DBQ PREDICTIONS

Truman Doctrine (1947)

• U.S. gave $400 million tpo Greece and Turkey.

• Goal: stop communism from spreading.

• Said the U.S. will support any country resisting communism.

• This starts containment.

• Why it matters: U.S. becomes involved in world affairs (no more isolation).

Use: Shows start of U.S. Cold War policy.

Marshall Plan (1948–1951)

• U.S. gave $13 billion to rebuild Europe after WWII.

• Helped countries like France, Britain, West Germany.

• USSR refused it and forced Eastern Europe to refuse.

• Why it matters: Stops poverty → stops spread of communism.

Use: Shows economic way of containment.

Korean War (clean + detailed + simple)

• After WWII, Korea is split at the 38th parallel:

  • North Korea = communist (supported by USSR and China)

  • South Korea = non-communist (supported by U.S.)

• June 1950: North Korea invades South Korea trying to unite the country under communism.

• The U.S. joins through the United Nations to defend South Korea (this shows global cooperation).

• General Douglas MacArthur leads U.S./UN forces:

  • Pushes North Koreans back past the 38th parallel

  • Goes too far toward China’s border

• China enters the war to help North Korea → pushes U.S. forces back down.

• War becomes a stalemate (no clear winner).

1953: War ends with an armistice (ceasefire), NOT a peace treaty.

• Korea is still divided today near the 38th parallel.

Around 36,000 U.S. soldiers died.

• First time the U.S. actually fought a war to stop communism (containment)

• Shows Cold War becomes military, not just political/economic

Cuban Missile Crisis

• USSR put nuclear missiles in Cuba (90 miles from Florida).

• U.S. (John F. Kennedy) made a naval blockade.

• Lasted 13 days.

• Deal: USSR removes missiles, U.S. secretly removes missiles from Turkey.

• Why it matters: Closest moment to nuclear war.

Use: Shows danger of Cold War.

Vietnam War

• Vietnam split at 17th parallel:

  • North (Ho Chi Minh) = communist

  • South = U.S.-supported

• U.S. enters more after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964).

• Guerrilla warfare (Viet Cong) → hard to fight.

• Tet Offensive (1968) shocks Americans.

• U.S. leaves in 1973, communists win in 1975.

• Why it matters: U.S. fails to stop communism.

• Use: Shows limits of containment.

NATO (1949)

• Alliance: U.S., Canada, Western Europe.

• Rule: attack one = attack all.

• Opposes USSR and leads to Warsaw Pact.

• Why it matters: World divided into sides.

• Use: Shows Cold War alliances.

Pure Food and Drug Act

• Passed after Upton Sinclair exposed dirty meat factories.

• Required safe food + correct labels.

• Government starts checking factories.

• Why it matters: Government protects consumers.

• Use: Shows regulation of business.

16th Amendment (1913)

• Government can tax people’s income.

• Rich people pay more (graduated tax).

• Why it matters: Gives government money for reforms.

• Use: Shows stronger federal power.

17th Amendment (1913)

• Before: state legislatures chose senators.

• After: people vote directly.

• Why it matters: Less corruption, more democracy.

• Use: Shows political reform.

19th Amendment (1920)

• Women get the right to vote.

• Result of long activism (Seneca Falls → suffrage movement).

• Why it matters: Expands democracy.

• Use: Shows success of reformers.

Square Deal

• Focus: fairness

• Breaks up monopolies (trust-busting)

• Protects consumers + environment

• Why it matters: President becomes more active.

• Use: Shows government intervention.

Federal Reserve Act

• Creates Federal Reserve (central bank).

• Controls money supply and interest rates.

• Prevents economic crashes.

• Why it matters: Government manages economy.

Use: Shows economic reform.

Brown v. Board of Education

• Supreme Court says school segregation is unconstitutional.

• Overturns “separate but equal.”

• Why it matters: Starts desegregation.

Use: Shows federal action.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Ends discrimination in public places and jobs.

• Passed by Lyndon B. Johnson.

• Why it matters: Major legal victory.

• Use: Shows success of movement.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Stops literacy tests and voting barriers.

• Federal government enforces voting rights.

• Why it matters: Black voter registration increases.

Use: Shows federal enforcement.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

• Started after Rosa Parks refused to give up seat.

• Lasted 381 days.

• Led by Martin Luther King Jr..

• Ends bus segregation.

• Why it matters: Shows power of nonviolence.

• Use: Shows grassroots activism.

March on Washington

• Over 250,000 people attended.

• MLK gives “I Have a Dream” speech.

• Why it matters: Pressures government to act.

• Use: Shows national support.

Black Power Movement

• More militant than earlier movement.

• Groups like Black Panthers.

• Focus on self-defense and pride.

• Why it matters: Shows shift in strategy.

• Use: Shows different methods.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

• Tax on paper (newspapers, legal docs).

• Colonists say “no taxation without representation.”

• Why it matters: First major protest.

Use: Shows cause of revolution.

Townshend Acts

• Taxes on imports like glass, tea.

• Leads to boycotts.

• Why it matters: Continues tension.

Use: Shows growing anger.

Intolerable Acts

• Punishment after Boston Tea Party.

• Closed Boston Harbor.

• Why it matters: Unites colonies.

Use: Shows British control → colonial unity.

Boston Tea Party

• Colonists dump tea into harbor.

• Protest British taxes.

• Why it matters: Direct resistance.

Use: Shows escalation.

First Continental Congress

• Colonies meet to respond to Britain.

• Organize boycotts.

• Why it matters: Colonies begin working together.

Use: Shows unity.

Declaration of Independence

• Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson.

• Says people have natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).

• Why it matters: Justifies independence.

• Use: Shows Enlightenment ideas.

Erie Canal

• Connects Great Lakes to Atlantic Ocean.

• Makes shipping faster and cheaper.

• Why it matters: Boosts trade and cities.

• Use: Shows economic growth.

Transcontinental Railroad

• Connects East and West U.S.

• Built using immigrant labor (Chinese workers).

• Why it matters: Creates national market.

• Use: Shows expansion (can be used as continuation).

American System

• Plan by Henry Clay.

• Includes tariffs, national bank, internal improvements.

• Why it matters: Helps economy grow.

• Use: Shows government role in economy.

Lowell System

• Young women work in factories.

• Live in company housing.

• Why it matters: Changes role of women + work.

• Use: Shows social impact.

Second Great Awakening

• Religious movement in early 1800s.

• Encourages reform (abolition, temperance).

• Why it matters: Inspires social change.

• Use: Shows link between economy + reform.

Seneca Falls Convention

• First women’s rights meeting.

• Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

• Created Declaration of Sentiments.

• Why it matters: Start of women’s rights movement.

Use: Shows reform from social change.