1950s and 1960s Study Guide
Key People
MLK- activist for equality and black peoples rights.
Rosa Parks- also an activist who didn’t give her seat up for a white person.
Jackie Robinson- one of the first black sports players, played for the LA Dodgers.
Elvis Presley- famous Rock ‘n Roll artist, many disliked the way he performed and moved on stage.
Little Rock 9- 9 black students joined an all white school for the first time, faced racism.
Emmett Till- was abducted and lynched for allegedly assaulting a white women.
Eisenhower (Presidency)- signed the Civil Rights Act of both 1957 and 1960
Truman (Presidency)- signed the go ahead for the atomic bomb, implemented the Marshall Plan.
Rosenbergs- Julius and Ethel executed for conspiracy to commit espionage, passing info about the atomic bomb, Ethel could be innocent.
Alger Hiss- accused of spying for the Soviet Union, convicted of perjury.
Hollywood Ten- 10 Hollywood actors that were blacklisted for not testifying in a case and were accused of being Communists.
Douglas MacArthur- fought in the Korean War and received the rank of General in the Army.
Key Terms/Events/Ideas
Brown v. Board of Education - ruled that separate but equal was not actually equal.
Little Rock Nine- 9 black students joined an all white school for the first time, faced racism.
Montgomery Bus Boycott- black people in Montgomery boycotted buses in protest to inequality.
“duck and cover”- the procedure for Americans if an atomic bomb were to be dropped on the country.
Containment- American idea to keep Communism out of the western hemisphere and other places.
NATO- originally created to contain Communism but is not used for peacekeeping, 32 North American and European countries.
GI Bill- provided benefits for WW2 veterans, compensation, education, etc.
television - new technology that was created in the 1950s, many families bought it for the first time.
Berlin Airlift- the part of Berlin that was isolated from the rest of the allied parts of the country, kept alive by allied planes shipping food and supplies into the city daily.
Truman Doctrine- pledged for democracy and non-communist beliefs.
McCarthyism- publicly accusing people of being communist without sufficient evidence.
“white flight”- the movement of white families out of neighborhoods in fear that people of color would eventually move in.
Korean War- Soviets supported North Korea and the US supported South Korea. War ended exactly the same as when it started at the 38th parallel.
Sputnik- Soviets first artificial satellite, beginning of the space race.
HUAC- special committee that was tasked with investigating suspected communist activities.
gender roles- women were in the home and men were working white collar jobs, no differences.
Marshall Plan- plan to provide economic help to Western Europe, help rebuild economies and prevent communism.
Warsaw Pact- pact between the Soviets and several Eastern European countries.
baby boom- many babies were being born after WW2 because people had money and were happy their husbands were home.
white collar jobs- professional jobs typically in an office, paid well.
Franchises- things like McDonalds started to pick up and they experienced economic boosts.
rock n’ roll- new form of music with African American roots (blues, jazz). Seen as “devil’s music” disliked by older generations but loved by younger ones.
Beatniks- writers who were critical and rejected certain American values and consumerism. JD Salinger (catcher in the rye)
Sunbelt- region of the US (Florida to California) with a warm climate and substantial economic growth.
Levittowns- large-scale, commercialized houses that were built exactly the same and were affordable.
Key Idea Questions
Explain how the two events in 1949 (atomic threat and China’s fall) heightened American concern.
Summarize the effects of the Cold War on American life. The Cold War led to many American fears including the fear of an atomic bomb being dropped. Many Americans wanted normalcy and wanted to follow what others were doing in order to be normal after the war and Communist threats. The Red Scare pushed people to accuse their neighbors and friends of being part of the Communist party even if they were because they were so afraid of what could happen.
Describe General MacArthur and his role in the Korean War.
Analyze the effects of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-Communist campaign.
Explain why Americans valued comfort and security during the 1950s. Americans valued comfort and security because they had just fought two world wars pretty much back to back, the second one being detrimental to the health of many countries. They also fear communism and the difference in ideas and values that it brought. Many people had died and they didn't want anything ike that to happen again. They also wanted to rebuild after the Great Depression as well as WW2 and changes weren’t something that was viewed as good anymore.
Describe the expectations about the proper roles for men and women in the 1950s. The expectations for women was that they would stay in the home and take care of the children. It was also expected that they would have dinner cooked and ready for their husbands when they got home. The expectations for men was that they would go to work (9-5), make money, and provide for their family. There were also no divorces that happened during this time. People that were divorced were viewed as less than and people tended to not hang out with them.
Explain how changes in working lives of Americans influenced the growth of suburbs, highways and consumer credit. Working Americans influenced the growth of suburbs, highways, and consumer credit by expanding the population in these areas. Because more Americans started working and earning money they could live comfortably and buy houses and appliances that they could afford during WW2 or the GD. The economy changed to a consumer economy and people bought things that they didn’t necessarily need just because they could afford it.
Identify some ways in which people challenged conformity during the 1950s.
Key People
John F. Kennedy- youngest elected president, assassinated.
Lyndon B. Johnson- was vice president until JFK died and he became president.
Fidel Castro- president of Cuba and was a communist.
Nikita Khrushchev- lead of Soviet Union after Stalin died, strong personality and willingness to engage with the US.
Lee Harvey Oswald- convicted of shooting and killing Kennedy.
Jack Ruby- kills Oswald before he can testify.
Key Terms/Events/Ideas
The New Frontier- JFK’s idea for a more progressive and activist government.
The Great Society- LBJ proposed during his presidency to improve poverty and the US society.
The Kennedy Assassination- Harvey Lee Oswald was convicted, shot twice (neck and head).
Bay of Pigs Invasion- failed invasion, didn’t have enough men or air support.
The Cuban Missile Crisis- Soviet Union missiles were found in Cuba, afraid if they were launched.
Peace Corps- civilian program that sent citizens to developing countries to help with various projects.
The Space Program- plan to land humans on the moon, during the space race.
NASA- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, relatively new in the 60s.
Election of 1960- Kennedy vs Nixon, JFK won because he “looked better” on TV.
Berlin Wall- wall that split Berlin between the US, France, and the UK and the Soviets.
Specific Legislation
Medicare- for elderly, 65+
Medicaid- low-income households below the poverty line.
Civil Rights Act 1964- outlawed discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion.
Voting Rights Act 1965- prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
Key Ideas
Describe the election of 1960 and the outcome. Between JFK and Nixon. First to be televised to the public. People thought JFK looked better on camera and was a better public speaker whereas Nixon was seen as a sweaty mess who wasn’t fit to be president. JFK won pretty easily.
Summarize Kennedy’s domestic programs. Known as the “New Frontier” and aimed to make the economy better. It addressed social issues and civil advancements. Tax cuts and healthcare. LBJ made his ideas a reality.
Explain America’s reaction to President Kennedy’s assassination. America was devastated because he was so young and everybody loved him as a president. Created a national unity as everyone was grieving, schools/jobs closed, shops closed. Many felt it was a personal loss to them.
List some (just the ones above) of the programs and effects of Johnson’s Great Society. Any criticisms? He proposed medicare and medicaid as well as the Immigration Act of 1965. Medicare and medicaid provided money supposed for those that needed it during that time. He also tried to unite civil rights groups as well as different race groups.
Describe the role of the United States’ role in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The US tried to invade Cuba with Cubans that fled the country because they didn’t agree with communism
Analyze the events leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. What were the options? Which did we go with? (see handout) It was after the Bay of Pigs Invasion which was a complete disaster. THey thought that they could either: strike, diplomacy (talk it out), or blockade (quarantine). The US decided to blockade or quarantine Cuba and surrounded Cuba with US ships.
Outline the goals of Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps. JFK aimed to develop relationships with developing countries especially in Latin America. The alliance for Progress aimed to improve economic development in Latin American countries. The general goal of the Peace Corps is to provide world peace and friendship.