DCUSH review

People to Know
Who was the Wisconsin senator who claimed to have lists of Communists in the government

Joseph McCarthy

Identify the general who led UN forces in Korea after serving in Japan. General Douglas MacArthur

General Douglas MacArthur

Why did President Truman remove a famous general during the Korean War

because they disagreed over military strategy. MacArthur wanted a more aggressive approach, including attacking China, while Truman favored a more limited strategy to avoid escalating the conflict.

Who wrote a famous document from Moscow that shaped US containment policy

George F. Kennan.

What were President Truman's most important decisions during his time in office

Dropping the Atomic Bomb: In 1945, Truman authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which played a key role in ending World War II.
Marshall Plan: He supported the European Recovery Plan (1948), which provided economic aid to help rebuild Western Europe after WWII and prevent the spread of communism.
Truman Doctrine: In 1947, Truman announced this policy to contain the spread of communism, offering support to countries resisting communist influence, notably Greece and Turkey.
NATO Formation: In 1949, Truman supported the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
Korean War: Truman committed U.S. forces to the Korean War (1950-1953) to stop the spread of communism in Asia, despite the risk of escalation.
Desegregation of the Armed Forces: In 1948, Truman issued an executive order to desegregate the U.S. military, making a significant step toward civil rights reform.

Who were the married couple executed for espionage in 1953

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Which president's order ended military segregation in 1948

President Truman

Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice

Thurgood Marshall

Who was the Vietnamese leader seeking independence from France

Ho Chi Minh

What major events happened during JFK's presidency

Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) – Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro exiles.

Berlin Crisis (1961) – USSR builds the Berlin Wall separating East and West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) – 13-day standoff with the USSR over nuclear missiles in Cuba; ended peacefully.

Space Race – JFK promises to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade (boosts NASA efforts).

Civil Rights Movement – JFK supports civil rights more strongly by 1963; sends troops to enforce desegregation (e.g., University of Alabama).
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963) – U.S., USSR, and UK agree to ban nuclear tests in the atmosphere, space, and water.
Assassination (1963) – JFK is assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.

Which Chief Justice led the Supreme Court during key civil rights cases

Earl Warren

Who was the economist known for free market theories

Milton Friedman

Which Arkansas governor opposed school integration in 1957

Orval Faubus

Who wrote "The Feminine Mystique" and what organization did she start

Betty Friedan; argued that women were unfulfilled being only housewives and mothers and deserved equal opportunities in education, work, and life. Founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966.

Who was the civil rights leader who advocated for Black nationalism

Malcolm X

Key Cold War Policies
What was the economic aid program for Western Europe after WWII

Marshall Plan
Provided financial aid to help rebuild Western European economies after the destruction of WWII.
Aimed to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing these countries economically.

What 1947 policy promised to help nations fighting communism

The truman Doctrine
Aimed to provide military and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism

How were the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine different

Marshall Plan: Focused on rebuilding war-torn economies. ( more of western europe)
Truman Doctrine: Focused on providing aid to countries actively fighting against communist threats.

What was the Long Telegram and why was it important

The long telegram told the us that the soviet union wanted to spread communism and is what the us to come up with the containment policy (which aimed to prevent communism)

What is the term for the dangerous nuclear strategy of the Cold War

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD); was based on the idea that no one would win a nuclear war, so the best way to stay safe was to avoid starting one.

What domestic programs did President Johnson create

created a series of domestic programs that he collectively labeled the "Great Society"
Medicare – health insurance for the elderly.

Medicaid – health care for low-income individuals.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 – banned segregation and discrimination.
Voting Rights Act of 1965 – protected voting rights for African Americans.
War on Poverty – included programs like:
Head Start (early childhood education)
Job Corps (job training for young people)
Food stamps
Elementary and Secondary Education Act – funded public schools, especially in poor areas.
Environmental and consumer protections – new regulations to protect health and safety.

What organization did Kennedy create to send volunteers to developing countries

Peace Corps to help with education, health, agriculture, and community development.

How did the US respond when Soviets blocked access to West Berlin

The U.S. used the Berlin Airlift to keep West Berlin alive and resist Soviet pressure without starting a war.

What happened in the Gulf of Tonkin and how did the US respond

In the Gulf of Tonkin, the U.S. claimed North Vietnam attacked its ships, which led Congress to give President Johnson power to send troops to Vietnam without declaring war.( increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War)

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion

The us sent CIA trained Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and start a rebellion. They landed at the Bay of Pigs, but the plan failed badly—Castro's forces crushed them in a few days. The U.S. backed a failed invasion of Cuba to remove Castro, but it strengthened his power and hurt U.S. credibility.

What was the "Great Society"

a set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Civil Rights Movement
What happened during the Greensboro sit-ins and why

Four African American college students sat at a "whites-only" lunch counter and politely asked to be served. They were refused service and faced verbal abuse, but they stayed seated peacefully. The protest spread to other cities, with more students joining, and nonviolent sit-ins became a key form of protest.

Who were the "Dixiecrats"

The Dixiecrats were Southern Democrats who broke away from the party because of its push for civil rights and racial equality.

How did the Black Panther Party's approach differ from Martin Luther King Jr's

Black Panther Party: Believed in self-defense, armed resistance, and social programs.
Martin Luther King Jr.: Believed in nonviolent protest and civil disobedience for change.

Why did people march to Selma, Alabama

to demand the right to vote for African Americans and to protest voter suppression in the South.

Describe what the Supreme Court decided in Brown v. Board of Education

ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

What was Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" about

King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" defends nonviolent protest, urges immediate action for civil rights, and argues that segregation is unjust and must be opposed.

How did the Chicano Movement express cultural pride

celebrated Mexican heritage, Indigenous roots, and cultural identity through art, literature, and activism, while advocating for social and political change.

Constitutional Amendments
What rights does the 15th Amendment protect

right to vote for all men regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. (allowed black men to vote)

What does the 19th Amendment guarantee

Gave women the right to vote

What does the 24th Amendment prohibit

Prohibits poll tax in elections

Social Changes
Who were the "New Conservatives" or "New Right"

were a political movement in the 1970s and 1980s that sought to return to traditional values and emphasize limited government and free-market capitalism

Who did Nixon call the "Silent Majority"

the group of middle-class, law-abiding Americans who did not actively participate in protests or political demonstrations but still supported his policies,

What was organized labor's position on Cold War foreign policy

Organized labor supported U.S. Cold War foreign policy because of its anti-communist stance and its belief in protecting democracy and workers' rights from Soviet influence

What did the Taft-Hartley Act do

restricted the power of labor unions by banning closed shops, limiting political activities, enabling right-to-work laws, and giving the president power to intervene in strikes

Which type of media most often showed Cold War fears

Televison

What became the most popular household item in the 1950s

Television

What was the main purpose of "The Feminine Mystique"

argued that women were unfulfilled being only housewives and mothers and deserved equal opportunities in education, work, and life.

How did women respond to this book

felt empowered to challenge traditional gender roles, while some critics felt it overlooked the struggles of women outside the middle class. Regardless, it played a key role in sparking second-wave feminism.

What was the biggest concern about nuclear weapons

The biggest concern about nuclear weapons was the potential for total global destruction through a nuclear war, along with the risks of accidental launches, proliferation, and long-term environmental damage.