World War II
Who were the Axis Powers in World War II?
Who were the Allies?
Axis = Germany, Italy, Japan
Allies = England, France, United States, USSR
What was the Cold War?
a proxy ideological war between the U.S. and the USSR
What was the Civil Rights Movement?
movement to achieve equality, regardless of skin color / race
What was Nixon's main legacy?
corruption
Why was the United Nations created?
to prevent another world war from happening
What was the U.S.'s initial stance during WWII?
Why did that change?
The U.S. wanted to maintain neutrality, but the attack on Pearl Harbor made the United States get involved.
Why were the Korean and Vietnam Wars fought?
What was segregation, and how was desegregation met?
separating people due to skin color; with much hostility
Carter was more popular across the political spectrum, but Reagan is a well-known conservative figure, particularly for how successful the economy was during his presidency.
How is the end of WWII connected to capitalism?
factories not being used = place to mass produce consumer goods, keeping up with the Jones'
How did the United States change socially during WWII?
The labor force was primarily made up of women, who were doing factory jobs, which were typically considered "men's work."
What is the arms race?
competition between U.S. and USSR involving nuclear weapons
Who were major leaders of social change during the Civil Rights Movement?
MLK Jr., Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges
What was 9/11? What is it a significant event?
a terrorist attack on the U.S.
disrupted sense of security, led to scrutiny of and bigotry towards Middle Eastern people, discussion of privacy vs. security, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
What were Japanese internment camps?
squalid places the U.S. government sent Japanese Americans
How was the U.S.'s economy affected by WWII?
People were very poor. Food and other essentials were rationed.
What is the Space Race?
effort to reach space / the moon first, competition between U.S. and USSR to prove superiority
What are some of the major events / movements that happened during this time?
sit-ins, boycotts, protests, marches (on Washington), etc.
How would you characterize Modern American history?
What is globalization, and what are its benefits / drawbacks?
Globalization is the idea that, with technology, the world is more interconnected.
Benefits = sharing ideas, news, moments that weren't seen before; more communication, despite borders and differences
Drawbacks = outsourcing labor; taking advantage of poorer countries; misinformation campaigns; critical infrastructures subject to foreign attack via technology
What did the United States do during WWII that has been considered off-limits ever since?
Use the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
McCarthyism / The Red Scare
witch hunt for communism, fear of communism, blacklisting people
Many Americans are still protesting for racial equality, particularly related to police brutality.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing modern America today?
environmental issues, terrorism (foreign and domestic), racial inequality, economic inequality
What environmental issues are the U.S. and the world facing?
climate change; too much waste; dying off species of animals