s?
The Economic Boom and the Baby Boom. It's hard to have a baby boom without an economic boom too.
200
There were three main reasons that the owners of SONY named their company as they did. What were at least two of them?
1) To create a name that Americans could easily pronounce. 2) To use the Latin word for "sound:" Sonos. 3) To make a word like "Sonny" (Boy) to represent young people with a lot of energy who are on the go.
200
What orange roofed motel/restaurant chain could you go to every night on a trip all around America?
Howard Johnson's.
200
Think about how transistors improved the customer experience with radios. Now, identify at least two technological advancements that brought similar benefits to recorded (not broadcasted) music consumers.
Cassette tapes, then CDs, then MP3 digital files made RECORDED music portable, then easier and easier to carry around 20 songs, then eventually THOUSANDS of songs in smaller devices.
200
Why did they call Elvis Presley’s rock & roll “race music?” Name at least three factors that made him the most popular performer of that decade.
"Race music" reminded listeners of black performers who had been singing The Blues and Jazz for decades. Elvis was popular because he had a great voice, was handsome, made listening to "race music" somewhat acceptable, shook his hips, was from the South so could appeal to country music fans, and played rock music, which appealed to all youngsters. Lastly, many grown ups didn't like him which made young people like him all the more.
200
In the 1940s, FDR began many “public works projects” (like the Hoover Dam). What public works project in the 1950s was the biggest (dollar cost and physical size) of all time?
The Interstate Highway System.
300
Why was Rosa Parks arrested? People get arrested all the time. Why did she end up in the history books?
She was arrested in Alabama for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white person. This led to blacks boycotting the buses in that city (Montgomery) and getting national news coverage.
300
What was the name of the first town in Long Island, New York that included small, inexpensive, tightly packed homes that drew apartment dwellers from New York City out to the suburbs? What other businessman of the early 1900s does he remind you of, who delivered to families another important product at prices that most families could afford?
Levittown. William Levvitt was like Henry Ford, who brought inexpensive autos to Americans.
300
What historical event of the 1940s was the inspiration for the inventor of the Hovercraft in the 1950s? Why?
D-Day. The Hovercraft inventor didn't want to see future amphibious invasions in which the soldiers would die running from the boats in the water, on to the beaches.
300
What did TV shows like "Leave it to Beaver," "Father Knows Best," "The Ozzie & Harriet Show" and "The Donna Reed Show" all have in common?
They were all about the daily lives of happy, conservative, white families in the 1950s.
300
In the 1950s the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses” was coined. What did it mean? Was it unique to America? Do you judge it to be good or bad? Why?
It meant buying enough new stuff for your family so that your neighbors wouldn't have more than you. It was mostly an American idea since the rest of the world was still trying to rebuild from WWII. Give good reasons why you think it was good or bad.
400
Who was the main person in the American government behind building the thousands of miles of interstate highways in the 1950s? It proved to be very convenient for family tourism. What was the more important reason he originally built it?
President Eisenhower. He thought America needed a good road system for the military in any possible future wars in/on our homeland. This is the main reason why so many Roman roads can still be seen today throughout Europe (they built them for their armies).
400
What neighboring country to the Soviet Union tried to break away in 1956? How many of their citizens died in the attempt?
Hungary. 10,000 citizens were killed by the Soviets. Mr. Novak escaped to come to America and build a Hungarian restaurant in Albany.
400
The "black box" flight recorder isn't actually black. So, why was it called that?
Because "little black books" were where people kept all their important-to-remember information.
400
If you wanted to think of the Japanese movie “Godzilla” as symbolic of other things (besides just a city-destroying monster), what would Godzilla symbolize? Why?
Godzilla could represent the American nuclear bombs which came out of the Pacific Ocean, were enabled by radioactivity, and destroyed whole cities.
400
Name at least two characteristics of “beatniks.” Name two similarities they shared with “hippies” of the 60s and at least two differences.
They often wore berets. They liked to congregate in underground coffee houses. They like to listen to poetry. They liked snapping their fingers instead of applauding. They used works like "cool man," "dig that," "daddio," "you're so square," "are you hip?" Like hippies they were "counter-culture," "rebellious," "anti-military," liked longer hair. Hippies wore tie-dye, Beatniks wore black. Hippies like rock music, Beatniks like poetry & folk music. Hippies like drugs. Beatniks like coffee.
500
What famous people participated in the “kitchen debate” of the 1950s? What did they debate about?
American Vice President Richard Nixon met Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at a technology/appliance convention where they debated which of their respective economies/ideologies (Capitalism vs. Communism) was superior. This debate was finally settled 1989-1991 when the Berlin Wall was torn down and the Soviet Union crumbled into various countries.
500
What civil rights history was made in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957?
The first black children showed up to attend the segregated high school there. The local authorities refused to support them, so President Eisenhower sent in the military to enforce their civil rights to attend the same school that white kids when to.
500
What is one advantage of video tape over film?
It's cheaper and can be reused.
500
What "lonely" TV character only had one friend who called him "Kemosabe?"
The Lone Ranger.
500
How is an increase in "real wages" different from an increase in "wages?"
If wages go up at the same rate as inflation, then there is no increase of "real wages." If wages go up FASTER than the rate of inflation, then THAT is an increase in "real wages."
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