US History Test 2 Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover significant events, figures, and concepts from US History related to the WWII era and important societal changes.

What was the purpose of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during WW2?

To fly for the U.S. Army Air Forces in non-combat situations.

How many women applied to become WASPs, and how many were selected?

25,000 applied, but only 1,830 were selected.

What intelligence breakthrough did Lt. Edwin Layton achieve before the Battle of Midway?

He gained intel on an upcoming Japanese attack.

What was Midway’s significance during the Pacific War?

It was a strategic point that the Japanese aimed to capture.

Who was Admiral Chester Nimitz?

He was the commander of the US naval fleet in the Pacific during WWII.

What critical advantage did the US have during the Battle of Midway?

They had the element of surprise.

Name the main allied powers during WWII mentioned in the notes.

The U.S., Great Britain, the USSR, and China.

What was the mission of the Allied powers in WWII?

To stop the expansion of fascism.

What was the code name for the invasion of Normandy?

Operation Overlord.

When did D-Day take place?

June 6th, 1944.

What role did barrage balloons serve during D-Day?

They provided cover for soldiers landing on the beaches.

What significant event followed V-E Day in relation to Japan?

Harry Truman led the U.S. in the final days of the war against Japan.

What was the name of the project that developed the atomic bomb?

The Manhattan Project.

Who was the lead theoretical physicist of the Manhattan Project?

Robert Oppenheimer.

When was the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

August 6th, 1945.

What day is celebrated as V-J Day?

The day Japan offered an unconditional surrender, ending WWII.

What did the Jim Crow Laws aim to do?

Limit voting rights for African Americans through various restrictions.

What was the Grandfather Clause?

A law that exempted those who had voted before the 14th and 15th Amendments from literacy tests.

Who was associated with the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1900s?

The film 'Birth of a Nation' directed by D.W. Griffith.

What was the landmark Supreme Court case that challenged segregated schools?

Brown v. Board of Education.

Who was Oliver Brown?

A pastor who challenged segregation by attempting to enroll his daughter in a white school.

What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education?

The Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional.

Which president wrote 'Profiles in Courage' and won a Pulitzer Prize?

John F. Kennedy.

What were the key themes of the 1960 presidential election?

Civil rights, the Cold War, and the space program.

What was Sputnik I?

The first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Who was the first man to orbit the earth?

John Glenn.

What was the significance of the Mercury Program?

It aimed to put the first man in space.

What was the historic achievement of Leroy Gordon Cooper?

He was the first man to spend more than 24 hours in space.

What did the American public fear after the WWII ended?

The potential threat of the USSR and communism.

Who challenged the actions of Senator McCarthy on his news program?

Edward R. Murrow.

In what year did FDR die and lead to Truman's presidency?

1945.

What led to the decline in KKK membership by 1915?

A lack of popularity and effectiveness.