Social Studies Finals

What is imperialism, and how did it push Europe towards war?

The process of extending a country’s power through force.

How was Archduke Ferdinand involved in starting WWI?

Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination sparked World War 1.

Who were the main Allied powers during WWI?

France, Great Britain, and Russia.

Who were the main Central Powers during WWI?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Why did America remain neutral for the first three years of WWI?

They weren’t interested in the conflict because it mostly had to do with Europe; America hadn't been provoked.

Why was America concerned with the sinking of the Lusitania?

It resulted in the loss of 128 Americans, heightening tension with Germany.

What did the Zimmerman Telegram say, and who was it intended for?

It was intended for Mexico, promising them America's land if they joined the cause.

What were the advantages and disadvantages of trench warfare?

Advantages: easy to create and defend; disadvantages: difficult to access and unsanitary.

Who was the President of the United States during WWI?

Woodrow Wilson.

What does it mean to have stock in a company?

It means you have ownership in a company; you own part of that company.

What event triggered the Great Depression in 1929?

The stock market crash of 1929.

Why did so many banks fail during the Great Depression?

Banks failed because they lacked the resources to stay in business.

How did Roosevelt’s New Deal benefit Americans?

The New Deal helped provide jobs, stabilized the economy, and protected savings.

What country did Germany invade that started WWII?

Poland.

Who was the leader of Germany during WWII?

Adolf Hitler.

Who was the President of the United States during WWII?

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945); Harry S. Truman became president in April 1945.

What was the name of Hitler’s political party?

The Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers' Party).

When did WWII start and end?

It started on September 1, 1939, and ended on September 2, 1945.

What event brought the United States into WWII?

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Where did the D-Day landing take place?

The Normandy coast of France, on June 6, 1944.

What group was placed in American internment camps and why?

Japanese Americans, due to fear and suspicion after Pearl Harbor.

What was the Holocaust?

The systematic genocide of six million Jews by the Nazi regime.

Who were the Navajo Code Talkers, and how did they impact the war?

Navajo Native Americans who created an unbreakable code used by the U.S. military.

Who were the Harlem Hellfighters, and how did they change the military?

An African American infantry unit that inspired progress toward racial integration in the military.

What roles did women play in the military and at home during the war?

Women served in non-combat military roles and worked in factories symbolized by 'Rosie the Riveter'.

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

To provide economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII.

What was the Cold War, and who were the main opponents?

A period of political and military tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

How did Communism contribute to the Korean War?

North Korea invaded South Korea to spread Communism.

What did the 38th parallel separate?

It divided North Korea (Communist) and South Korea (Non-Communist).

The belief that if one country becomes Communist, others will follow is called?

The Domino Theory.

What was the outcome of the Korean War for the Korean Peninsula?

The war ended in stalemate in 1953, with Korea still divided at the 38th parallel.

Which two world superpowers were involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The United States and the Soviet Union.

What was the Soviet Union placing in Cuba that worried the United States?

Nuclear missiles capable of striking major U.S. cities.

What agreement did the United States and the Soviets make to end the crisis?

The Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba, and the U.S. agreed to remove missiles from Turkey.