Spring 2025 Final Exam Review Notes

what was the Double V Campaign

The Double V Campaign was a civil rights initiative during World War II advocating for victory against fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home. It emphasized the need for African Americans to fight for both their civil rights and support the war effort.

why are the Battles of Stalingrad & Midway considered turning points of WW2

The Battles of Stalingrad and Midway are considered turning points in World War II because they marked significant defeats for the Axis powers, shifting the momentum of the war in favor of the Allies. Stalingrad halted the German advance into the Soviet Union, while Midway was a critical naval victory for the United States in the Pacific, weakening Japanese naval strength.

How did WW2 create new opportunities for women and ethnic minorities?

World War II created new opportunities for women and ethnic minorities by opening jobs in factories and wartime industries as men went to fight, challenging traditional gender roles and racial barriers. This period saw increased participation in the workforce and military, paving the way for future civil rights advancements.

describe the similarities of the Supreme Court rulings in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Korematsu v.

United States (1944).

Both rulings upheld government-sanctioned discrimination, with Plessy endorsing racial segregation under "separate but equal" and Korematsu justifying the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII as a necessity for national security.

Describe the US Military's strategy in the European and Pacific theater

The US Military's strategy in the European theater involved a combination of direct assaults and coordinated campaigns, such as the D-Day invasion, aimed at liberating occupied territories and defeating Nazi Germany. In the Pacific theater, the strategy focused on island hopping, capturing key islands to establish bases and move closer to Japan, ultimately leading to its defeat.

ist the Allied & Axis powers of WWII.

The Allied Powers included the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and China, while the Axis Powers consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan. These two opposing military alliances fought throughout World War II.

What was the primary purpose of Extermination camps during the holocaust?

To fulfill Hitlers “Final Solution”/ Extermination of Jews

Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the order to drop the atomic bombs on Japan

FALSE - Truman gave the command

What did Executive Order 9066 allow for

the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

How did Hitler violate the Treaty of Versailles eventually leading to the outbreak of WWII

By remilitarizing the Rhineland and expanding Germany's military.

What was the significance of Los Alamos, New Mexico during WWII

It was the site of the Manhattan Project, where the atomic bomb was developed.

What was President Truman’s reasoning for using the atomic bomb?

Truman believed it would quickly end the war with Japan, saving lives and avoiding a costly invasion.

What was eugenics and why was it controversial? Which event caused it to be brought into dispute

Eugenics is the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the human race by selective breeding or other forms of intervention. It became controversial due to its association with racial discrimination and the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, leading to widespread ethical debates.

. What were the purposes of “Victory Gardens” and rationing?

Victory Gardens were planted to increase food production for home consumption, supporting the war effort during WWII. Rationing was implemented to conserve resources and ensure adequate supplies for military personnel.

The Cold War was an ongoing conflict between what two ideologies?

communism and capitalism.

How was the Marshall Plan designed to contain the spread of communism

The Marshall Plan was an economic aid program initiated by the United States to help rebuild European economies after WWII, aimed at preventing the spread of communism by stabilizing these nations and promoting capitalist democracy.

Who was Joseph McCarthy and how did he contribute to the Red Scare of the 1950s

Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. Senator known for his aggressive anti-communist pursuits during the 1950s. He contributed to the Red Scare by promoting widespread fear of communist infiltration in the government and society, leading to numerous accusations and investigations.

Though Berlin was supposed to be shared by the Allies following World War II, the city itself was located

deep within __________________ territory.

Soviet Union

Why did the Cold War never lead to open warfare between the United States & Soviet Union?

The Cold War never escalated to open warfare due to the principle of mutual assured destruction, where both superpowers maintained nuclear arsenals that could annihilate each other, thus deterring direct military conflict.

What did Joseph Stalin do to the city of Berlin in 1948, and how did western democracies respond?

Joseph Stalin initiated the Berlin Blockade in 1948, cutting off all ground access to West Berlin in an attempt to consolidate control over the city. In response, western democracies organized the Berlin Airlift to supply West Berlin with necessary goods, demonstrating their commitment to opposing Soviet expansion.

What did Truman promise in his address to Congress that became known as the Truman Doctrine?

Truman promised that the United States would provide political, military, and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism, emphasizing the need to support free peoples resisting subjugation.

. The Baby Boom of the late 1940s and 1950s was caused by

a combination of post-war economic prosperity, increased marriage rates, and a desire for stability after World War II.

What was the Iron Curtain?

The term "Iron Curtain" refers to the political and ideological division between Western democracies and Eastern communist countries in post-World War II Europe, symbolizing the separation imposed by the Soviet Union.

. What was Douglas MacArthur’s role in the Korean War and what led to his eventual removal from this role by President Truman?

Douglas MacArthur served as the commander of United Nations forces in the Korean War, leading initial successful amphibious operations at Inchon. His removal was prompted by insubordination and disagreements with Truman over war strategy and the escalation of conflict against China.

What was the significance of the Scopes Trial?

The Scopes Trial, also known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was a landmark legal case in 1925 that challenged a Tennessee law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in schools. It highlighted the conflict between science and religion in American education and reflected broader societal debates over modernism and traditionalism.

Which event launched new technology and military innovations?

The Cold War initiated significant advancements in technology and military innovations, including the development of nuclear weapons and space exploration.

What were the goals and outcomes of the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion

• Goals: To overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government in Cuba.

• Outcomes: Failed invasion, strengthened Castro's regime, and strained relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Vietnamization

• President Nixon's strategy to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam and transfer responsibility for the war to the South Vietnamese government.

.Significant Outcomes of the 1960 Presidential Election:

• First televised debates played a crucial role in shaping public perception of the candidates.

• John F. Kennedy's victory marked a generational shift in American politics.

• Close election highlighted the deep divisions within American society.

Credibility gap in the Vietnam War

• Discrepancy between official government reports and the reality of the war as perceived by the public.

• Caused by factors such as media coverage, military setbacks, and government secrecy.

Relations Between the US & Soviet Union after the Cuban Missile Crisis:

• improved, leading to a period known as détente.

• Détente involved increased communication, arms control agreements, and efforts to reduce tensions between the two superpowers.

Events that caused public support for the Vietnam War to decrease

• The Tet Offensive

• My Lai Massacre

• Pentagon Papers

Warren Commision

• Investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

• Concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the

• Kennedy's Response to Soviet Missiles in Cuba:

• Imposed a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments.

• Demanded the removal of the missiles.

pentagon Papers

• Revealed a history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, including secret bombings, covert operations, and misrepresentations of the war to the public.

• Contributions of Presidents Roosevelt and Truman to Civil Rights:

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt:

• Established the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) to combat discrimination in defense industries during World War II.

Harry Truman

• Desegregated the U.S. military.

• Supported civil rights legislation, though it faced opposition in Congress.

• Differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.:

• Malcolm X: Advocated for Black nationalism, self-defense, and separation from white society.

• Martin Luther King Jr.: Promoted nonviolent resistance, integration, and racial equality through civil disobedience.

• Purpose of the Freedom Rides of 1961

• To challenge segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals in the South.

• Freedom Riders faced violence and arrest, drawing national attention to the civil rights movement.

Emmett Till

• A 14-year-old African American boy who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 for allegedly flirting with a white woman.

• His death and the subsequent acquittal of his murderers sparked outrage and galvanized the civil rights movement.

• Southern State Governments' Reaction to Brown v. Board of Education:

• 
  

  • Resistance to desegregation.

  • Some states passed laws to circumvent the ruling and maintain segregation in schools.

Connection Between Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) & Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

• Brown v. Board of Education overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson.

• Brown v. Board of Education declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and violate the Fourteenth Amendment.

George Wallace:

• 
  

  • Governor of Alabama who strongly opposed desegregation.

  • Symbolized resistance to civil rights and the struggle for racial equality in the South.

• Examples of Protests by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC):

• Montgomery Bus Boycott

• March on Washington

• Sit-ins

Cesar Chavez

• Led the United Farm Workers (UFW) in advocating for the rights of farmworkers, particularly Latino workers, through strikes, boycotts, and protests.

Hernandez V. Texas

• Ruled that Mexican Americans and all other racial groups in the United States had equal protection under the 14th Amendment.

• Locations of American Indian Movement Protests:

Wounded Knee & Alcatraz Island

Gas shortage in US

• Caused by factors such as oil embargoes, declining domestic oil production, and government regulations.

• Foreign Policy Achievements of the Nixon Administration:

• 
  

  • Opening relations with China and arms control agreements with the Soviet Union (SALT I).

Watergate Scandal

• Broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel.

• A cover-up, abuse of power, and obstruction of justice.

• Nixon resigned from office rather than face impeachment.

Supreme Court Ruling in US V. Nixon

• Ruled that Nixon had to release the Watergate tapes.

Ford’s Handling of Nixon's Scandals

• Ford pardoned Nixon to heal the nation.

• The American public responded negatively to Ford’s decision, resulting in a plummeting approval rate.

• Failure in Foreign Policy during the Carter Administration:

• Iran Hostage Crisis

• Goals/Policies of the Modern Conservative Movement:

• Limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and a strong national defense.

Fall of the Soviet Union

1991 - Americas defense budget shrunk

operation Desert Storm

• A military operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

• President George H.W. Bush.

NAFTA

• North American Free Trade Agreement, an agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to eliminate tariffs and trade barriers.

• Main criticism of the agreement was labor exploitation, loss of American jobs, and environmental damage.

Clintons Brady Bill

An attempt to regulate the sale of firearms

Policies passed under George W Bush in response to terrorist attacks

• The Patriot Act

• The creation of the Department of Homeland Security

• The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq