Comprehensive U.S. History: Wars, Civil Rights, and Modern Era

What were the causes of the Spanish-American War?

Cuban independence movement, yellow journalism, USS Maine explosion.

What was the outcome of the Spanish-American War?

U.S. victory; Spain lost its colonies, and the U.S. gained Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

What role did yellow journalism play in the Spanish-American War?

It exaggerated Spanish cruelty to gain American support for the war.

What caused the explosion of the USS Maine?

The cause was unclear, but many Americans blamed Spain.

What was the Zimmermann Telegram?

A secret message from Germany asking Mexico to join against the U.S., promising to help Mexico regain lost territories.

How did the sinking of the Lusitania affect U.S. involvement in WWI?

It angered Americans and increased sympathy for the Allies.

What was unrestricted submarine warfare?

Germany's policy to sink ships without warning, violating freedom of the seas.

What was the purpose of the Food and Fuel Administration during WWI?

To increase food supplies for soldiers and encourage voluntary conservation.

What were War Bonds used for during WWI?

To raise money for the war by having citizens loan money to the government.

What was the Committee on Public Information?

A government propaganda agency to build public support for the war.

What was the League of Nations?

An international organization proposed by Woodrow Wilson to prevent future wars.

Why did the U.S. Senate reject membership in the League of Nations?

Fear that it would force the U.S. into foreign wars and compromise independence.

What was the Red Scare?

The fear of a communist revolution spreading to the U.S. after the Russian Revolution.

What did the Espionage Act of 1917 do?

Made it illegal to interfere with military recruitment or aid enemies.

What was the purpose of the Sedition Act of 1918?

To punish criticism of the government, military, or war.

What was the Great Migration?

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to northern cities for better opportunities.

What were the main factors driving African Americans to migrate north?

Jim Crow laws, segregation, lynching, and limited job opportunities.

How did the end of WWI affect racial tensions in the U.S.?

Returning soldiers competed for jobs, leading to increased racial tensions and riots.

What was Black Nationalism?

A movement promoting black pride, economic independence, and self-sufficiency.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

A cultural movement celebrating African American literature, art, and music in the 1920s.

What did Booker T. Washington advocate for?

Vocational skills and gradual economic success for African Americans.

What was W.E.B. Du Bois's stance on civil rights?

Demanding immediate civil rights and fighting discrimination directly.

What were the main interests of the presidents in the 1920s?

Pro-business policies, lower taxes, and less government regulation.

How did the Great Migration and the Red Scare contribute to the rise of the KKK?

Fear of social change and communism led to the KKK's resurgence targeting minorities.

What was the Quota Act of 1924?

An immigration restriction law aimed at limiting the number of immigrants from certain countries.

Why was the quota system established?

To reduce immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia while favoring Northern and Western Europeans.

What were flappers?

Young women who wore shorter skirts, cut their hair into bobs, listened to jazz, and challenged traditional expectations.

What did suffragettes fight for?

Voting rights for women, specifically for the nineteenth amendment.

What did the Scopes Monkey Trial represent?

The conflict between traditional religious values and modern science.

How did the Scopes Monkey Trial start?

A Tennessee law banned teaching evolution, leading to John Scopes being put on trial for teaching it.

What was the outcome of the Scopes Monkey Trial?

Scopes was found guilty and fined, highlighting tensions between rural vs. urban America and religion vs. science.

What was the purpose of Prohibition?

To ban the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.

What did supporters of Prohibition believe?

Alcohol caused crime, poverty, domestic violence, and family problems.

What was a major consequence of Prohibition?

Increased organized crime and bootlegging.

What caused the Great Depression?

Factors included stock speculation, banking failures, farming problems, unequal wealth distribution, and protective tariffs.

What was stock speculation?

Buying stocks hoping prices would keep rising, often using borrowed money.

What happened during the Stock Market Crash of 1929?

Investors lost confidence and tried to sell stocks, leading to a crash.

How did banking failures contribute to the Great Depression?

Banks invested depositor money in the stock market and failed after the crash, leading to lost savings.

What farming problem contributed to the Great Depression?

Overproduction led to falling prices and farmers losing their farms.

What is a bull market?

A market where stock prices are rising.

What is a bear market?

A market where stock prices are falling.

What was the Dust Bowl?

Severe drought and poor farming practices that created dust storms on the Great Plains.

What were Hoovervilles?

Shantytowns built by homeless Americans during the Depression, named after President Hoover.

What was the goal of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)?

To restore confidence in banks by insuring deposits.

What did the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) aim to achieve?

To reduce unemployment by providing jobs in conservation projects.

What was the purpose of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)?

To improve life in poor rural areas through dams and hydroelectric plants.

What did the Social Security Act create?

Retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid for disabled Americans.

What was the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) established to do?

To regulate the stock market and prevent another crash.

What caused WWII in Europe?

The Treaty of Versailles angered Germans, leading to the rise of dictators like Adolf Hitler.

Who were the Axis powers?

Germany, Italy, and Japan.

When did Germany invade Poland?

September 1, 1939.

What event officially started World War II in Europe?

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

What was the American foreign policy in the 1930s?

Isolationism, focusing on domestic issues and avoiding foreign conflicts.

What was the purpose of the Lend Lease Act (1941)?

To provide weapons and supplies to Allied nations without entering the war.

What was the Selective Service Act (1940)?

The first peacetime draft in U.S. history to prepare for possible war.

What event led to U.S. involvement in World War II?

The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941.

What was D-Day?

Allied troops landed on Normandy beaches to open a second front against Germany.

What was total mobilization during World War II?

The entire economy shifted to support the war effort, ending the Great Depression.

What were War Bonds used for during World War II?

To raise money for the war by allowing Americans to loan money to the government.

What was the purpose of propaganda during World War II?

To encourage patriotism and support for the war effort.

How did women contribute to the war effort?

Many entered factory jobs, symbolized by Rosie the Riveter.

What was internment of Japanese Americans?

Forced relocation of over 100,000 Japanese Americans into camps for national security.

Where were the atomic bombs first used?

Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.

What was the Cold War?

A period of tension between the US and USSR without direct conflict.

What was the Post WWII Red Scare?

Fear that communists had infiltrated American institutions.

Who was Joseph McCarthy?

A senator who claimed communists infiltrated the U.S. government.

What did the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) do?

Investigated suspected communists, particularly in Hollywood.

What was the goal of U.S. containment policy?

To stop the spread of communism into new countries.

What was life like for Americans in the 1950s?

Economic prosperity, rising incomes, and consumer culture.

What was the significance of Levittowns?

They symbolized suburban growth and middle-class prosperity.

How did the fear of communism affect American society?

It influenced schools, politics, and daily life, causing many to fear appearing 'un-American'.

What actions did Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon take regarding Vietnam?

They escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam, leading to domestic protests.

Why did the U.S. get involved in the Vietnam War?

To contain communism and prevent the domino effect.

What was the domino theory?

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.

What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allow President Johnson to do?

Increase military action in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

What was Vietnamization?

Nixon's strategy to gradually withdraw American troops and transfer fighting to South Vietnamese forces.

What led to protests against the Vietnam War?

Many Americans believed the war was too costly, resulted in too many deaths, and the government was not truthful.

Who were the Hawks and Doves in the context of the Vietnam War?

Hawks supported the war, while Doves opposed it.

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

The Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, declaring school segregation unconstitutional.

What court case did Brown v. Board of Education respond to?

Plessy v. Ferguson.

What were Jim Crow laws?

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation.

How did Martin Luther King Jr. hope to achieve desegregation?

Through nonviolent protest, including boycotts, marches, and civil disobedience.

How did Martin Luther King Jr. die?

He was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis.

What was the controversy surrounding the Little Rock Nine?

Nine African American students faced opposition when trying to integrate Little Rock Central High School.

Why did President Eisenhower send federal troops to Little Rock?

To protect the Little Rock Nine and enforce the Supreme Court's ruling on integration.

What was the goal of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?

To guarantee equal rights regardless of sex.

Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail?

Not enough states ratified it after Congress approved it.

What was the general view of homosexuality in society before the 1970s?

It was often viewed as immoral, criminal, and a mental illness.

What was the Stonewall event?

A police raid on the Stonewall Inn in 1969 that sparked activism within the LGBTQ+ community.

What was the impact of the Watergate scandal?

It led to Nixon's resignation and increased public distrust of the government.

What were soldiers' experiences returning home from Vietnam?

They faced little public celebration, political controversy, and negative public attitudes.

What urban issues occurred in America from the 1970s to 1990s?

Economic problems, social issues, and population shifts.

What were Reagan's policies during the Cold War?

Increase military spending and support anti-communist groups.

What is Reaganomics?

The belief that economic growth comes from lower taxes and less government regulation.

What environmental issues does modern America face?

Pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.

What was the impact of Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring'?

It raised awareness about environmental issues and the dangers of pesticides.

What is Silent Spring about?

It argues that pesticides harm birds, wildlife, and ecosystems.

What impact did Silent Spring have?

It increased public awareness of environmental problems and helped launch the modern environmental movement.

What was the Green Revolution?

The use of new crop varieties, fertilizers, irrigation, and modern farming techniques to increase food production.

What were some benefits of the Green Revolution?

Higher crop yields and reduced hunger in many regions.