Cold War
Name the two superpowers that faced off during the Cold War and briefly describe what made the conflict "cold" rather than a direct hot war.
U.S. and Soviet Union; it was "cold" because they avoided direct large‑scale military conflict and instead competed politically, economically, and through proxy wars.
In what years did the Korean War begin and effectively reach an armistice (start year and armistice year)?
Began 1950; armistice 1953.
What was segregation, and give one example of how segregation was enforced in the United States before major civil rights laws?
Segregation = legal and social separation of races; e.g., "separate but equal" schools, segregated buses, restrooms, lunch counters.
What general idea did the phrase "Black Power" express to many supporters during the 1960s?
Emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, self-determination, and political control of Black communities.
During roughly which decades did major U.S. military involvement in Vietnam occur?
Major U.S. involvement: primarily 1960s–early 1970s (escalation mid-1960s; withdrawal in early 1970s).
What was the Truman Doctrine and how did it shape U.S. Cold War policy?
Truman Doctrine (1947): U.S. policy to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism; it committed the U.S. to contain Soviet influence.
What event led to U.S. involvement in the Korean War, and which international organization authorized military support?
North Korean invasion of South Korea (June 1950); United Nations (led by U.S.) authorized military support.
What was the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (year) and what core principle did it establish about public schools?
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, stating separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
Contrast the Black Power Movement with mainstream nonviolent civil rights organizations: name one difference in goals or tactics.
Black Power favored self-defense, cultural pride, community programs, and sometimes separatism; contrasted with nonviolent integration-focused tactics of groups like NAACP and SCLC.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and how did it affect U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964): Congress authorized the president to take military action in Vietnam after reported attacks, effectively escalating U.S. involvement.
Explain the purpose of the Marshall Plan and one major effect it had on Europe after World War II.
Marshall Plan: U.S. economic aid to rebuild Western European economies; it helped recovery and reduced appeal of communism.
Explain the division of Korea after World War II: which countries controlled the north and the south?
Soviet Union controlled north (supported a communist government); U.S. occupied and supported the south.
What sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and who emerged as a national civil rights leader during the boycott?
Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat (1955) sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a national leader.
Identify one prominent leader or organization associated with the Black Power Movement and describe a key idea they promoted.
Examples: Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), the Black Panther Party; promoted self-determination, community programs, and sometimes armed self-defense.
Describe the anti-war movement in the United States: name one common reason protesters opposed the Vietnam War and one method they used to voice opposition.
Anti-war reasons: high casualty rates, belief the war was unwinnable, moral opposition, draft inequities; methods: protests, teach-ins, draft-card burnings, rallies, congressional lobbying.
Define "containment" as a Cold War strategy and give one example of a U.S. action that followed this policy.
Containment = prevent spread of communism; example: U.S. support for Greece and Turkey, NATO formation, Korean War intervention.
Identify one major outcome of the Korean War for U.S. Cold War policy in Asia.
Reinforced U.S. commitment to contain communism in Asia; led to U.S. bases and military presence in the region and increased defense spending.
Describe two major provisions or goals of the Civil Rights Act (note: clarify which major civil rights act you mean if asked for year—this question references broad civil rights legislation of the 1960s).
Major civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965 included bans on public discrimination, voting rights protections, and enforcement mechanisms.
Explain how the phrase "Power to the People" connects to Black Power thinking and provide one example of action or programs tied to that slogan.
"Power to the People" emphasized community control and grassroots programs (e.g., community schools, free breakfast programs by Black Panthers).
Explain the policy of "Vietnamization." Which U.S. president is most associated with this policy?
Vietnamization = transfer combat roles to South Vietnamese forces while U.S. withdrew troops; associated with President Richard Nixon.
Describe the Cuban Missile Crisis: what triggered it, and how was the crisis resolved?
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Soviet placement of missiles in Cuba after U.S. missiles in Turkey and Bay of Pigs tensions; resolved by Soviet removal of missiles in Cuba and U.S. secret removal of missiles from Turkey and a U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba.
How did the Korean War change U.S. military policy or spending in the early Cold War years?
Led to permanent military buildup, expanded peacetime draft/military readiness, and a policy of collective security (e.g., NATO support increased).
Explain how nonviolent protest methods were used in the Civil Rights Movement and provide one specific example (other than Montgomery).
Nonviolent protest: sit-ins, freedom rides, marches (e.g., 1963 March on Washington), legal challenges; example: sit-ins at lunch counters leading to desegregation.
Analyze one way the Black Power Movement influenced later social or political movements in the United States.
Influenced later movements emphasizing identity politics, community organizing, Afrocentrism, and local political empowerment.
Identify one major domestic effect of the Vietnam War on American politics or society (for example: impact on public trust, draft policy, or veterans' treatment) and explain its significance.
Domestic effects: widespread public distrust in government (credibility gap), changes to draft and move toward an all-volunteer force, contentious treatment of returning veterans, and major protest movements influencing policy.