history quiz 1950s red scare - pre 1952 election

What was the 1950s Red Scare?

A period of intense fear of communism in the United States, following the first Red Scare after WWI.

What organization discovered classified documents given to the Soviet Union?

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

What loyalty program was established in March 1957?

A program for government employees to assess loyalty.

Who directed the publication of a list of disloyal organizations?

President Truman.

How many people resigned or were dismissed from the government during the Red Scare?

2,900 resigned and 200 were dismissed.

What committee launched an investigation into Hollywood in October 1947?

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).

Which junior senator was involved with HUAC?

Richard Nixon.

What was the effect of the HUAC investigations on writers and directors?

They were blacklisted if uncooperative.

What act made it a federal crime to advocate the overthrow of the government?

The Smith Act of 1940.

What was the McCarran Internal Security Act of 1950?

An act that required communist organizations to register and barred certain immigrants.

Who was Alger Hiss?

A former State Department official accused of espionage.

What did Whittaker Chambers accuse Alger Hiss of?

Being a spy for the Soviet Union.

What was the outcome of Hiss's trials?

He was convicted of perjury and sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Who was Joseph McCarthy?

A Wisconsin senator known for his anti-communist accusations.

What claim did McCarthy make at a Republican lunch in February 1950?

He claimed to have the names of 205 communists working at the State Department.

What was the public reaction to the fear of communism during the Red Scare?

Widespread fear led to firings of teachers, removal of books, and harassment of liberal ministers.

What was the significance of the loyalty program established in 1957?

It identified security risks among government employees.

What was the purpose of the Smith Act?

To eliminate top leaders of the US Communist Party.

What did the McCarran Act state about totalitarian parties?

It barred immigrants belonging to totalitarian parties from entering the US.

What was the outcome of the first trial of Alger Hiss?

It resulted in a hung jury.

What evidence did Chambers produce against Hiss?

65 classified State Department documents that Hiss had passed to him.

What was the statute of limitations in relation to Hiss's case?

It meant Hiss could only be prosecuted for perjury, not espionage.

Who accused Owen Lattinmore of being a leader of an espionage ring?

Senator Joseph McCarthy

What tactic did McCarthy use to protect himself from lawsuits?

He used senator immunity to shield himself when making accusations.

What major conflict influenced McCarthy's rise to power?

The Cold War

What was the outcome for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?

They were convicted of espionage and executed in 1953.

What did Eisenhower's Executive Order 10450 require?

It required federal agencies to fire employees based on sexual orientation.

What event marked the beginning of the Army-McCarthy hearings?

McCarthy's attack on the US Army on April 22, 1954.

What was the result of the Army-McCarthy hearings?

They lasted six weeks and ended with McCarthy being deemed a security risk.

What did McCarthy accuse the US Army of?

Communist subjugation.

What was Truman's approach to his presidency when he first assumed office?

He was ill-prepared and lacked experience.

What did Truman's sign 'The buck stops here' signify?

It meant he accepted responsibility for decisions and actions.

How did Truman's administration affect military size post-World War II?

He demobilized the military from 12 million to 600,000.

What was one reason the economy did not revert to the Great Depression after WWII?

Federal unemployment insurance from the New Deal.

What was the role of the Civilian Atomic Energy Committee in 1946?

It gave the president the power to order the use of nuclear weapons in war.

What did McCarthy do to maintain his influence in the Senate?

He made accusations against senators, fearing they would be labeled communists.

What was a significant factor in McCarthy's success?

His ability to voice the fears of ordinary Americans.

What was the public perception of McCarthy's accusations?

Many believed he was uncovering communists in the government.

What happened to McCarthy after he was censured by the Senate?

He continued making accusations but did not complete his Senate term and died in 1957.

What did McCarthy accuse George Marshall of?

Being a liar and a traitor.

What was the impact of the Korean War on McCarthy's rhetoric?

He accused the Department of Defense of losing the war.

Who were Clouse Fuchs and Harry Gold?

Individuals accused of espionage related to the Manhattan Project.

How did the media influence McCarthy's campaign against communism?

He skillfully used the media to amplify his accusations and fears.

What is the GI Bill also known as?

The Service Man Readjustment Act

What benefits does the GI Bill provide?

Low interest loans for homes, businesses, farms, and funding for college and trade schools.

How many people are estimated to use the GI Bill?

8 million people

What economic issue did the GI Bill potentially cause?

Runaway inflation, leading to a 20% increase in the cost of living.

What act was passed in 1946 regarding government responsibility?

The Employment Act, stating the government is responsible for maintaining prosperity.

What significant labor event occurred in 1946?

Strikes in the railroads and coal industry.

What threat did Truman make during the 1946 strikes?

He threatened to draft the striking workers.

What was Truman's domestic program called?

The Fair Deal

What were some key components of the Fair Deal?

Improved civil rights, expansion of public housing, social security, raising of the minimum wage, federal aid to education, and national health insurance.

What was the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 known for?

Modifying the Wagner Act and extending unfair labor practices to unions.

What did the Taft-Hartley Act prohibit?

Closed shops, union contributions to national political campaigns, and strikes by federal employees.

What was the outcome of the 1948 election for Truman?

Despite low expectations, Truman won reelection.

What campaign strategy did Truman use during the 1948 election?

A whistle-stop campaign using trains to rally crowds.

What social phenomenon occurred after WWII related to population?

The Baby Boom.

Who wrote 'Baby and Childcare' in 1946?

Dr. Spock.

What technological advancements became popular in the 1950s?

Synthetic products, air conditioning, washers and dryers, and televisions.

What was Levittown known for?

Being a mass-produced suburban housing development.

What demographic primarily moved to suburbs like Levittown?

Young white middle-class families.

What legal case is associated with racial covenants in housing?

Shell v. The United States.

What was a significant cultural conflict for women in the 1950s?

The tension between working and staying at home.

What was the impact of WWII on consumer spending?

People had money to spend after the war, leading to increased consumer demand.

What was the significance of the 80th Congress?

It included many veterans and was marked by Republican gains in mid-term elections.

What was Truman's relationship with labor unions during his presidency?

He lost union support after the 1946 strikes.

What was the public perception of the 80th Congress during Truman's campaign?

Truman referred to it as the 'do-nothing, good-for-nothing Congress.'

What was the impact of the Fair Deal by 1950?

It lost momentum and Truman focused on the Korean War.

What significant event in 1955 marked the beginning of the modern civil rights movement?

Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.

Who was the first president to promote civil rights and hosted a delegation of civil rights activists in 1946?

Harry Truman

What was the outcome of the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954?

The Supreme Court ruled that public school segregation is unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment.

What did the Citizens' Council, created in 1954, represent?

A middle and upper-class version of the KKK that used economic coercion instead of violence.

What was the significance of the Browder v. Gayle case in 1956?

It ruled that the segregation of buses violated the 14th Amendment, leading to the integration of Montgomery's buses.

Who was Earl Warren and what was his role during the civil rights movement?

He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who led the most liberal court in history, supporting civil rights cases.

What was Operation * launched by Eisenhower in 1955?

A massive effort to capture and deport undocumented Mexicans.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 establish?

It established a civil rights commission and created a civil rights division of the Justice Department.

What was the impact of the Cold War on the civil rights movement in the United States?

It put pressure on the U.S. to integrate, as the Soviet Union highlighted U.S. segregation as a failure of democracy.

What literary movement is associated with the Beat Generation?

A rebellion against materialism and conformity, with figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

What was the significance of Jackie Robinson in 1947?

He became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, paving the way for African American athletes.

What did the NAACP begin pushing for in the 1940s?

Legal cases to challenge segregation and discrimination.

What was the role of Jo Ann Robinson in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

She planned the boycott and was a significant activist, though she did not want to be in the spotlight.

What was Eisenhower's response to the Little Rock Nine situation in 1957?

He sent the 101st Airborne Division to escort the nine black students into Central High School.

What did the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education aim to reverse?

The precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld segregation.

What was the significance of the 1954 Supreme Court ruling regarding public school segregation?

It declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, leading to desegregation efforts.

What was the reaction of Southern governors to federal court orders for integration?

Many closed public schools rather than comply with integration mandates.

What was the impact of the 1957 Civil Rights Act on African Americans?

It aimed to protect voting rights and establish a civil rights commission, but lacked enforcement power.

What was the significance of the Beatniks in the 1950s?

They rebelled against the conformity of the 1950s, embracing alternative lifestyles and counterculture.

What did the 1948 executive order by Truman accomplish?

It banned discrimination in government bureaucracies and began the desegregation of the military.

Who represented the NAACP in the Brown v. Board of Education case?

Thurgood Marshall

What was the historical context for the civil rights movement in the 1950s?

The post-World War II era saw increased migration of African Americans to the North and heightened awareness of civil rights issues.

What was the significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

It was a pivotal event in the civil rights movement that demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest.

What was the effect of the Korean conflict on military desegregation?

It was the first conflict in which U.S. military units were desegregated.