APUSH LEQ PROMPTS UNIT 8

Evaluate the extent to which the tactics used to achieve civil rights in America changed from 1945 to 1980.

Historical Context:

- Post-World War II era marked by rising tensions over racial segregation and discrimination.

- Emergence of civil rights organizations like NAACP and CORE.

- Landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) overturning "separate but equal."

- Rise of nonviolent protest strategies influenced by figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Thesis Statement:

The tactics employed in the Civil Rights Movement underwent significant evolution from 1945 to 1980, reflecting changing social, political, and cultural dynamics in American society.

Pieces of Evidence:

- Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)

- March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963)

- Black Power Movement and emergence of groups like the Black Panthers

- Voting Rights Act of 1965

- Affirmative action policies in the 1970s

Historical Reasoning:

Change/Continuity: Analyze how the shift from nonviolent protests to more militant tactics represents a significant change in civil rights strategies, while also acknowledging the continuity of the movement's overarching goals of equality and justice.

Change:

Black Power Movement and emergence of groups like the Black Panthers

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Continuity:

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963)

Evaluate the extent to which American culture of the 1950s was different from American culture of the 1960s.

Historical Context:

- Post-World War II economic prosperity and suburbanization in the 1950s.

- Emergence of consumer culture and mass media.

- Increasing social activism and countercultural movements in the 1960s.

- Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement as catalysts for social change.

Thesis Statement:

The cultural landscape of America underwent profound transformation from the conservative, conformist values of the 1950s to the countercultural movements and social upheaval of the 1960s, driven by changing attitudes towards civil rights, the Vietnam War, and youth rebellion.

Pieces of Evidence:

- Rise of suburbia and conformity in the 1950s

- Emergence of the Beat Generation and rock 'n' roll music

- Civil rights protests and sit-ins in the 1960s

- Anti-war demonstrations and the Summer of Love

- Women's liberation movement and second-wave feminism

Historical Reasoning:

Change/Continuity: Compare the conservative values of the 1950s with the rebellious spirit and activism of the 1960s, highlighting both the continuity of certain cultural elements and the radical changes that occurred.

Change:

Emergence of the Beat Generation and rock 'n' roll music

Anti-war demonstrations and the Summer of Love

Continuity:

Rise of suburbia and conformity in the 1950s

Civil rights protests and sit-ins in the 1960s

Identify and explain the consequences of America's Cold War policy of "containment".

Historical Context:

- Post-World War II division of the world into two ideological blocs: capitalist West led by the U.S. and communist East led by the Soviet Union.

- The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan aimed at containing the spread of communism.

- Proxy wars and military interventions in Korea and Vietnam.

- Arms race and nuclear proliferation.

Thesis Statement:

The policy of containment during the Cold War had profound consequences both domestically and internationally, shaping American foreign policy, fueling military expansion, and influencing global geopolitics.

Pieces of Evidence:

- Korean War (1950-1953)

- Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

- Vietnam War (1955-1975)

- NATO alliance and military bases in Europe

- Arms control negotiations and treaties

Historical Reasoning:

Cause/Consequence: Analyze the consequences of containment, including its role in shaping U.S. foreign policy priorities, fueling military-industrial complex, and contributing to global tensions, as well as its impact on domestic politics, civil liberties, and government spending.

Cause:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Consequence:

NATO alliance and military bases in Europe

Arms control negotiations and treaties

Evaluate the extent to which LBJ's Great Society achieved its goals.

Historical Context:

- Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

- Social and economic challenges of the 1960s, including poverty, racial inequality, and healthcare disparities.

- Civil rights movement and War on Poverty initiatives.

Thesis Statement:

While the Great Society initiatives made significant strides in addressing poverty, healthcare, and education, their effectiveness varied, ultimately falling short of achieving comprehensive societal transformation due to political opposition, economic constraints, and unforeseen consequences.

Pieces of Evidence:

- Civil Rights Act of 1964

- Economic Opportunity Act (1964)

- Medicare and Medicaid (1965)

- Head Start program

- Urban riots and backlash against welfare programs

Historical Reasoning:

Cause/Consequence: Analyze the causes of the Great Society's successes and failures, including political polarization, fiscal constraints, and resistance from conservative forces, as well as the long-term consequences of these policies on poverty alleviation, healthcare access, and education attainment.

Cause:

Economic Opportunity Act (1964)

Urban riots and backlash against welfare programs

Consequence:

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Medicare and Medicaid (1965)