USH B Final Exam Open Responses

Final EXAM OPEN RESPONSE

Plessy v Ferguson

Gold Standard

The following icons are linked to information that that will help you review for the open response portion of the Final Exam! You will answer 5 open response questions on the exam, there are several different versions of the exam, each with different open response questions!

Potsdam Conference

Paris Peace Treaty

Atomic Bomb

Hollywood

Battle of Midway

Vietnam

Spanish Civil War

Great Depression

Cold War

Yalta Conference

Sanctions on Japan

Social Security Act

Final EXAM OPEN RESPONSE

War on Terror

Silent Majority

The following icons are linked to information that that will help you review for the open response portion of the Final Exam! You will answer 5 open response questions on the exam, there are several different versions of the exam, each with different open response questions!

"Smoking Gun" Tape

WWII

Reagan Doctrine

Reaganomics

G.I. Bill

Cuban Missile Crisis

Watts Riots

Marshall Plan & Truman Doctrine

Great Society

War in Afghanistan

MLK

Atomic Bomb & Global Politics

• The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
• WWII ended shortly after Japan surrendered
• The world entered the “nuclear age”
• Nations feared the destructive power of nuclear weapons
• Competition to build nuclear weapons increased tensions during the Cold War

Conflict Over the Paris Peace Treaties

• Allied nations disagreed after WWII about how to rebuild Europe
• The Soviet Union wanted security and influence in Eastern Europe
• Western Allies wanted democratic governments and economic recovery
• Different political systems increased mistrust between the Allies
• These disagreements contributed to Cold War tensions

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

• Supreme Court case involving racial segregation on railroad cars
• The Court ruled that “separate but equal” facilities were constitutional
• Southern states expanded segregation laws known as Jim Crow laws
• Segregation affected schools, transportation, restaurants, and public spaces
• This decision remained in effect until challenged later by the Civil Rights Movement

Debt and the Gold Standard

• The gold standard tied the value of money to gold reserves
• In the 1920s, many Americans borrowed money to buy stocks and consumer goods
• Deflation caused prices and wages to fall during economic downturns
• Even when prices dropped, people still owed the same amount of debt
• This made loans harder to repay during the Great Depression

The Spanish Civil War

• Conflict in Spain from 1936–1939
• Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany supported Francisco Franco
• The Soviet Union supported the Republican government
• Volunteers from many countries joined the fighting
• The war became a testing ground for military ideas before WWII

Vietnam and the Cold War

• The Vietnam War was connected to the struggle between communism and democracy
• North Vietnam was supported by communist countries like the Soviet Union and China
• South Vietnam received support from the United States
• U.S. leaders feared the “domino theory”
• The war became part of the larger Cold War rivalry

The Battle of Midway

• Major naval battle between the United States and Japan in 1942
• U.S. forces destroyed several Japanese aircraft carriers
• Japan lost many experienced pilots and resources
• The battle stopped Japanese expansion in the Pacific
• Midway shifted momentum in favor of the United States during WWII

Bartering During the Great Depression

• Many Americans lost jobs, savings, and access to cash
• People traded goods and services instead of using money
• Farmers exchanged food for repairs or clothing
• Communities created informal systems to survive economic hardship
• Bartering became common when banks failed and money was scarce

The Yalta Conference

• Meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin near the end of WWII
• Leaders discussed postwar Europe and Germany
• Stalin wanted security and influence in Eastern Europe
• Churchill and Roosevelt supported self-determination and democracy
• Different goals created disagreements among the Allies

The Potsdam Conference

• Meeting between Allied leaders after Germany surrendered in WWII
• Leaders disagreed about Germany’s future and control of Eastern Europe
• Tensions increased between the Soviet Union and Western Allies
• President Truman took a tougher stance toward the Soviet Union
• Distrust at the conference contributed to the beginning of the Cold War

Cold War Technology and Tensions

• The U.S. and Soviet Union competed to develop advanced weapons
• Nuclear missiles became more powerful and long-range
• Both nations built large stockpiles of nuclear weapons
• The Space Race became part of Cold War competition
• Fear of surprise attacks increased tensions between superpowers

The Social Security Act of 1935

• Part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs
• Created pensions for retired workers
• Provided unemployment insurance and aid for vulnerable Americans
• Expanded the federal government’s role in economic security
• Marked a major change in how Americans viewed government responsibility

U.S. Sanctions on Japan Before WWII

• The United States limited trade with Japan before WWII
• Oil and steel embargoes hurt Japan’s economy and military plans
• Japan depended heavily on imported resources
• Japanese leaders believed expansion could secure needed resources
• Rising tensions contributed to conflict in the Pacific

Hollywood during WWII

• Movies encouraged patriotism and support for the war effort
• Films promoted military service, war bonds, and national unity
• Celebrities participated in morale-building activities
• Propaganda films shaped public opinion about the war
• Entertainment helped keep Americans informed and motivated

The “Smoking Gun” Tape

• President Richard Nixon believed many Americans quietly supported the Vietnam War
• These Americans were often middle-class, working Americans who did not join protests
• Nixon appealed to people who valued patriotism, law and order, and traditional values
• Many felt anti-war protests were too disruptive or unpatriotic
• Nixon used television speeches to gain support from these Americans

Disagreements After WWII

• Allied nations had different visions for rebuilding Europe
• The Soviet Union wanted control over neighboring countries
• Western democracies pushed for free elections
• Economic and political differences created tension
• Cooperation during WWII weakened after the war ended

Limits of the G.I. Bill

• The G.I. Bill provided education and housing benefits to veterans
• Many veterans used benefits to attend college or buy homes
• Discrimination limited access for many African American veterans
• Segregated colleges and unfair lending practices created barriers
• Benefits were not distributed equally across all groups of veterans

The War on Terror and U.S. Influence

• Began after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
• The U.S. launched military operations in multiple countries
• Some nations supported U.S. efforts against terrorism
• Critics questioned long wars and U.S. foreign policy decisions
• The conflict affected America’s relationships with allies and global reputation

Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine

• Truman Doctrine promised support to countries resisting communism
• Marshall Plan provided economic aid to rebuild Europe after WWII
• Both policies aimed to prevent the spread of communism
• Economic recovery was seen as a way to create stability
• These policies marked a shift toward active U.S. involvement overseas

Iraq War vs. Afghanistan War

• The Afghanistan War began after the September 11 attacks
• U.S. forces targeted al-Qaeda and the Taliban government
• The Iraq War began in 2003 over claims of weapons of mass destruction
• Iraq involved removing Saddam Hussein from power
• The two wars had different goals, enemies, and political outcomes

The Impact of MLK Jr.’s Death

• Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968
• Many Americans reacted with grief, anger, and protests
• Riots broke out in several cities after his death
• His assassination increased attention on civil rights issues
• King’s legacy continued to inspire activism and reform efforts

The Watts Riots (1965)

• Riots broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles
• Longstanding issues included poverty, unemployment, and discrimination
• Tensions between police and African American residents were high
• Frustration over unequal treatment contributed to violence
• The riots highlighted problems facing many urban communities

The Cuban Missile Crisis

• In 1962, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba
• Cuba is located very close to the United States
• President John F. Kennedy demanded removal of the missiles
• The U.S. and Soviet Union came close to nuclear war
• The crisis increased fears about global nuclear destruction

The Reagan Doctrine

• U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War under President Reagan
• The United States supported anti-communist groups around the world
• Aid was given to groups fighting Soviet-backed governments
• Conflicts occurred in places like Afghanistan, Nicaragua, and Angola
• Goal was to limit the spread of communism

Reaganomics

• Economic policies promoted by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s
• Focused on reducing taxes and government regulation
• Supporters believed tax cuts would encourage business growth and investment
• Increased military spending was also a major part of Reagan’s policies
• Critics argued benefits mainly helped wealthy Americans

The Silent Majority

• President Richard Nixon believed many Americans quietly supported the Vietnam War
• These Americans were often middle-class, working Americans who did not join protests
• Nixon appealed to people who valued patriotism, law and order, and traditional values
• Many felt anti-war protests were too disruptive or unpatriotic
• Nixon used television speeches to gain support from these Americans

Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society

• Series of programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality
• Expanded education, healthcare, and civil rights protections
• Medicare and Medicaid were created during this period
• Programs focused on improving living conditions in cities
• Johnson wanted to build a more equal and prosperous society