Questions and Answers
What was the Golden Age of Capitalism characterized by?
Economic expansion, stable prices, low unemployment, and rising standards of living.
By government definition, what percentage of the population was middle class?
60%
What invention had a huge influence on the 1950s culture?
Television
Which group outnumbered blue-collar workers by 1956?
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What were the two main engines of economic growth during the 1950s?
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What is the name of the most famous suburban development of the 1950s?
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What item symbolized individual freedom in the 1950s?
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What term replaced economic independence in the definition of freedom during the 1950s?
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What became a side effect of suburbanization and Americanization?
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How much less did women earn compared to men in the 1950s?
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What was the average number of children families had during the Baby Boom?
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Feminism was widely accepted in the 1950s.
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The economic content of Cold War freedom focused on consumer capitalism aka _____ __________.
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What did libertarian conservatives believe freedom meant?
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What were the two common foes for the conservatives in the 1950s?
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Who was the first president elected without his party in either house of Congress?
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What was the name of the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviets?
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What act started a government-subsidized school loan program as a direct result of Sputnik?
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What act was passed over Truman's veto that weakened unions?
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What did unions sign that left more decisions in the hands of management?
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When did the US explode the hydrogen bomb?
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What was the policy of Massive Retaliation?
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What concept ensured that all-out war would result in mutual destruction?
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Who was Bert the Turtle?
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What characterized the Soviets' economic planning during the 1950s?
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What characterized the United States' economy during the 1950s?
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What term describes developing countries aligned with neither Cold War powers?
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Which countries were determined to reduce foreign control and involved in nationalization?
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Opposite of non-violent is _____ ______.
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What doctrine ensured American economic assistance for aggressive threats?
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What musical genre was considered an 'agent' of the Soviets in the 1950s?
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What type of regimes were American leaders more comfortable dealing with during the Cold War?
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What agreement temporarily divided Vietnam?
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What were key issues of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s?
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What gap became an embarrassment for the US during the 1950s?
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What were some origins of the Civil Rights Movement in the South?
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What was the organizing power for a militant nonviolent assault on segregation?
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What laws were considered the embodiment of legal segregation in the South?
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What case legally ended Plessy v. Ferguson?
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Who was arrested for refusing to give up their bus seat to a white passenger?
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Who was the national symbol of the civil rights movement?
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What conference was led by MLK to push for desegregation?
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What did southern congressmen denounce as an abuse of power?
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Which president found the civil rights issue distasteful?
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What school faced opposition from the governor of Arkansas during desegregation?
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What was JFK's position regarding religion during his presidential campaign?
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Who debated against JFK in the televised election of 1960?
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Study Notes
Golden Age of Capitalism
- Economic expansion followed World War I, characterized by stable prices, low unemployment, and rising living standards.
Middle Class
- By government definition, 60% of the population qualified as middle class during this period.
Television Influence
- The invention of television significantly impacted the 1950s, serving as 'soft power' with 90% of families owning one.
Employment Trends
- By 1956, the number of white-collar workers surpassed blue-collar workers.
Economic Growth Engines
- Residential construction and consumer goods were the primary drivers of economic growth in the 1950s.
Levittown
- A notable suburban development exemplifying post-war suburbanization, created by a leading developer of the era.
Symbol of Freedom
- The automobile became a symbol of individual mobility and personal freedom.
Shift in Definition of Freedom
- Consumerism replaced economic independence and democratic participation as the central elements defining freedom.
Racial Dynamics
- Suburbanization led to rigid racial boundaries, isolating residents from urban ethnic communities and perpetuating racial exclusion for minorities.
Women in the Workforce
- Women increasingly worked part-time to maintain a middle-class lifestyle, earning only 60% of men's wages and lacking a career-oriented focus.
Baby Boom
- The 1950s and early 1960s experienced a baby boom, with families averaging 3.2 children.
Feminism in the 1950s
- The movement was dismissed as a sign of mental illness during this era.
Economic Freedom
- The Cold War defined economic freedom in terms of consumer capitalism, highlighting free enterprise alongside free speech and worship.
Libertarian Conservatives
- Advocated for individual autonomy, limited government, and unregulated capitalism, opposing New Deal policies and labor unions.
New Conservatives
- Emphasized moral and intellectual fortification against communism, arguing for the promotion of virtue through government action.
Common Antagonists
- Conservatives focused on government and communism as two shared adversaries during the 1950s.
Eisenhower Presidency
- Eisenhower was the first president elected without a supportive party majority in Congress, pioneering TV advertising in campaigns.
Sputnik
- The Soviet launch of the first artificial satellite in 1957 heightened fears of surveillance and competition during the Cold War.
National Defense Education Act
- Instituted as a response to Sputnik, this program subsidized school loans and increased funding for higher education.
Taft-Hartley Act
- Enacted over Truman's veto, this legislation weakened labor unions and limited their power.
The Social Contract
- Long-term agreements between unions and management left major decisions to management, benefiting unionized but not non-unionized workers.
Hydrogen Bomb Tests
- The U.S. exploded its first hydrogen bomb in 1952, followed by the USSR's test in 1953.
Massive Retaliation
- John Foster Dulles' strategy signaled that any attack on U.S. allies would result in direct military action against the Soviets.
Mutual Assured Destruction
- The understanding that a full-scale nuclear war would lead to mutual destruction fostered caution among global powers.
Bert the Turtle
- A cartoon character used in public campaigns to promote 'duck and cover' strategies during the nuclear threat era.
Economic Systems in the 1950s
- The Soviets employed centralized economic planning, while the United States embraced free-market capitalism.
The Third World
- Refers to developing nations not aligned with the Cold War superpowers, experiencing decolonization and testing independent governance.
CIA Interventions in Nationalization
- The CIA removed governments in Guatemala and Iran for nationalizing resources; Egypt's government was ousted by Israeli, French, and British collaboration.
Self Defense
- Conceptually framed as a response to aggression, differing from non-violent approaches.
Eisenhower Doctrine
- This policy promised U.S. economic and military assistance to countries threatened by aggression, particularly from the Soviets.
Rock and Roll
- Viewed as a negative influence on youth culture during the 1950s, associated controversially with the decay of societal values.
Preference for Military Regimes
- American leaders often favored stable military governments over democratically elected ones amidst Cold War rhetoric about freedom.
Geneva Agreement
- Temporarily divided Vietnam, with future elections never materializing, leading to conflict.
Civil Rights Movement
- Voting and equal rights became central themes during the 1950s freedom movement.
Rhetoric vs. Racial Equality
- The disparity in advocating for freedom and democracy while practicing racial discrimination posed a significant embarrassment for the U.S.
Origins of Civil Rights Movement
- Influenced by the dismantling of black alliances, union hesitancy for change, and NAACP's focus on legal battles rather than communities.
Role of the Southern Black Church
- Served as a powerful organization driving nonviolent resistance to segregation.
Jim Crow Laws
- Enshrined racial segregation in Southern states under the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Brown v. Board of Education
- Landmark case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that segregated schools violated the 14th Amendment.
Rosa Parks' Resistance
- Parks' refusal to yield her bus seat triggered a significant nonviolent protest and culminated in the ruling against bus segregation.
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK)
- Became a prominent symbol of the civil rights movement, advocating for peaceful civil disobedience inspired by Gandhi.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Established by MLK to advocate for desegregation and federal intervention in the South.
Southern Manifesto
- A manifesto by Southern legislators opposing the Brown decision, leading to legislative efforts to impede desegregation.
Eisenhower's Civil Rights Stance
- Eisenhower exhibited ambivalence toward civil rights, providing minimal support merely to uphold his authority.
Little Rock Central High School Incident
- Governor's opposition to desegregation prompted federal intervention to ensure compliance with court rulings.
JFK's Political Context
- His candidacy highlighted a reduced anti-Catholic sentiment, asserting that he represented all citizens, not just his faith.
Nixon vs. JFK Debate
- The 1960 televised debates illustrated the power of television in politics, with JFK emerging victorious in public perception despite Nixon's technical advantages.
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Description
Explore key terms and definitions from Chapter 24 of 'Give Me Liberty!' This quiz covers essential concepts such as the Golden Age of Capitalism and the rise of the middle class, providing a comprehensive review of post-WWI America. Enhance your understanding of the social and economic influences that shaped the 1950s.
