America's "Happy Days"- 1946-59

AMERICA’S “HAPPY DAYS”

1.      Compare the election of 1946 to the election of Nov. 2, 2011 Pg. 631

2.      How did the USSR contribute to the continuation of the WWII conflict despite the “end” of the war and signing of treaties? Pg. 632

3.      Compare/contrast the following: fascism, communism, socialism, totalitarianism, imperialism, capitalism. Name a proponent of each.

4.      Where did the term “Iron Curtain” originate? What did it mean? Pg. 635

5.      What were the conditions in post-war America that could possibly have allowed communist beliefs to infiltrate the United States government. Pg. 636-637

6.      How did the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan react to “The Cold War”? Pg. 638-637

7.      Was Truman an effective president at this point? Did he deserve to be reelected? Pg. 639-640

8.      How did the communists use our own culture as propaganda against us? Pg. 640

9.      How was jazz used to promote peace with Europe? Pg. 641

10.   Why did the U.S. choose to engage Korea in war but not China? Pg. 642

11.   Was Truman right when he relieved General MacArthur from duty? Why or why not? Pg. 643-644

12.   Where did the term “Horsemeat Harry” come from? Pg. 644

13.   Define McCarthyism. Do you agree with the derogatory meaning it holds today? Pg. 645-646

14.   How was communism squelched? Pg. 646

15.   What made Eisenhower an appealing candidate for president? Pg. 648

16.   How did Ike deal with the “New Deal” policies? Pg. 649-650

17.   What were the unique findings of RAND that lead to MAD? Pg. 651

18.   How did Ike promote this atomic age for an untapped energy resource? Pg. 651-652

19.   Sputnik… what message did it send? How did the American public view it? The American government? How did the government change its initial reaction? Pg. 652-653

20.   Anyone want to pummel Dr. Spock? What did he advocate and what were the results? Pg. 655

21.   How does America evolve from the concept of rugged individualism to cookie-cutter conformity? Do you agree or disagree? Pg. 658

22.   How did many religions adapt to America’s new found freedoms and prosperity? Pg. 660

23.   Define the Invisible Man. How did television and Hollywood condone this concept? Pg. 661

24.   “Back of the bus.” Where did this originate and what does this phrase embody about society at this time? Pg. 664

25.   How did Martin Luther King incorporate an appeal for inner goodness and capitalism to overcome racial prejudice? Pg. 664-665

26.   Define the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Was it successful? Pg. 665

27.   If you had only the history up to 1959, in your opinion, what would be the top three issues leading to the turbulence of the ‘60’s?