US II H Unit 8 TEST

🔹 SOCIAL & CULTURAL FLASHCARDS

Q: Who were the Dixiecrats and what was their impact?
A: Southern Democrats opposing civil rights (1948); accelerated political shift of South toward Republican Party.

Q: What was The Other America and its consequence?
A: Book by Michael Harrington exposing poverty in 1960s; inspired War on Poverty and Great Society reforms.

Q: What was the Baby Boom and its impact?
A: Post-WWII population surge; led to growth in suburbs, schools, and long-term demographic influence.

Q: How did postwar gender roles affect society?
A: Encouraged domestic roles for women; later challenged by feminism and economic needs.

Q: What is meant by “Perception vs. Reality” in postwar America?
A: Media projected prosperity and conformity, but masked deep inequalities and unrest.

Q: What role did media (TV/Film/Music) play in postwar culture?
A: Spread mainstream ideals but also challenged norms (e.g., Civil Rights coverage, Rock ‘n’ Roll).

Q: What were Levittowns and their significance?
A: Mass-produced suburban housing; symbolized the American Dream, but excluded minorities.

Q: What was the Counterculture Movement?
A: 1960s youth rebellion against war, materialism, and conformity; promoted peace and civil rights.

Q: What was the Moral Majority/New Right?
A: Conservative movement in the 1980s focused on traditional values, anti-abortion, and Christianity.

🔹 CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Q: What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?
A: Banned discrimination based on race, sex, religion; enforced desegregation in public spaces.

Q: What was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?
A: Proposed to guarantee gender equality; passed Congress but not ratified by enough states.

Q: What was the impact of the 1960s-70s equality movements?
A: Expanded rights for minorities and women; met with conservative backlash.

Q: Who was Betty Friedan and what was The Feminine Mystique?
A: Feminist author; book criticized housewife role and inspired 2nd-wave feminism.

Q: Who was Cesar Chavez and what did the UFW accomplish?
A: Labor leader who organized farm workers; achieved better wages/conditions for Latino workers.

🔹 PRESIDENTIAL DOMESTIC POLICIES

Q: What was Truman’s domestic policy focus?
A: Fair Deal—civil rights, national health care, housing; limited success due to Congress.

Q: What was Eisenhower’s Modern Republicanism?
A: Conservative spending with New Deal programs; Interstate Highway Act was a major legacy.

Q: What did Kennedy’s New Frontier include?
A: Civil rights support, space race investment, economic reforms; limited by Congress.

Q: What was LBJ’s Great Society?
A: Programs to end poverty and racism—Medicare, CRA ’64, VRA ’65, Head Start.

Q: What did Nixon’s domestic policy emphasize?
A: New Federalism (more power to states); created EPA; Watergate scandal hurt legacy.

Q: What were Ford’s domestic challenges?
A: Dealt with inflation, recession; controversial Nixon pardon hurt his credibility.

Q: What was Carter’s domestic policy focus?
A: Energy conservation, human rights; economic problems and Iran Hostage Crisis weakened presidency.

Q: What was Reagan’s domestic policy known for?
A: Supply-side (“trickle-down”) economics, tax cuts, deregulation, reduced social programs.

Q: What were George H.W. Bush’s domestic policies?
A: ADA (disability rights), continued Reaganomics; economic recession hurt popularity.

Q: What were Clinton’s key domestic actions?
A: Welfare reform, NAFTA, strong economy; impeachment scandal damaged image.

🔹 ECONOMIC & LEGAL ISSUES

Q: What did the Interstate Highway Act accomplish?
A: Built national road system; boosted suburbs, economy, but hurt urban centers.

Q: What is Modern Republicanism?
A: Eisenhower’s approach: moderate reform, fiscal conservatism, support for existing programs.

Q: What caused the rise of conservatism in the 1980s?
A: Reaction to liberal policies, social unrest, and economic malaise of the 1970s.

Q: What is Reaganomics (trickle-down)?
A: Tax cuts for wealthy and businesses to spur investment; critics say it increased inequality.

Q: How does Keynesian economics differ from supply-side?
A: Keynesian = government spending boosts demand; Supply-side = tax cuts boost production.

🔹 SUPREME COURT & LAW

Q: What was the focus of the Warren Court?
A: Expanded civil rights, liberties, and judicial activism.

Q: What did Warren Court rule on the Rights of the Accused?
A: Miranda v. Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright—rights to lawyer and silence.

Q: What were Warren Court rulings on Church and State?
A: Engel v. Vitale—banned school-sponsored prayer; expanded religious freedom.

Q: What were Warren Court rulings on Equal Protection?
A: Brown v. Board—ended racial segregation in schools.

🔹 OTHER MAJOR THEMES

Q: What was Watergate and its consequence?
A: Nixon's scandal over DNC break-in and cover-up; led to resignation, distrust in government.

Q: What did the GI Bill provide?
A: Education, loans, housing for WWII veterans; helped build middle class.

Q: What was the impact of postwar migration to the Sun Belt?
A: Growth in South/West, new political power centers, decline of industrial Northeast.

Q: What were the goals and results of the Great Society?
A: End poverty/racism; major programs include Medicare/Medicaid; criticized for cost and bureaucracy.