Question 1

The Supreme Court's decision in Smith v. Allwright benefited African Americans by _____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ending racially discriminatory hiring practices 
B)  desegregating the nation's public schools 
C)  desegregating all public accommodations 
D)  outlawing whites-only primaries 
A)  ending racially discriminatory hiring practices 
B)  desegregating the nation's public schools 
C)  desegregating all public accommodations 
D)  outlawing whites-only primaries D

Question 2

As a result of Silent Spring, ________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  most farmers stopped using pesticides until they were proven to be environmentally safe 
B)  the widespread use of DDT in the United States ended 
C)  the government established a process by which it began to test the safety of America's farm produce 
D)  environmentalists organized a boycott that was successful in forcing farmers to stop using harmful pesticides 
A)  most farmers stopped using pesticides until they were proven to be environmentally safe 
B)  the widespread use of DDT in the United States ended 
C)  the government established a process by which it began to test the safety of America's farm produce 
D)  environmentalists organized a boycott that was successful in forcing farmers to stop using harmful pesticides B

Question 3

The Beats were important culturally because they ___________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  introduced the "bebop" style 
B)  produced some important literary works through which they laid the groundwork for the counterculture of the 1960s 
C)  were the first group to perform rock 'n' roll publicly 
D)  introduced the new, sophisticated advertising techniques associated with the television era 
A)  introduced the "bebop" style 
B)  produced some important literary works through which they laid the groundwork for the counterculture of the 1960s 
C)  were the first group to perform rock 'n' roll publicly 
D)  introduced the new, sophisticated advertising techniques associated with the television era B

Question 4

Discuss the major trends in music and the movies during the 1950s.

Accepted Answer

During the 1950s, there were several maj

Question 5

The acronym COLA refers to contractual agreements that guaranteed workers

Accepted Answer

A)  protection against inflation. 
B)  job security. 
C)  a percentage of corporate profits. 
D)  the right to participate in labor unions. 
A)  protection against inflation. 
B)  job security. 
C)  a percentage of corporate profits. 
D)  the right to participate in labor unions.

Question 6

Discuss the impact of television on Americans and their lifestyles during the 1950s.

Accepted Answer

The impact of television on Americans an

Question 7

Explain the growth of the suburbs during the 1950s, and discuss the positive and negative features of life in suburban America.

Accepted Answer

The growth of the suburbs during the 195

Question 8

President Eisenhower responded to the three economic recessions that occurred during his presidency by _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  resorting to deficit spending 
B)  persuading Congress to increase taxes 
C)  increasing farm subsidies 
D)  ordering massive budget cuts 
A)  resorting to deficit spending 
B)  persuading Congress to increase taxes 
C)  increasing farm subsidies 
D)  ordering massive budget cuts

Question 9

Which of the following was a consequence of the increased use of automated electronic processes in American industry during the 1950s?

Accepted Answer

A)  Industrial productivity increased. 
B)  Small corporations could compete successfully with large corporations. 
C)  White-collar workers successfully unionized. 
D)  Job opportunities for women increased. 
A)  Industrial productivity increased. 
B)  Small corporations could compete successfully with large corporations. 
C)  White-collar workers successfully unionized. 
D)  Job opportunities for women increased.

Question 10

During the 1950s, it was increasingly likely that Americans below the poverty line were living in _____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  small towns 
B)  community-sponsored shelters for the homeless 
C)  the inner cities 
D)  rental suburban houses 
A)  small towns 
B)  community-sponsored shelters for the homeless 
C)  the inner cities 
D)  rental suburban houses

Question 11

What was the subject of President Eisenhower's farewell address?

Accepted Answer

A)  World overpopulation and starvation. 
B)  The "military-industrial complex" 
C)  The threat of environmental pollution 
D)  The "international communist conspiracy" 
A)  World overpopulation and starvation. 
B)  The "military-industrial complex" 
C)  The threat of environmental pollution 
D)  The "international communist conspiracy"

Question 12

One of the features of the classic movie Rebel Without a Cause that ties it to the culture of the 1950s is its reflection of

Accepted Answer

A)  early Cold War fears of communist corruption of American youth 
B)  parental fears that rock 'n' roll music promoted sexual promiscuity among American teenagers 
C)  popular psychological theories of the 1950s such as "the crisis of masculinity" 
D)  post-World War II pacifism 
A)  early Cold War fears of communist corruption of American youth 
B)  parental fears that rock 'n' roll music promoted sexual promiscuity among American teenagers 
C)  popular psychological theories of the 1950s such as "the crisis of masculinity" 
D)  post-World War II pacifism

Question 13

In the 1948 presidential election, Henry Wallace of the Progressive Party _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  advocated friendship with the Soviet Union 
B)  advocated that Americans defy the desegregation order of the Supreme Court 
C)  advocated the passage of immigration-restriction laws 
D)  pledged to send troops to Europe to liberate Eastern Europe from Soviet domination 
A)  advocated friendship with the Soviet Union 
B)  advocated that Americans defy the desegregation order of the Supreme Court 
C)  advocated the passage of immigration-restriction laws 
D)  pledged to send troops to Europe to liberate Eastern Europe from Soviet domination

Question 14

How did Senator Joseph McCarthy eventually contribute to his own downfall?

Accepted Answer

A)  He charged that fellow senators were communist dupes. 
B)  He took on the U.S. Army in front of millions of television viewers. 
C)  He appeared on the Senate floor in an obviously inebriated state. 
D)  He publicly stated that President Eisenhower was a "communist sympathizer." 
A)  He charged that fellow senators were communist dupes. 
B)  He took on the U.S. Army in front of millions of television viewers. 
C)  He appeared on the Senate floor in an obviously inebriated state. 
D)  He publicly stated that President Eisenhower was a "communist sympathizer."

Question 15

Although Truman was highly unpopular when he left office, he is now regarded by historians as one of the nation's ten best presidents. Why?

Accepted Answer

Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of t

Question 16

One result of the anticommunist crusade during the late 1940s and early 1950s was the dismissal, as a "security risk," of ______________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  alcoholics, homosexuals, and debtors in the employ of the federal government 
B)  J. Edgar Hoover from the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
C)  Ethel and Julius Rosenberg from the State Department 
D)  Henry A. Wallace as Secretary of Commerce 
A)  alcoholics, homosexuals, and debtors in the employ of the federal government 
B)  J. Edgar Hoover from the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
C)  Ethel and Julius Rosenberg from the State Department 
D)  Henry A. Wallace as Secretary of Commerce

Question 17

Discuss the impact of changes in American society during the 1950s on women and on the American family.

Accepted Answer

The 1950s was a time of significant chan

Question 18

During the 1950s, books such as The Crack in the Picture Window and The Lonely Crowd _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  praised rock 'n' roll as the music of a revolutionary generation 
B)  commented on the loss of individuality in middle-class consumer society. 
C)  were shallow, juvenile writings that had virtually no long-term significance 
D)  chastised American teenagers for their political complacency and hedonistic lifestyle 
A)  praised rock 'n' roll as the music of a revolutionary generation 
B)  commented on the loss of individuality in middle-class consumer society. 
C)  were shallow, juvenile writings that had virtually no long-term significance 
D)  chastised American teenagers for their political complacency and hedonistic lifestyle

Question 19

In his bestselling book, William H. Whyte advanced which of the following arguments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many corporate employees succeed through conformity rather than through individual initiative and hard work. 
B)  Women should seek fulfillment by pursuing a career rather than through motherhood. 
C)  When the children of the 1950s become adults, they will be more secure and more independent than any previous generation. 
D)  Most American men suffer from an unhealthy emotional attachment to their mothers. 
A)  Many corporate employees succeed through conformity rather than through individual initiative and hard work. 
B)  Women should seek fulfillment by pursuing a career rather than through motherhood. 
C)  When the children of the 1950s become adults, they will be more secure and more independent than any previous generation. 
D)  Most American men suffer from an unhealthy emotional attachment to their mothers.

Question 20

The 1954 Communist Control Act ____________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  put all labor unions suspected of communist domination under surveillance 
B)  effectively made membership in the Communist Party illegal 
C)  provided for the internment of known communists during a national emergency 
D)  denied employment to communists in defense-related industries 
A)  put all labor unions suspected of communist domination under surveillance 
B)  effectively made membership in the Communist Party illegal 
C)  provided for the internment of known communists during a national emergency 
D)  denied employment to communists in defense-related industries

Exam 25: America at Midcentury, 1945-1960

The Supreme Court's decision in Smith v. Allwright benefited African Americans by _____________________.

As a result of Silent Spring, ________________________.

The Beats were important culturally because they ___________________.

Discuss the major trends in music and the movies during the 1950s.

The acronym COLA refers to contractual agreements that guaranteed workers

Discuss the impact of television on Americans and their lifestyles during the 1950s.

Explain the growth of the suburbs during the 1950s, and discuss the positive and negative features of life in suburban America.

President Eisenhower responded to the three economic recessions that occurred during his presidency by _________________.

Which of the following was a consequence of the increased use of automated electronic processes in American industry during the 1950s?

During the 1950s, it was increasingly likely that Americans below the poverty line were living in _____________________.

What was the subject of President Eisenhower's farewell address?

One of the features of the classic movie Rebel Without a Cause that ties it to the culture of the 1950s is its reflection of

In the 1948 presidential election, Henry Wallace of the Progressive Party _______________.

How did Senator Joseph McCarthy eventually contribute to his own downfall?

Although Truman was highly unpopular when he left office, he is now regarded by historians as one of the nation's ten best presidents. Why?

One result of the anticommunist crusade during the late 1940s and early 1950s was the dismissal, as a "security risk," of ______________________________.

Discuss the impact of changes in American society during the 1950s on women and on the American family.

During the 1950s, books such as The Crack in the Picture Window and The Lonely Crowd _________________.

In his bestselling book, William H. Whyte advanced which of the following arguments?

The 1954 Communist Control Act ____________________________.

Three Old Worlds Create a New, 1492-1600

Europeans Colonize North America, 1600-1650

North America in the Atlantic World, 1650-1720

Becoming America, 1720-1760

The Ends of Empire, 1754-1774

American Revolutions, 1775-1783

Forging a Nation, 1783-1800

Defining the Nation, 1801-1823

The Rise of the South, 1815-1860

The Restless North, 1815-1860

The Contested West, 1815-1860

Politics and the Fate of the Union, 1824-1859

Transforming Fire: The Civil War, 1860-1865

Reconstruction: an Unfinished Revolution, 1865-1877

The Ecology of the West and South, 1865-1900

Building Factories, Building Cities, 1877-1900

Gilded Age Politics, 1877-1900

The Progressive ERA, 1895-1920

The Quest for Empire, 1865-1914

Americans in the Great War, 1914-1920

The New ERA, 1920-1929

The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1929-1939

The Second World War at Home and Abroad, 1939-1945

The Cold War and American Globalism, 1945-1961

The Tumultuous Sixties, 1960-1968

A Pivotal ERA, 1969-1980

Conservatism Revived, 1980-1992

Into the Global Millennium: America Since 1992

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