US History Since 1865 - Assignment Example

US History since 1865 (short questions and Importance of Significant WWII Battles French defeat 1940 – Adolf Hitler emerged as the master of Europe Battle of Britain 1940 - British manage to keep themselves in the war.  Battle for Moscow 1941 – First major fall of German army which ends the Nazi Blitz victories. Pearl Harbor 1941 – United State enters the war and Japan advanced itself in Pacific. Battle of Midway 1942 - Decisive moment of the war in Pacific.  Stalingrad 1942-43 – Defeat of Nazis in Soviet Union. D-Day 1944 – Open of second front by allies against Germany. Fall of Berlin 1945 – Allies captured Berlin ending WWII. 2- Effect of Mobilization for WWII on the Home Front People were asked to ration certain items including food and metals. Auto manufacturing companies were turned in war factories. Each and every individual was affected. Men left other job to fight in the war. Women went to war factories to in full force. 3- Important Agreements Reached at the Wartime Conferences at Yalta, Tehran and Potsdam 1. The Tehran Conference (Nov. 1943) United States and British governments assure Soviets, that a second front would soon be opened in Western Europe.  All members were agreed on the partition of Germany after the war ends. Soviet Union promised that after the defeat of Germany it will declare a war against Japan. 2. Yalta Conference - Feb. 1945 Free election in Eastern Europe. Soviet Union can possess eastern parts of Poland and in return as compensation a large part of Germany should be granted to Poland. Split Germany in four zones. Form an international peace organization in replace to the League of Nations. 3. Potsdam Conference – July & Aug., 1945 The boundaries of Poland were agreed. All the allies decided to distribute Germany between them. Legal trials of Nazi leaders of war crime was also agreed 4- Crisis Emerged in Occupied Germany During 1948-49 Soviet Union blocked the ground access to the parts of Berlin that were under Allied control.  Currency crisis, allies were unable to propose a single currency for Germany, causing high rate of inflation. The Cold War broke out into open confrontation, and the two superpowers began an Arms Race. Germany was divided in two parts, West Germany and East Germany. Permanent borders were drawn separating Germany. Western Allies in 1949 formed a military alliance (NATO) against Soviet Union. 5- Civil Rights Events During President Truman’s Administration 1948, through an executive order 9980; discrimination based on race was made illegal against those individuals who are applying for positions in civil services. 1948, segregation was outlawed in U.S military through an executive order 9981. A committee (CGCC) was established after the third executive order, in 1951. This committee was responsible that the armed forces contractor could not discriminate to any person on account of race. Social Security Amendment in 1950 established a state program to aid totally and permanently disabled. 6- Cold War’s Opposing Sides in 1950’s and Major Conflicts During 1950s, the Cold War became growingly tense. Both sides accused the other of wanting to rule the world. Both opposing sides believed that their economical and political structure is far better than other’s. Armed forces were strengthening on each side. In this situation it was very difficult to settle down any dispute peacefully through negotiation, with both sides surrendering something. The fear was grown that this tense moment may start WWIII. Major conflict during this decade was Korean War, when communist forces of North Korea entered South Korea and Vietnam War which split the country into two sides’ pro communist and pro western allies. 7- Congress Investigation of 1950s Red Scare and the Soviet Spies in U.S. All of the federal were investigated to determine whether they were loyal to the country as well as U.S. Congressmen Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, also investigated allegations of insurgents in the Hollywood film industry and in the government. 8- Economy of 1950’s and Consumer Culture During 1950s Americans enjoyed boom in the economy which raised their standards of living. This economical growth was because of blitz spending in Korean War. Consumer culture was changed by the advancement of technology. Buying good for the consumers became easier. Most American charge accounts, used credit cards and easy payment plans for purchasing goods. Consumerism became important component of American society. American had highest standards of living in the whole world by the end of 1960s. 9- Suburban Life in 1950’s In a campaign to create ideal American family, suburbanization played a central part, while direct role was played by U.S. government in the mass migration many families from the cities to areas outside them. After WWII many economic boom made it possible for many young Americans to accomplish their dreams for a stable and secure family life in a personally owned new home. Suburbanization also gave boost to the economy U.S as sale of houses increased remarkably. 10- Key Issues of 1952’s Presidential Campaign and Eisenhower Win Key issues for 1952’s presidential campaign were Korean War, corruption and inflation. Eisenhower’s presidential campaign used female campaigners largely; these campaigners use every available technology (i.e. radio, tv and phone) for this campaign. Hi voters were called on phone; souvenirs were distributed. The Eisenhower presidential campaign was one of the first campaigns to make a main, intensive effort to win vote of female 11- Key Decisions of Warren Courts Some of the key decisions by Warren Courts were. Brown v. Board of education, removing segregation from public schools. Loving v. Virginia, declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. Griswold v. Connecticut, general right to privacy are constitutionally protected. Cooper v. Aaron, states cannot ignore Supreme Court’s decision as they are bound by it. Gideon v. Wainright, lawyer must be provided to all citizens if they cannot afford one. 12- Brown v. Board of education and the Nature of Resistance to it the South Parents of around twenty children filled a case against the segregation of public school and plead the court for an anti-segregation law in the public schools so they may enter their siblings to the schools near to their homes. Mass resistance was shown from the south of country denying the legality of the decision. Local white politicians and parents fought the injunction of court tooth and nail. Many private all-white schools didn’t enroll any colored student. In south Boston, White students welcome the new enrolled black student with rocking, showing their anger. 13- Specific Action of Civil Rights Activists to End Segregation a- Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956). b- Sit-ins (1960). c- Freedom rides (1961). d- Children’s Crusades (1963) e- March to Washington (1963). 14- Key Organizations Active in Civil Rights Movement a- Black Panther Party b- Congress of Racial Equality c- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People d- Southern Christian Leadership Conference e- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee 15- Leaders Active in Civil Rights Movement a- Martin Luther King Jr. b- Malcolm X c- Rosa Parks d- Thurgood Marshall e- Ella Baker f- Medgar Evers 16- Key Legislation of the War on Poverty Key legislation of the War on Poverty was Economic Opportunity Act (1964). Act includes various social programs for the promotion of education, welfare for poor and health. 17- Difference Between Southern Civil Rights Movement and The Black Power Movement Southern Civil Rights Movement was for the equal rights for everyone regardless of their race, while Black Power Movement was just for the empowerment of black people just like White Power and falls into racism itself. 18- Key Legislation of the Great Society Legislation includes elderly were granted with Medicare, antipoverty measures, protection for southern blacks voting rights, educational loans for needy students; a Department of Housing and Urban Development was created and quota system in immigration was abolished. 19- Life Style Advocated by the Counterculture Movement of 1960’s It was the movement in which particularly young men and women were breaking the long held norms and values. Many young women and men involved in the political activities and participated in movements like the anti-Vietnam War and Civil Rights. Others were simply dropped-out and separated themselves from conventional culture by their look and lifestyle. Women openly protested for their role as traditional housewives. 20- Leaders and Organizations Involved in Feminist Movement Leaders: a- Elizabeth Candy Stanton b- Susan B Anthony c- Alice Stone d- Olympia Brown e- Helen Pits f- Gloria Anzaldua g- Rebecca Walker h- Jennifer Baumgardner i- Amy Richards Organizations: a- Woman’s Christian Temperance Union b- National Women Suffrage Association c- National Organization for Women d- Women’s Equity Action League e- Human Rights of Women 21- President Nixon’s Three Approaches to End Vietnam War His three approaches were: He ordered heavy bombing in North Vietnam. Take hard line while negotiating with Hanoi. Gradually withdraw forces from Vietnam and let South Vietnamese to fight on their own. 22- Major Decisions of the Burger Court a- Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education (against the delay of school desegregation) b- U.S. v District Court (search and seize, wiretapping, Fourth Amendment and search warrant) c- Engel v. Vital (written prayers in public school are not vital) d- Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha (invalidating the legislative veto) e- North Carolina v. Alford (in criminal case right of plea in case of proved guilty) 23- Major Legislation of the Nixon Administration Some of major legislations were: a- Clean Air Act. b- National Environmental Policy Act. c- Water Act. d- National Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act. e- Equal Rights Amendments. f- Endangered Species Act. 24- Causes of Stagflation Richard Nixon’s imposition of wage and price control causes the initial wave then factors like failure of major sources of livestock feed (Peruvian anchovy fishery) and Oil crisis of 1973. 25- Post World War II Presidents i) Harry S Truman (1945, 1953) ii) Dwight David Eisenhower (1953, 1961) iii) John F. Kennedy (1961, 1963) iv) Lyndon B. Johnson (1963, 1969) v) Richard M. Nixon (1969, 1974) vi) Gerald R. Ford (1974, 1977) vii) Ronald W. Regan (1981, 1989) viii)George H. W. Bush (1989, 1993) ix) William J. Clinton (1993, 2001) x) George W. Bush (2001, 2009) xi) Barack H. Obama (2009, currently in office) Read More