U.S History- WWII And Post WWII Period Study Guide With Answers

The line graph shows US defense spending from 1946 to 1968. What happened to US defense spending from 1946 to 1948? It dropped by approximately $30,000 million. Which country launched the first satellite into outer space? the Soviet Union The closest the world came to war during the Cold War was when the Soviet Union placed missiles on the Caribbean island of Cuba. Which of the following resulted from the Vietnam War? Vietnam is united under a Communist government. Support for the containment of Communism lessens. Anti-government feelings spread in the United States. Communism spreads to Laos and Cambodia. Intercontinental ballistic missiles made it possible for a country possessing them to strike targets far away. The line graph shows US defense spending from 1946 to 1968. What happened to US defense spending from 1946 to 1948? It dropped by approximately $30,000 million. The two superpowers that opposed each other during the Cold War were the United States and the Soviet Union In the 1800s, Vietnam was colonized by the European country of France The Vietcong were rebels in South Vietnam who wanted to unify the South and North under a Communist government. The arms race meant that once the United States built hydrogen bombs, the Soviet Union built them too. Read the passage from a speech on Vietnam given by President Nixon in 1969. "For the future of peace, precipitate withdrawal would thus be a disaster of immense magnitude. —A nation cannot remain great if it betrays its allied and lets down its friends. —Our defeat and humiliation in South Vietnam without question would promote recklessness in the councils of those great powers who have not yet abandoned their goals of world conquest. —This would spark violence wherever our commitments help maintain the peace—in the Middle East, in Berlin, eventually even in the Western Hemisphere . . . For these reasons, I rejected the recommendation that I should end the war by immediately withdrawing all of our forces." —President Richard Nixon Address to the nation Nov. 3, 1969 What foreign policy direction does the President say the United States should follow? The US should not withdraw from Vietnam, because that would cause problems elsewhere. Which Cold War event happened last? The Vietnam War ends The line graph shows US defense spending from 1946 to 1968. What happened to US defense spending from 1946 to 1948? It dropped by approximately $30,000 million Read this passage about the partition of Korea. "The partition of Korea into two zones dominates the political and economic life of the peninsular. The division of Korea at the 38th parallel has turned into a hard and fast boundary which cuts off all intercourse between the northern and southern halves of the country, except for the exchange of mail and the transfer of surplus electric power from North to South Korea." -The Situation in Korea, 1947 Report The passage says that the partition of Korea divided the country, both in its political and economic life. Tensions rose as the two opposing superpowers competed for weapons The Korean War began in 1950 when the Communist North attacked the non-Communist South In what way did the political situation in Vietnam resemble that of Korea in the 1950s? Both Vietnam and Korea were divided into a Communist North and a non-Communist South. What was the name of the theory that said that if one country in a region fell to Communism, others would surely follow? domino theory How did the Soviet's win at Stalingrad help advance the Allies' Europe First strategy? It enabled the Soviets to push the eastern front toward Germany. Which best describes why the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan? Japan refused to surrender after the first bomb was dropped. The most likely reason why President Truman ordered the atomic bomb dropped on Japan was to force Japan to surrender to the Allies. Which strategies did the United States employ in order to achieve victory in the Pacific? Check all that apply. -island-hopping -bombing Which is true about the battle of Iwo Jima? Allies killed almost all of the Japanese soldiers. How do the terms Omaha, Sword, and Utah relate to the Battle of Normandy? They are code names for the sections of Normandy Beach that were attacked. Who was the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II? Dwight D. Eisenhower Which best explains why the Allies employed the Europe First strategy during World War II? The Allies wanted to ensure that Germany did not continue to conquer European territory. Did D-Day ultimately end German ambitions in Europe? No, the Germans continued fighting and attempted offensive measures. Which battles were Allied victories in the Pacific campaign? -Iwo Jima -Okinawa -Hiroshima In 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact in which they agreed to divide up . Poland Which best describes the policy of appeasement followed by Great Britain and France in the 1930s? allowing Germany to take aggressive steps in hopes of maintaining peace A "blitz" is different from a "blitzkrieg" because only a "blitz" relies exclusively on air power. What caused Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany in 1939? the invasion of Poland What is the best definition of a "blitzkrieg"? rapid invasion by air and land How were Soviet troops different from French and Polish troops? Soviet troops refused to retreat or surrender. Why did Hitler most likely assume he could annex Austria and Czechoslovakia? He believed that Great Britain and France would choose not to respond to his actions. Which country was a member of the Axis powers? Japan Which aggressive action did Germany take in the 1930s? annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia Hitler was confident about invading Russia because he had recently captured France. What was Benito Mussolini's attitude toward personal liberties? The state should decide which personal liberties were needed. How were the governments of Japan and Italy similar in the 1930s? Both used extreme nationalism to win support. Both began programs of aggressive expansion. When did military rulers take control in Japan? during the Great Depression How does a totalitarian government differ from most authoritarian governments? It is more extreme and rigid. Why did Japanese soldiers kill so many civilians in Nanking, China? Commanders encouraged their soldiers to be as brutal as possible. How did Benito Mussolini attempt to increase Italy's power? by seizing control of new land Who was Francisco Franco? the fascist dictator of Spain How did the secret police in a totalitarian government most likely get their name? The police investigated and punished people with no warning. How was the rebellion in Spain different from that in Italy? The new Spanish ruler seized power without popular support from citizens. What actions characterize authoritarian governments? -Leaders often seize power by illegitimate means. -A single leader or a very powerful group rules. -Leaders refuse to tolerate dissenting views. Who fought on the side of the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War? international volunteers When Benito Mussolini came into power, he promised to solve Italy's economic problems. What is the most likely reason that Italy and Germany supported the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War? Italy and Germany wanted to promote the spread of fascism. What happened when Spain's government could not overcome social and economic problems during the Great Depression? The army led a rebellion against the government. Why were idealistic supporters of the Nazi party willing to endorse Hitler's annexation of Austria? They wanted a quick return to the former power and glory of Germany. Read this quotation from Winston Churchill. "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." What does Churchill mean by his use of the word "dishonor"? Reproach The Third Reich based its power primarily on fear. Six months after the Munich Conference, Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia. What issue caused German citizens to be willing to accept new leadership? the lack of job availability What was one aspect of Racial Purity laws? Marriages between Germans and Jews were prohibited. Hitler most likely forced Jews to wear a yellow star so that Jews could be identified and arrested more easily. Based upon an understanding of Nazi Germany and Hitler's tactics, what is most likely to happen under totalitarian rule? People lose their civil rights. What was the original purpose of the SS? to intimidate the German population When Hitler assumed control of the Nazi party, he immediately began enforcing his personal nationalistic and racist views. Appeasement was a popular policy because European leaders wanted to avoid another war. Hitler can be described as a fanatical despot because he worshiped force and despised persuasion. Under Nazi rule, the university curriculum was changed to place the most emphasis on history How did the Great Purge demonstrate Joseph Stalin's paranoia? The purge targeted those who might challenge Stalin's power. Joseph Stalin placed a high value on motherhood because he wanted women to produce more workers. Altering photographs was part of Joseph Stalin's effort to change historical facts. Which of these statements accurately describes Joseph Stalin? He restricted citizens' personal rights and freedoms. He held absolute power as a totalitarian dictator. What was the main reason Joseph Stalin created collective farms? Soviet farms were old-fashioned and inefficient. The NKVD was part of Stalin's secret police force. The "Young Pioneers" was the name of a communist youth organization. What motivated Joseph Stalin to persecute writers, scholars, and scientists? Stalin feared they might spread ideas that went against the Soviet government. Joseph Stalin believed he needed absolute authority in the USSR in order to unite the country and make it strong. Why did the transition to collectivization result in widespread starvation? Peasants were not allowed to keep food until they met government quotas. By 1935, the proportion of women workers in the USSR's workforce was two in every five. In addition to factory work, many women in the USSR were employed in healthcare and education. Under Joseph Stalin, schools were reformed primarily to emphasize Soviet ideology. Why did the Kulak class, in particular, oppose collectivization? They were wealthier than other peasants and therefore had the most to lose. If the USSR's economy had remained agriculture-based rather than industrialized, then women would have been much less in demand in the workforce. What was Joseph Stalin's goal in creating a command economy? to outproduce capitalist nations Which aspect of the postwar era did jazz's liveliness, looseness, and improvisation most reflect? uncertainty This is Salvador Dalí's The Persistence of Memory. Which statement best describes how this image reflects Albert Einstein's theory of relativity? Perception of time is not universal. What version of reality did Pablo Picasso and other cubists represent in their paintings? a fragmented version In the postwar era, the increased availability and affordability of cars most facilitated which social change? the growth of suburbs What did Einstein believe regarding human perception? What humans perceive with their senses is not always true. Which type of music most influenced the emergence of jazz in the postwar era? spirituals How did the modern art movement, which emerged in the postwar period, reflect changes in scientific theory? Both questioned the way people examined the world. How did World War I change women's roles in the United States? Women replaced men in the workforce. As proved by the transatlantic flights of Lindbergh and Earhart, postwar airplanes were engineered to fly for greater distances After World War I, how did new theories about science differ from past ideas? New theories aimed to provide hope through science. After World War I, how did the US economy compare to that of Germany? The US economy was stronger. To pay reparations after World War I, Germany printed more money. The term "on margin" means paying the down payment on an asset and borrowing the balance. During the Great Depression, the United States demanded repayment of loans it made to European nations for World War I expenses. In which way did Great Britain's leaders try to recover from the Great Depression? by lowering interest rates to help business In France, how did Socialists attempt to fight the effects of the Great Depression? They passed worker reforms. After the Great Depression, France could best be described as politically unstable. Immediately following World War I, the economy in the United States prospered. The US economy after World War I relied in large part on construction. The global economic crisis following World War I was caused by unpaid WWI debts. Which were included among the "Three Principles of the People"? -democracy -socialism What best describes the "Three Principles of the People"? Sun Yat-sen's ideas for governing China What was most surprising about the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War? The Nationalist Party and the Communist Party formerly were aligned. As Chinese leader, what did Mao Zedong accomplish? He redistributed land in the countryside to farmers. Which statement accurately describes China after the Civil War? The island of Taiwan became known as the Republic of China. Who supported the Nationalist Party in the Chinese Civil War? the United States During World War II, what happened between the Communists and Nationalists in China? Both sides agreed to stop fighting each other until World War II ended. What contributed to the downfall of China's republic? China's presidents did not have enough power. What is the current state of relations between the Communists and Nationalists in China? The civil war between the two parties has never truly ended. What was the effect on China of the Boxer Rebellion? It led China to the verge of collapse. Why did support from people in the Chinese countryside help the Communists more than support from people in the cities helped the Nationalists? In the cities, people had mixed feelings about which side to support, so they did not present a united front. As a result of the Long March, China's Communist Party grew stronger and more determined. What is the most likely reason Chiang Kai-shek was able to rule as a dictator? China was ready for a powerful leader after chaos at the end of the republic. The large part of China controlled by the Communist Party is the Mainland If the outcome of the Civil War had been different, how would that most likely have affected China? Unrest might have continued in much of the country because so many people supported the Communists. What is a warlord? a military leader who rules a small area by force Why was the Nationalist Party more popular in China's cities than in the countryside? Wealthy people who supported the party were concentrated in cities. Which of the following did the Revolution of 1911 achieve in China? The Revolution of 1911 established a republic. The Revolution of 1911 ended imperialist rule. The Revolution of 1911 ended European influence. During World War I, the Russian army was large but ill prepared to fight. What do the symbols on the Communist Party flag represent? the urban workers and peasants Which is the best definition of communism? Communism is an economic system in which the distribution of property and resources is primarily controlled by the government. Introduced in Russia after 1917, the system in which a government controls the distribution of land and resources is known as . Communism In the early 1900s, after the Bolsheviks began to rule Russia, the fight for power resulted in a three-year civil war. How did Rasputin affect the relationship between the government and the people of Russia? Rasputin was a faith healer who had undue influence over the tsarina and the government, which many Russian citizens resented. A tsar was a Russian leader in the early 1900s who was similar to a King While many Russian soldiers were on the front during World War I, most of those who remained behind responded to the February Revolution by joining the riots instead of stopping them. In what year did the February and October revolutions occur in Russia? 1917 Who was Vladimir Lenin? He was a leader of the Bolsheviks in Russia. Who was the last tsar to rule Russia? Nicholas II Why did thousands of Russian citizens march on St. Petersburg in 1905? They marched to demand better working conditions, more personal freedoms, and greater representation in government. In the early 1920s, Lenin established the New Economic Policy, which reversed earlier changes and gave the economy a boost. What was one consequence of the October Revolution? The Bolsheviks ended Russia's involvement in World War I. Which term best describes government in Russia after the Communists took power? single-party How did most Russian citizens make a living in the early 1900s? Most Russians were peasants who worked on farms for very little money. In the early 1900s, the Bolsheviks of Russia worked to bring about a new socialist government. As the Bolsheviks took control of the Soviet economy, they determined which jobs workers would hold and where workers would live. Which of these was a result of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? Russia's withdrawal from the war Which statement describes the strategy Germany followed after Russia withdrew from the war? Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare to cut off supplies going to the Allies. The League of Nations was created after the Paris Peace Conference, at which the Treaty of Versailles had been negotiated. What was one of the primary aims of the League of Nations? to promote international cooperation When reparations were forced on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles, this demonstrated that the Allies wanted to punish Germany and keep it weak The graph shows the results of German submarine warfare in early 1917. What is the best conclusion that can be drawn from this graph? Germany was stepping up its efforts to stop goods from reaching the Allies. Russia signed the Treaty of ____ in order to withdraw from World War I and focus all of its resources in the west. Brest-Litovsk In saying that he wanted "peace without victory," President Wilson demonstrated that he was a(n) idealist Read an excerpt from President Wilson's speech asking Congress to declare war on Germany. It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for things which we have always carried nearest to our hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own Governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. What is the main reason the United States entered the war, according to Wilson? Wilson believed that the United States is determined to protect democratic ideals. Which factor was most important in enabling Russia to fight in World War I for as long as it did? a large supply of soldiers The Zimmerman Telegram suggested that Mexico ally itself with Germany against the United States. What did the telegram convince Congress to do? declare war on Germany In 1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles. Did the treaty reflect Wilson's vision of "peace without victory"? Why or why not? No. The other Allies wanted to punish Germany harshly for its actions.