Chapter 34: The Postwar Society

Which were direct results of the United States’ use of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the 1950s and 1960s? Select two correct answers.

• the use of high-altitude air surveillance to spy on foreign enemies

• the entrance and eventual withdrawal from the Korean War

• the development of powerful nuclear weapons, such as the H-bomb

• the increase in interventions in foreign nations to stabilize capitalist regimes

• the application of discriminatory practices like redlining in Black neighborhoods

Which were effects of the growth of the suburbs during the 1950s? Select two correct answers.

• Integrated neighborhoods were early steps toward racial integration.

• High interest rates made mortgages difficult for homeowners to afford.

• There was an increased need for highways and reliance on automobiles.

• Houses and lifestyles were similar, leading critics to bemoan their conformity.

• Suburban neighborhoods led to the revitalization of many Rust Belt communities.

Why did Mao Zedong’s rise to power in 1949 worry American policymakers?

• It put the United States on the brink of nuclear war with communist countries.

• It provided additional satellite states and allies for the Soviet Union to control.

• It threatened the United States’ diplomatic alliances with Western European nations.

• It demonstrated that the containment strategy would face unexpected challenges.

Read the quotation from The Szilard Petition in 1945. Then, answer the question.

The development of atomic power will provide the nations with new means of destruction. The atomic bombs at our disposal represent only the first step in this direction, and there is almost no limit to the destructive power which will become available in the course of their future development. Thus, a nation which sets the precedent of using these newly liberated forces of nature for purposes of destruction may have to bear the responsibility of opening the door to an era of devastation on an unimaginable scale…

• Scientists warned that their effects would be beyond any weapons ever used.

• The use of the atomic weapons would bring about the quick surrender of Japan.

• There was intense political debate concerning the morality of atomic weapons.

• Atomic weapons could unlock clean energy solutions that could power the world.

How did the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, or G.I. Bill of Rights, intend to help veterans adjust to postwar life?

• by completely desegregating the armed services

• by providing access to housing and education

• by ensuring that every veteran was given a white-collar job

• by strengthening healthcare through government insurance

Examine the maps. Then, answer the question.

Based on the map, what conclusion can be drawn about the Korean War?

• China played an important role in determining the war’s outcome.

• North Korean troops were unable to seriously threaten South Korea.

• Borders at the end of the war were identical to the beginning of the war.

• Advances by North and South Korean forces were eventually pushed back.

Who developed a vaccine for polio, which improved the lives of millions of people?

• Chuck Berry

• Jonas Salk

• John Kerouac

• Elvis Presley

What does this map tell you about the purpose of those who created it?

• They wanted to evaluate homes and neighborhoods fairly.

• They wanted to advise consumers about the best places to live.

• They wanted an easy tool to approve or deny mortgage loans.

• They wanted a way to show law enforcement which neighborhoods were not safe.

Which problem was addressed by the establishment of the United Nations?

• the unrestricted spread of communism into Western Europe

• the difficulties the United States had in maintaining neutrality

• the inability of the international community to respond to aggression

• the harsh treatment of Germany immediately following World War I

Who was a white recording artist who popularized rock and roll?

• B.B. King

• Chuck Berry

• Billy Graham

• Elvis Presley