Deck 26: Postwar America, 1945-1953

Question 1

Movies that dealt with the struggles faced by returning veterans by depicting them engaging in destructive behavior,and often including a "femme fatale," were called

A)talkies.
B)film noir ("black film").
C)veterans' dramas.
D)film guerre ("war films").

Answer 1

B

Question 2

George Kennan,writing under the pseudonym "X," stated that since the Soviet Union had been greatly weakened during World War II the best strategy to bring it down was

A)immediate,direct military action.
B)arming the Eastern European states and encouraging them to attack the Soviet Union.
C)a long-term strategy of containment as a "counterforce" to Soviet expansion.
D)to make a military alliance with China against the Soviet Union.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The effort to contain the growth of Soviet influence around the world through the use of economic,cultural,psychological,and political weapons was called

A)the Proxy War.
B)World War III.
C)the Cold War.
D)the Cultural War.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The purpose of the Marshall Plan was to

A)offer military supplies and advisors to support countries that bordered the Soviet Union.
B)offer massive amounts of financial aid to Western European countries in an attempt to bolster their economies and prevent communism from taking root.
C)offer financial aid to countries in Eastern Europe only,in order to rebuild their industries destroyed in World War II and prevent communist takeover.
D)give assistance to Greece and Turkey to prevent the Soviet Union's southern expansion.

Question 5

The phrase "iron curtain," used to describe the divide between communist and democratic Europe,was first used by

A)Winston Churchill.
B)President Truman.
C)Henry Stimson.
D)Joseph Stalin.

Question 6

While the stated purpose of the Truman Doctrine was to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation," in practice

A)it led the United States to support dictatorial regimes as long as they sided with the United States and against the Soviet Union or leftist governments.
B)it antagonized the Soviets to the point that it led to direct military confrontation with the Soviet Union.
C)it allowed Soviet expansion as long as the United States was not directly threatened.
D)only those countries with militaries capable of fighting proxy wars against communist regimes were supporteD.

Question 7

When African American veterans returned home,they

A)were treated warmly in both the North and the South because they had put their lives on the line for the country.
B)accepted as equals in the North but still faced severe discrimination in the South.
C)found their military training was an effective defense against intimidation and violence.
D)were subject to prejudice and discrimination in both the North and the South despite their service to the country.

Question 8

As a result of the 1946 midterm elections,

A)the Democrats,benefiting from the victory in World War II and Truman's popularity,added to their majority and carried out even more New Deal reforms.
B)the Republicans took control of both houses of Congress and attempted to roll back the New Deal.
C)the two houses of Congress were split between Republicans and Democrats,resulting in gridlock.
D)Truman was emboldened by the Democrats' success and pursued his agenda of containing communism.

Question 9

The Taft-Hartley Act of 1946

A)strengthened the Wagner Act,making it illegal for corporations to hire non-union workers.
B)overruled state laws that allowed companies to hire nonunion workers.
C)allowed states to pass "right-to-work" laws and prohibited union contributions to federal political campaigns.
D)was an attempt by Congress to put limits on labor unions,but it was vetoed by President Truman and there were not enough votes to override the veto.

Question 10

Truman's President's Commission on Civil Rights

A)introduced anti-lynching legislation that was blocked by southern congressmen.
B)authorized the military to intervene in civil rights matters.
C)was a political ploy that he never intended to have any real impact.
D)oversaw the passage of several key civil rights bills.

Question 11

Inspired by the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes,Truman proposed all the following programs EXCEPT

A)an increase in the minimum wage.
B)the expansion of Social Security benefits.
C)looser regulations on corporations and slashing government spending and programs.
D)the provision of housing for hundreds of thousands of returning veterans.

Question 12

Which statement best describes the state of the U.S.economy right after World War II?

A)Deflation set in because people had so little money.
B)Industries transitioned smoothly to consumer production to meet the increased demand after the end of rationing.
C)The majority of Americans had accumulated substantial savings and were ready to spend.
D)It was a time of goodwill between labor and management,and strikes were limiteD.

Question 13

George F.Kennan's "long telegram"

A)put to rest fears that the Soviet Union planned worldwide domination.
B)told of a Soviet plot he had uncovered to destabilize democratic regimes through the assassination of several top European leaders.
C)convinced many State Department officials that Soviet leaders were intent on spreading Soviet-style communism.
D)indicated that the Soviet Union was looking to buy enriched uranium for its nuclear weapons program.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of the attempt to implement nationalized healthcare during Truman's administration?

A)It was pushed by socialist and communist elements but strongly opposed by Truman.
B)It was supported by Democrats in Congress but opposed by Republicans.
C)It had widespread support among workers.
D)The American Medical Association lobbied Congress to pass universal healthcare.

Question 15

The National Security Act created all of the following EXCEPT

A)the Department of Defense.
B)the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
C)the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
D)the National Security Council (NSC).

Question 16

Visual artists' works in the postwar era

A)depicted heroic scenes of victorious soldiers,and even glorified the atomic bombs' explosions.
B)avoided dark issues such as the Holocaust,as they wanted to focus on the positive aspects of victory.
C)included patriotic films that celebrated the victory.
D)addressed the subject of the difficulties faced at home by returning veterans.

Question 17

How did the Soviet Union respond to the anti-Soviet policies of the United States?

A)Weakened by World War II,the Soviets had little choice but to give in to U.S.demands.
B)Believing the U.S.was intent on global domination,the Soviets pursued absolute control of Eastern Europe.
C)Stalin agreed to pull all Soviet agents and military advisors from Central and South America if the U.S.would reciprocate in Europe.
D)The Soviets held a series of nuclear weapons tests in a defiant show of force.

Question 18

President Truman's efforts to revive the New Deal was an attempt to bolster the economy,but it was also an attempt to

A)seal middle-class support for the Democratic Party.
B)be an example to the rest of the world and spread the "American way."
C)head off the rising tide of socialism in the United States.
D)bring racial harmony to the South,as demanded by southern members of his cabinet.

Question 19

Which of the following was NOT a result of Kennan's policy statement regarding the Soviet Union?

A)Members of Truman's cabinet who did not support the policy,or were considered weak on communism,were dismissed.
B)Containment became the foundation of U.S.foreign policy for the next forty years.
C)The U.S.government from then on viewed other countries in the world as either pro-American and anti-Soviet or pro-Soviet and anti-American.
D)The United States took a softer line on the Soviet Union in order to foster friendlier relations.

Question 20

The principal reason Stalin wanted control of the countries of Eastern Europe was

A)his desire for global communist domination.
B)to antagonize the United States and lure them into war.
C)to seize their valuable natural resources,which the Soviet Union lacked.
D)to protect the Soviet Union from once again falling into hostile hands.

Question 21

Which of the following was a result of "white flight"?

A)Race hate groups,such as the KKK,lost influence in the South as many whites moved to the suburbs.
B)Banks ended the practice of redlining as minorities moved into higher-value neighborhoods left vacant by whites leaving for the suburbs.
C)Many high-paying jobs became available for minority workers in the city.
D)Racial tensions grew as minorities moved into houses in white working-class areas that were left vacant by whites that had left for the suburbs.

Question 22

When someone was "redlined" it meant that they

A)were suspected of being a communist and were being watched by the FBI.
B)were denied a mortgage loan because they lived in a low income neighborhood.
C)were denied a loan because their income was below the minimum level,and they could be approved for government housing.
D)had fallen behind in their mortgage payments and would be evicted from their home.

Question 23

The Berlin Airlift was

A)an attempt to remove all American citizens from Berlin while Stalin was trying to seal off the city from outside access.
B)a Soviet attempt to take the city of Berlin with an assault by paratroopers.
C)Truman's effort to relieve West Berliners by sending in cargo planes with supplies after Stalin asserted control of the region by sealing off access.
D)Stalin's attempt to win favor with the German people by sending food and needed medical supplies to the starving,impoverished people of Berlin.

Question 24

What was the impact of automation on workers?

A)Skilled workers were laid off,as unskilled workers could monitor machines,leading to more jobs for minority workers.
B)The UAW became more interested in representing the interests of semiskilled and unskilled workers.
C)Automation led to job losses,but the UAW accepted it as long as employers agreed to retrain or find other work for skilled workers.
D)The auto industry's savings brought about by automation were passed on to workers of all skill levels and all ethnicities,raising all workers' standard of living.

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT true of the military-industrial complex?

A)After the war,Truman dismantled the majority of the military in favor of building a nuclear arsenal.
B)By 1950,more than one in seven U.S.jobs were defense related.
C)The weapons industry,for the first time,flourished during peacetime.
D)Over the course of the entire Cold War,trillions of dollars were spent.

Question 26

Which of the following were LEAST likely to benefit from the economic boom?

A)Jewish Americans
B)Catholics
C)African Americans
D)white European immigrants

Question 27

All of the following were factors preventing minorities from improving their status EXCEPT

A)southern Democrats' segregationism.
B)the federal government's unwillingness to directly administer aid programs.
C)Truman's unwillingness to enforce laws passed by Congress.
D)underfunding by Congress of the Fair Deal programs that would have helped minorities.

Question 28

Which of the following best describes the new housing boom that occurred in the United States after the war?

A)Most new housing developments were in the inner city near factory jobs.
B)Levittown homes built in unique styles and in exclusive neighborhoods appealed to the many new high-wage earners.
C)Most veterans were seeking homes in rural areas so they could become farmers.
D)Many first-time homebuyers purchased mass-produced houses in the suburbs.

Question 29

The generation born between 1945 and 1964,which was the largest generational group in American history,is commonly called

A)generation X.
B)generation vet.
C)the baby boomers.
D)the consumer boomers.

Question 30

The Fulbright Program

A)sponsored international conferences in Eastern Europe,where local communists declared American-style capitalism the enemy of art,democracy,and freedom.
B)took over the Voice of America and started broadcasting pro-American radio programs into Europe.
C)was an exchange of scholars between the U.S.and foreign nations meant to foster understanding between Americans and other cultures,and to promote U.S.values.
D)initiated the Cominform,which was intended to educate the public of the perils of communism.

Question 31

How did the Federal Housing Authority react to discrimination in the mortgage industry?

A)When it came to real estate,federal agencies rarely challenged local racism.
B)The FHA levied heavy fines on any bank practicing redlining.
C)Through its policies that bolstered home values in the city,the FHA helped curtail "white flight."
D)Federal agencies encouraged integration in an attempt to create more balanced levels of neighborhood real estate values.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT true regarding life for the "nuclear family" in the suburbs?

A)The suburbs had large,beautiful parks and other public amenities to improve the quality of life.
B)Many suburbs boasted sprawling shopping centers.
C)Televisions became a common feature in the home.
D)Suburbs often had "covenants" that disallowed selling or reselling homes to minorities.

Question 33

By the 1960s,where were companies most likely to open a new factory?

A)in the "right-to-work" states of the South where labor was less unionized
B)in the Northeast where there was an abundance of skilled workers
C)in the inner city,since most cities were offering major tax breaks to lure industry back
D)overseas

Question 34

The House Un-American Activities Committee

A)convicted an editor of Time magazine for passing confidential information to the Soviets.
B)was made up of mostly Democratic representatives who pursued liberal Republicans.
C)coordinated with a group of Hollywood insiders known as the Hollywood Ten to identify communists working in the movie industry.
D)carried out an investigation of Hollywood that led to the "blacklisting" of hundreds of writers,actors,and directors.

Question 35

Which of the following was NOT a step taken by Congress to raise workers' standard of living and make them mass consumers?

A)The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 helped pay college tuition for veterans and offered job placement services.
B)The government subsidized the home construction industry and made Federal Housing Administration loans for first-time buyers affordable for most Americans.
C)Congress approved an increase of the minimum wage to five dollars an hour.
D)The G.I.Bill's low-interest home loans,requiring no down payment,turned the housing shortage into a construction boom.

Question 36

After World War II,labor unions in the United States

A)saw a dramatic drop in membership to only 10 percent of the industrial workforce.
B)negotiated contracts that not only included good wages but also healthcare benefits.
C)were able to get Congress to pass laws requiring union membership as a requirement for skilled industrial workers.
D)extended their reach to include most unskilled workers and even agricultural workers.

Question 37

How did the Soviet Union respond to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

A)The Moscow Pact,a Soviet military alliance with Eastern Europe,was created.
B)The Soviet Union publicly tested its first atomic bomB.
C)Stalin announced the Soviet Union would build 300 atomic bombs.
D)Stalin announced he would send $1 billion worth of military aid to Soviet military partners.

Question 38

What was the changing situation facing some American cities,particularly in the Northeast?

A)Cities in the Northeast were losing population and jobs to the suburbs,which resulted in a decreasing tax base.
B)While losing population to the suburbs,the tax revenue of most cities increased as factories remained in the city and most workers commuted to the inner city.
C)Population decreased in "Sunbelt" cities as workers moved to find industrial jobs in the Northeast.
D)A large number of African Americans left the city for the suburbs.

Question 39

Which of the following was NOT an economic advantage held by the United States at the outset of the Cold War?

A)Large quantities of gold received from Japan and Germany as war reparations allowed the United States to give out loans to other countries at high interest rates.
B)The United States made loans available to other countries,but with the condition the U.S.would have the right to sell large quantities of goods to the borrowing nation.
C)The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)benefited American manufacturers by opening markets for a variety of consumer goods as well as industrial equipment.
D)The war had doubled U.S.productive capacity while wrecking that of Europe and the Soviet Union.

Question 40

What helped Truman overcome some tough obstacles to win the election of 1948?

A)White southern Republicans who opposed civil rights joined the independent Dixiecrats.
B)Truman spoke directly to millions of citizens on a grueling tour of U.S.towns and cities,as well as through live broadcasts of his short,frank,and forceful speeches.
C)Truman won the South by sidestepping issues relating to civil rights and avoiding campaigning in predominately black communities,such as Harlem.
D)The New Deal coalition put together by Roosevelt was still as strong as ever.

Question 41

What was the primary aim for the United States in the Korean War?

A)Truman and his administration wanted a limited war focused on defeating North Korea and were willing to negotiate an armistice to restore the prewar border.
B)Truman instructed General MacArthur to take the war into China after defeating North Korea,to prevent Chinese expansion in the region.
C)Truman and his advisors were intent on uniting the two Koreas under a pro-American government as an example to the rest of the world.
D)Initially Truman wanted to unite the two Koreas,but after high casualties early in the war he simply wanted to withdraw American troops without too much embarrassment.

Question 42

Explain what is meant by "the Cold War," and discuss the origins of the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Question 43

Describe episodes of violence and discrimination,and attempts to fight back against racism,in the postwar period.Explain how some felt that the United States was being hypocritical,and how President Truman tried to deal with this issue.

Question 44

From what source were you most likely to find criticism of American consumer society?

A)television shows
B)popular magazines
C)scholars from prestigious universities
D)civil servants from government agencies

Question 45

Analyze the Truman Doctrine and what is meant by containment.Identify the key people involved in this policy and explain how the Marshall Plan was used to implement it.

Question 46

Describe McCarthyism and identify the people and groups who supported it.What was the basis of its appeal,and what ultimately brought it to an end? Also,explain the resulting political implications for both Republicans and Democrats.

Question 47

Discuss the complex relationship of the media and the entertainment industry with the federal government and its policies.Give examples of both media support and criticism of government policy.

Question 48

What was President Eisenhower's attitude toward the United States' military buildup?

A)Due to his experience as former allied commander in World War II,he favored increasing the size of the military even more.
B)Eisenhower wanted a larger conventional army but a reduction in the nuclear arsenal.
C)He wanted to increase the numbers serving in the army so he could expand the war beyond Korea and into neighboring communist countries.
D)Eisenhower was critical of the vast expense borne by American taxpayers and preferred spending on domestic programs as opposed to on the military.

Question 49

In the presidential election of 1952,Truman

A)lost the Democratic nomination to challenger Adlai Stevenson.
B)won the Democratic nomination,but lost to Eisenhower in the general election.
C)chose not to seek reelection.
D)could not run for a third term.

Question 50

How did the Soviet Union and China respond to North Korea's invasion of South Korea?

A)The leaders of both the Soviet Union and China encouraged the invasion in hopes of spreading communism,and immediately sent military support.
B)The leaders of both the Soviet Union and China were reluctant to get involved in the conflict,but joined in when the United States entered the war.
C)The leaders of both the Soviet Union and China called for an immediate withdrawal,out of fear the United States would intervene.
D)Both countries sent ambassadors to the United Nations to condemn the invasion.

Question 51

All of these were responses to Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy's communist "witch-hunt," known as McCarthyism,EXCEPT which of the following?

A)The Democratic Party launched its own search for communists at home by reviving HUAC.
B)The Supreme Court blocked many of McCarthy's attempts to punish communists and protected their right to free speech.
C)The FBI investigated civil rights groups for communist connections under the leadership of J.Edgar Hoover.
D)Public support remained in favor of McCarthy until televised committee meetings showed him verbally bullying uniformed officers and making wild accusations against the nation's military leaders.

Question 52

Discuss the Korean War,including its causes,key participants,and results.Also explain the roles of the United States,the Soviet Union,and China in the outbreak and duration of the war.

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT true of the findings of the National Security Council Report 68?

A)Truman opposed the findings based on the cost,but changed his mind after communist North Korea invaded South KoreA.
B)The report proposed containing the spread of communism with a massive military buildup.
C)The report portrayed the Soviet Union as an apocalyptic global threat.
D)The report was supported by President Truman,but opposed by Dean Acheson and George Kennan as too antagonistic to the Soviet Union.

Question 54

Which evangelist won fame for his fiery anti-communist speeches that described the Cold War confrontation as an apocalyptic battle between Christ and Antichrist?

A)Jonathan Edwards
B)Henry Luce
C)Billy Graham
D)Randolph Hearst

Question 55

Summarize the economic theory of John Maynard Keynes and how his ideas were put into practice in the United States.

Question 56

What led Truman to take a more assertive role in establishing a pro-American government in Japan?

A)the arrival of Chinese nationalists in Japan after their government fell in China
B)Japan's strategic location,which could help check the spread of communism
C)the Soviet takeover of China and Stalin's selection of Mao Zedong as Chinese leader
D)the Chinese communists' annexation of Formosa (Taiwan)