TRUMAN & THE EARLY COLD WAR
What was the main U.S. goal of the containment policy?
Stopping the spread of communism.
What did the G.I. Bill help returning veterans pay for?
College and home loans.
Why did Sputnik cause concern in the United States?
It suggested the Soviet Union had advanced missile technology that could outpace the U.S.
What group did Cesar Chavez organize, and what industry were they part of?
Migrant farmworkers in the agricultural industry.
How did Nixon change Cold War diplomacy with China?
He opened diplomatic relations, easing tensions and shifting the balance against the USSR.
What did the Marshall Plan provide to European countries after WWII?
Billions of dollars to rebuild economies and prevent the spread of communism.
What action did Truman take to support civil rights in the military?
He used an executive order to integrate the armed forces.
What educational change followed the launch of Sputnik?
Increased federal funding for science, math, and engineering programs.
What method did Chavez use to pressure employers for better wages and conditions?
Nonviolent boycotts, especially the successful grape boycott.
Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act in 1973?
To limit the president’s power to send troops into combat without congressional approval.
How did NATO change U.S. foreign policy?
It pulled the U.S. into permanent alliances instead of isolation.
What was McCarthyism?
A widespread fear and hunt for suspected communists in government and society.
How did the Kennedy-Nixon debates change presidential campaigning?
Television made candidates’ appearance and presentation more important to voters.
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaw?
Discrimination in public facilities and employment based on race, gender, or religion.
What caused the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979?
Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy after the U.S. allowed the Shah to receive medical treatment in America.
Why was the Berlin Airlift considered a success for the U.S. and its allies?
It demonstrated that the U.S. could resist Soviet pressure without starting a war.
How did the Interstate Highway Act help the growth of suburbs?
Highways made it easier to commute from suburban homes into cities for work.
Why was televised coverage of events like the Birmingham campaign significant?
It showed the brutality of segregation, increasing national support for civil rights legislation.
Why was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 necessary?
Because states continued using literacy tests and other barriers to block African American voting.
What was the goal of the Persian Gulf War in 1991 under George H.W. Bush?
To remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait and protect international oil interests
How did the Korean War reinforce the global application of containment?
It showed the U.S. was willing to use military force to stop communism outside Europe.
How did Brown v. Board of Education change national civil rights policy?
It declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
Besides scientific achievement, what Cold War purpose did the Moon landing serve?
It demonstrated technological superiority over the Soviet Union.
What was one main goal of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs?
Reducing poverty through federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and expanded education funding.
Why was Barack Obama’s election in 2008 historically significant?
He became the first African American president in U.S. history.