Mid-Term pt.2
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Georgia State University *
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U.S. HISTO
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History
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Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by GeneralCobraMaster397
Moein Ashtari
U.S History
Mid-Term Exam Pt.2
1.
What was the Cold War, and how did it alter U.S. foreign policy?
Throughout the Cold War, which lasted from the conclusion of World War II to the early 1990s, there was geopolitical rivalry and combat between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies. It was characterized by political, economic, and military hostility, without direct armed conflict between the two superpowers. The Soviet Union supported communism, whereas the United States promoted democracy and capitalism. These two countries pursued divergent ideological and political systems. The Cold War significantly influenced American foreign policy, developing a containment strategy to halt the expansion of communism and Soviet dominance worldwide. Increased military spending, the creation of alliances like NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and involvement in wars like the Korean and Vietnam Wars were all results of the Cold War.
1.
What explains the rise of McCarthyism? Why did some Americans believe that their country faced a grave internal threat to its security?
McCarthyism refers to the intense anti-communist sentiment and political repression in the United States during the 1950s, named after Senator Joseph McCarthy, who led the charge against alleged communist infiltration in the U.S. government. McCarthyism gained support due to fears of communist infiltration and espionage during the Cold War and anxieties about the spread of communism globally. The acquisition of nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union, the Korean War, and the conviction of Alger Hiss, a former State Department official suspected of being a communist spy, all contributed to the growth of McCarthyism. Many Americans believed
that their country faced a grave internal threat to its security due to fears of communist subversion and espionage, further intensified by McCarthy's sensationalist accusations and investigations, leading to the blacklisting of suspected communists from various industries and damaging the reputations of innocent individuals.
1.
Why did the United States turn to military intervention and covert CIA activities as foreign
policy tools in the 1950s? What immediate and longer-term consequences were in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America?
The United States turned to military intervention and covert CIA activities as foreign policy tools in the 1950s as part of its policy of containment during the Cold War. The U.S. government sought to prevent the spread of communism and Soviet influence in various regions, including Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Examples of U.S. military interventions and covert CIA activities during the 1950s include:
The overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953.
The overthrow of Guatemala's President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954.
The U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War started in the 1950s.
These interventions often resulted in long-term consequences, including the installation of pro-
U.S. governments or leaders, but also led to anti-American sentiment, political instability, and
social upheaval in the affected regions. Moreover, in some cases, U.S. interventions were seen as interference in the internal affairs of other countries, leading to strained diplomatic relations and long-term repercussions in U.S. foreign policy.
1.
What events or historical forces contributed to the Boston busing crisis of the mid-
1970s?
A combination of racial tensions, segregation, and court-ordered desegregation efforts primarily drove the Boston busing crisis of the mid-1970s. In the 1950s and 1960s, like many other cities in the United States, Boston experienced de facto segregation, where discriminatory housing practices concentrated on African Americans and other minority groups in specific neighborhoods. In the 1970s, court rulings, including the 1974 case Morgan v. Hennigan, mandated the desegregation of Boston's public schools through busing and transporting students to schools outside their neighborhoods to achieve racial integration. However, this led to strong opposition from many white Bostonians who resisted busing and reacted with protests,
violence, and boycotts, resulting in a prolonged and contentious crisis.
1.
Name three specific consequences of the Boston busing crisis.
1.
Violent Protests and Racial Tensions: The crisis sparked widespread protests and violence, clashes between white anti-busing protesters and black students, resulting in injuries and property damage. The Boston busing crisis heightened racial tensions and deepened the divide between communities along racial lines.
2.
White Flight: Many white families pulled their children out of public schools or moved out of Boston to avoid the court-ordered busing, leading to a "white flight" from the city. The Boston busing crisis further exacerbated racial segregation in the city.
3.
Legal and Policy Changes: The crisis led to legal and policy changes, including revisions
to the original busing plan, the end of court-ordered busing in the early 1980s, and school assignment policies in Boston. However, the crisis highlighted the challenges and
complexities of achieving racial integration in public schools, and the effects continued reverberating in Boston for years.
4.
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5.
1.
What happened to the civil rights movement right after the assassination of President Kennedy?
The assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 brought uncertainty and change to the American civil rights movement. The killing of President Kennedy created a leadership vacuum because he favored civil rights measures. President Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded him and took up the cause of civil rights, working to enact the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which were essential pieces of legislation for the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement continued to advocate for equal rights and end racial segregation in various forms but faced challenges and setbacks in the aftermath of President Kennedy's assassination.
4. Q: What was the major consequence of MLK's assassination?
A:
The significant consequence of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968 was a decisive blow to the civil rights movement and a profound loss for the African American community and the nation. King was a prominent civil rights leader who advocated for nonviolent resistance, racial equality, and an end to segregation. His assassination led to widespread protests, riots, and mourning across the United States, particularly in African American communities. The loss of one of the movement's most influential leaders and the subsequent shifts in tactics and dynamics also served as a turning point.
5.Q: What were the Jim Crow Laws, and how did they get that name?
State and local legislation known as the Jim Crow laws, implemented in the Southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, subjected African Americans to racial segregation and discrimination. These laws enforced racial segregation in public facilities such as schools, transportation, and accommodations, as well as in voting, employment, and other aspects of daily life. The term "Jim Crow" originated from a 19th-century minstrel show character, a fictional black caricature portrayed by white actors in blackface. The Jim Crow Laws, which constituted a sanctioned racial segregation and discrimination system, denied African Americans their civil rights.
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