DQ: 37.

Besides Brown v Board of Education and the Montgomery bus boycott, which were the most
important breakthroughs in civil rights and race relations of the late 1940s and 1950s?

I. Thesis: Despite protests from southern communities to comply to the integration of

whites and blacks, ultimately it was the fundamental institution of Federal
government intervention and law enforcement that made events such as the crisis at
Little Rock powerful enough to eliminate segregation and establish racial equality.

II. Since their existence in America, those of African descent have been dehumanized
and oppressed for their exterior qualities.
A. During America’s emergence as a nation, Africans were imported to act as slaves
and fulfill the labor that was needed to maintain the economy.
1. Africans were looked upon as inferior to the white men for their skin
color and consequently, were put to use as a work tool instead of a
human being.
B. Slavery continued in America up until the end of the Civil War in 1865.
1. When American’s realized the humanity in African Americans, they
began to look down upon the ideals of slavery.
1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by African American writer, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, shed light upon the harsh realities of slavery.
2. The nation split into slavery and anti-slavery states (generally, the
industrial north and agricultural south because of economic
standards).
3. Ultimately, the north’s efforts to abolish slavery prevailed.
C. The government passed laws and regulations that called for the equal treatment of
Africans Americans- especially in the south- during a period known as the
Reconstruction Era.
1. Regardless of the civil rights acts, whites still looked down upon blacks
for their economic and social turmoil and thus did not adhere to treating
them with dignity and equality.
2. Although suffrage was granted to African American men, many whites
intended to provoke fear amongst the African American men so as to
intimidate them into not voting.
1. Additionally, poll taxes as well as literacy tests were instituted to
further prevent blacks from placing their votes.
3. In the case Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that separate but
equal facilities among blacks and whites was constitutional.
1. In other words, this case legalized segregation.
4. Ultimately, the aftermath and conditions following the Civil War only
further aggravated oppression toward African Americans as seen
through their public treatment as well as through the rise in fear instilled
through the rise in activity amongst groups such as the KKK.
III. The period of the late 1940’s and 1950’s proved to be a time of social transformation
in regards to racial equality as the Federal government made the institution of civil
rights a priority.
A. The failures to instill social equality throughout the South during the
Reconstruction era draws its sources from the government’s failures to enforce
and regulate the acts passed that would ensure African Americans their rights and
protection.
B. Following the events of World War II, African Americans once again began to
demand their desire for equality as they had fought alongside whites in defending
the country.
C. While there were indeed activists who openly fought for civil rights such as Rosa
Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a public bus, ultimately, although her
efforts were impactful, she was sent to jail because she was not backed up by the
government.
D. Similarly, despite the Supreme Court ruling against Plessy v. Ferguson through
the case, Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, that “separate but
equal” was unconstitutional, the South still refused integration because the
government did not enforce a consequence to those who did not abide by it.
E. Therefore, when the government finally took an entirely active role in ensuring
support of African American Civil Rights through their involvement during the
crisis at Little Rock, they proved to be immediately successful.
1. In September 1957, nine African American students applied at Little
Rock Central High School in Arkansas, a primarily white school.
2. Orval Faubus, governor of Arkansas tried to prevent their enrollment but
the National Guard stepped in and sent troops to escort the black
students to their classes.
3. This was essentially important in demonstrating to Southern
communities the seriousness of integration.
F. Following, legislators reenacted the Civil Rights acts and deemed that
interference with these rights by anyone would submit one to a punishable federal
crime.
G. Ultimately, government intervention showed the importance of immediate
integration and acceptance.

IV. Conclusion
 Jennifer Young

DQ: 37.2

Question: How did America’s far-flung international responsibilities shape the U.S. economy
and society in the Eisenhower era? Was the American way of life fundamentally altered by the
nation’s new superpower status, or did it remain largely sheltered from world affairs?

I. Thesis: Although Eisenhower was known for ending the war, it was because the US
become the newly-acquired world power that changed America’s focus to live up to
being an international police while keeping them out of more wars.

II. After the war, the US was on top and had to live up to their new world power status
a. The Suez crisis in Egypt
i. Egypt needed money to build a dam and appealed to both the Soviets and
US with Britain
ii. Seeing Egypt communicating with the Soviets, made the US withdraw,
which nationalized the dam
iii. When Britain, France and Israel attacked Egypt in 1956, they expected the
US to support them with oil supply
1. They didn’t, forcing them to withdraw
2. It was hard for the US to look out for themselves while supporting
other nations as well
b. Latin American affairs
i. Latin American held a grudge against the US for giving Europe more
money
ii. In Cuba in 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew US-supported Fulgencio Batista
and began taking US properties for a land-distribution program
1. US cut off heavy imports of Cuban sugar
2. Castro confiscated more property
iii. 1961, US breaks off diplomatic relations with Cuba
iv. Krushchev threatened to launch missiles at the US if they attacked Cuba
1. Eisenhower proposes the Marshal Plan, giving $500 million to the
area
2. Latin Americans felt it was too little and too late
c. The US struggled to balance their responsibilities of being a world power while
protecting their own interests first
i. International affairs provided challenges for the US

III. Despite now having to help other nations, the US still wanted to remain out of
international wars
a. He loathed McCarthy who started the red chase in 1950
i. But he couldn’t do anything about it because most of Americans believed
it
ii. It created unrest within the US with the fear of communism going around
iii. Renewed the enemy-attitude with the Soviets
 b. The Vietnam War
i. Einstein wanted to stay out of it, keeping the US out of more wars
ii. But the US began to oppose Ho Chi Minh when he became increasingly
communist
c. The USSR formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955 to counteract NATO
i. NATO was the alliance the US was involved in
1. An attack on one allianced nation was an attack on all
d. The Cold War began to thaw a little bit
i. Eisenhower pushed for a reduction of arms
ii. Soviets were cooperative
1. Krushchev publicly denounced Stalin’ brutality

IV. Conclusion
 Christine Co
DQ: 37.3
Question: How did television and other innovations of the consumer age affect American politics,
society, and culture in the 1950’s?
I. Thesis: Due to the new outbreaks in popular consumer products such as the television and
new genres of music, the American public was able to be more in touch with political
issues and became more united in what would be called the American culture

II. Television played a big role in spreading political issues to common families and
households throughout the country and impacted the opinions of the American
population
a. Kennedy v. Nixon television debates
i. The two presidential candidates competed against each other in several
nationally televised debates
1. Made it more convenient for people to get to know the candidates
more on a somewhat more personal level
2. Exposed new key features that cannot be exposed on radio
a. Expressions, candidates’ way of presenting themselves, etc
b. Other televised events
i. Checkers Speech: Nixon spoke against his family but pleaded for
forgiveness on public television afterward
ii. President Eisenhower went into studio to do a question and answer video
in front of a “live audience”
1. Such acts prevented the influence of political party machines
because politicians were able to appeal directly to the people

III. The breakout of rock and roll music not only strengthened the unity of the youth, but also
created a new type of teenager culture
a. Elvis Presley lead the rock and roll culture and altered the mindsets of those
following after him
i. Altered music by creating a fusion of black and white music
1. “White man with a black voice”
2. A factor for the increase of immodest sexual acts and a new sense
of teenage culture, because majority of the baby boom generation
now listened to a genre of music not formerly adopted by their
parents
ii. Became a catalyst to the Civil Rights Act
1. Youth became more united and wanted to spread it to everyone
IV. Conclusion
 Corvin Macapinlac
DQ: 38.1

What successes and failures did Kennedy’s New Frontier experience at home and abroad?

I. Thesis: Although he did not fulfill his entire term due to assassination, Kennedy
experienced both success and failure as he attempted to meet the challenges of the
nation’s current circumstances through his program which he called “The New
Frontier.”

II. Succeeding the events of the Cold War, Kennedy hoped to revitalize the American
people through the improvement of current social and economic conditions as well as
the advancement of sciences.
A. The 50’s constituted a time in which the nation was made weary by the troubles
of successive wars and other foreign problems.
i. When President Kennedy was elected, the public anticipated that his
vibrant spirit and vigor would refresh America and get it back on its feet.
ii. Kennedy’s plan, The New Frontier, was not a solution. Rather, it was a
call to action for the American people to move forward and face their
present circumstances head on.
B. From the start, Kennedy was faced with difficulty as he hoped to institute rather
bold and immediate changes.
i. Kennedy underwent hardships trying to pass his acts since the legislative
branch was comprised mostly of conservative republicans and democrats.
ii. Ultimately, several of Kennedy’s intended acts were not passed.
C. One of Kennedy’s first goals was to protect the consumer.
i. The president made the point of controlling monopoly prices so as to keep
the prices of companies stable and prevent inflation.
ii. This, in turn, prevented consumers from paying more than what something
is worth.
iii. However, this arrangement made Kennedy unpopular with big businesses
such as steel management which immediately began to raise prices.
D. Also, in order to stimulate the economy, Kennedy planned to cut prices through
his tax-cut bill.
E. Another point Kennedy addressed was to make assist individuals in regard to
finances.
i. The Housing Act of 1961 helped in clearing slums.
ii. The Minimum Wage Act of 1961 raised the minimum hourly wage to
$1.25.
iii. Social security was extended to children of unemployed as well as those
who are retired.
F. Perhaps, Kennedy’s biggest success was his plan to get Americans to the moon.
i. Many people objected to this experiment saying that not only was it
impossible, but the money could be better put to other uses.
 ii. Kennedy proved them wrong when Americans landed on the moon and
ultimately raised American sprit and hopefulness for a more innovative
future.

III. While it seemed that for the most part, Kennedy’s efforts paid off at home, his
international aims seemed to fall flat especially regarding relations with the Soviet
Union and Cuba.
A. Kennedy desired good relations among foreign nations.
i. In order to act upon this, he established the Peace Corps which would
provide international aid to underdeveloped countries.
ii. He also developed the Alliance for Progress which would provide health
and educational aid to those in Latin America.
B. Attempting to establish peace with the Soviet Union, Kennedy sat down with
Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev in Vienna.
i. Ultimately, the Soviet Union did not agree with Kennedy’s plans.
C. Tension with Cuba arose after incidents including the Bay of Pigs invasion and
the Cuban Missile Crisis.
i. Americans discovered missiles pointed at the United States in Cuba which
raised the possibility of nuclear warfare.
ii. America was not in good terms with Cuba.

IV. Conclusion
 Jennifer Young

DQ: 38.2

Question: When the Democratic Party tore itself apart over the Vietnam War and other issues in
the late 1960s, the winner proved to be the forces of an emerging conservatism led by Richard
Nixon and George Wallace. How and why did conservatism emerge so rapidly from the
seemingly devastating Goldwater defeat in the election of 1964?

I. Thesis: Although Johnson won the election against Barry Goldwater, he ended up
being stuck in the Vietnam War that was dividing the nation.

II. In 1964, LBJ opposed Goldwater in the presidential election and Johnson won.
a. Goldwater attacked:
i. the federal income tax
ii. the Social Security system
iii. Tennessee Valley Authority
iv. Civil rights legislation
v. Nuclear test-ban treaty
vi. The Great Society
b. LBJ focused on the Tonkin Gulf Incident
i. North Vietnamese ships fired on American ships
ii. To attack Vietnam he got approval for the Tonkin Gulf Resolution
1. gave him a blank check for what he could do in Vietnam
c. Led into the US being involved with Vietnam and the Vietnam war

III. The Vietnam War was breaking the United States apart.
a. Americans were conflicted on whether or not the US should be involved in
Vietnam
b. War Hawks vs. Doves
i. War hawks supported the Vietnam war
ii. Doves were anti-war and wanted peace
iii. The two sides clashed
c. In 1966 the French leader Charles de Gaulle ordered NATO off French soil
d. In the Six-Day War, Israel defeated Egypt and gained territory
e. In the US, there were lost of protest against the War and the draft
f. Johnson ordered the CIA to spy on domestic antiwar activists and encouraged the
FBI to use its Cointelpro against the peace movement
i. Further deepening the US involvement in Vietnam
g. The US was trapped in the war and couldn’t get out, upsetting the public
h. Johnson loses the election of 1968
i. Becayse on March 31, 1968 he declared that he would stop sending troops
to Vietnam and that he would not run
ii. Nixon won the election against Wallace and LBJ

IV. Conclusion
 Christine Co
DQ: 38.3
Question: What were Johnson’s major domestic achievements, and why did they come to be
overshadowed?
I. Thesis: President Johnson successfully minimized the segregation in America and
granted more rights for more citizens, but his achievements in the home front were
overpowered by the huge unpopularity on the intervention in Vietman

II. Johnson reached a step closer to uniting America and providing more of the people’s
needs
a. Civil Rights Act
i. The fight for racial equality heightened; more people contributed in the
fight for civil rights for everyone
1. Boycotts and groups against segregation took place
a. Freedom Riders – chartered buses and traveled around to
spread the popularity to end segregation
b. SNCC – peaceful group of youths to encourage the rights
for South’s blacks to vote
c. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) –
aimed at eliminating discriminatory hiring
2. Civil rights leaders
a. Martin Luther King Jr – peaceful campaign against
discrimination
b. Malcolm X and Stokley Carmicheal – Aggressive leaders
fighting for civil rights “by whatever means necessary”
b. Education and Medical improvements
i. Gave more money directly to students (FAFSA and other government
grants and loans)
ii. Medicare and Medicaid
1. Gave certain rights to the elderly to benefit them medically and
helped them more in terms of medicine and health maintenance.

III. Johnson’s decision to help Vietnam brought his popularity down

a. Protests were held against the war in Vietnam and the draft
i. Doves and Hawks – Doves were peace lovers, Hawks were war supporters
ii. International relations also worsened due to the war
b. Battles against communist North Vietnam were lost which also hurt the popularity
of Johnson
i. Tet Offensive – South Vietnam broke the ceasefire during lunar new year
(Tet)
1. Results:
 a. US won, but they realized the communist side was much
stronger than what they expected and
b. The US exposed a side of them that they did not want to
show
c. American public did not support the war effort even more
and were unhappy with the results
2. Johnson decided to end the escalation of US involvement

IV. Conclusion
 Corvin Macapinlac
DQ: 39.1

How and why did the United States become increasingly involved in the political and economic
affairs of the Middle East during the 1970s?

I. Thesis: Despite the United States’ ability to establish peace amongst the nations of
the Middle East, the sole purpose of American involvement in the political and
economic affairs of the area during the 1970’s was due to their initial reliance on its
supply of oil.

II. The introduction of automobiles into the American standard of life raised consumer
demand for oil.
A. The establishment of the assembly line and separate parts gave way to
the mass production of automobiles.
1. The wide availability of automobiles made it possible for average
families to have at least one per household.
2. Cars made transportation easier and allowed for settlement in
otherwise obscure areas around major cities.
3. Thus, the institution of cars in the standards of American life
stimulated the economy in that it provided convenience.
B. Usage of cars called for a greater need on oil.
C. America does not have a large natural supply of oil, the largest amount
being in Alaska.
D. Consequently, Americans were forced to depend on importing oil from
foreign nations, especially those in the Middle East where an abundance
of oil can be found.
E. For this reason, the United States makes certain to maintain a good
relationship with Middle Eastern countries so as to uphold the commerce
of oil into the nation.

III. The United States increases its involvement in Middle Eastern affairs during the
1970’s to protect its source of oil.
A. After the United States had supported Israel in its war against Syria and
Egypt, the Arab nations imposed an oil embargo which strictly limited
oil in America.
1. In order to adjust to this crisis, America set a maximum speed limit
of 55 MPH (to conserve oil) as well as that because of drastic
measures, it was approved for the harvesting of the oil fields in
Alaska.
2. The Organization of Petroleum Countries lifted the embargo in
1974 but then raised the price of oil by four times as much.

B. In 1979, Iran’s shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi was overthrown by

Ayatollah Ruhollah Knomeini.
 1. Immediately, Iran stopped exporting oil and the OPEC raised oil
prices once again.
2. Americans returned to a state of crisis since the oil powered not
only cars at this point but many industrial works.
3. Americans thus, began to instill a more conservative approach
toward available resources.
a. Government encouraged saving energy and being mindful
to not waste fuel.

IV. Conclusion
 Jennifer Young

DQ: 39.2

Question: Was the Nixon-Kissinger foreign policy of détente with the Soviet Union and
engagement with Communist China fundamentally a great success? What were its major
accomplishments, and what were its limitations?

I. Thesis: Although Americans were divided in the United States’ involvement in

Vietnam, Nixon was able to “thaw” the Cold War by lessening tensions with
communist nations.

II. Americans were being ripped apart by the war in Vietnam and the Cold War
a. The involvement in Vietnam was dividing the Americans
i. Taking office, Nixon urged American’s to cooperate
b. China and the Soviet Union were clashing over interpretations of Marxism
i. Nixon took advantage of this
c. Wanted to establish “détente” which was a relaxing of tensions and an attempt to
thaw the Cold War
i. Sent national security adviser, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger to China
1. to encourage better relations
2. it succeeded
ii. traveled to Moscow in 1972
1. The Soviets were scared of a possible US-China alliance against
the USSR
2. made deals with American, where the US would sell the Soviets at
least $750 million worth of food (wheat, corn and other cereals)
d. Accomplished a period of détente and relaxed tensions

III. The Nixon-Kissinger policy of détente was able to thaw the Cold War for the most
part, but it didn’t solve the US’ issues
a. Secret bombing of Cambodia
i. It was discovered that there were secret bombing raids of North
Vietnamese forces in Cambodia
1. Despite federal assurances to the US public that Cambodia’s
neutrality was being respected
2. People began to question the government and distrust it
b. Unfortunately, in 1975, South Vietnam lost to the communist North
i. American troops had to be evacuated
ii. April 29, 1975 ended the US role in the Vietnam War

IV. Conclusion
 Christine Co
DQ: 39.3
Question: In what ways were the foreign policy and economic issues of the 1970s similar to
those of the whole post—World War II era, and in what ways were they different (see Chapters
36, 37 and 38)?

I. Thesis: The World War II economic issues were positive and the foreign policy was
much stronger, but by the 1970’s it switched places with the foreign policy loose and
the economy weaker.

II. Times during and after World War II were prosperous for the United States, but they
were very tough on its foreign policy due to the war.
a. War time effort
i. Economy shot up because all resources were being used in order to
accommodate war equipment, the soldiers, and the civilians
1. Agriculture was useful more than ever – overproduction was not an
issue anymore
2. Cars were a booming business because it was affordable for the
middle class
3. People supported the war and helped with the production of
products
b. Foreign policies
i. Roosevelt Corollary – Strengthened the Big Sister Policy in Latin America
which made the US more concerned about Latin America issues
ii. Immigration was stricter due to the threat of terrorists or enemies coming
in
iii. Military was used to make sure no upbringings were caused after the war

III. Although the 1970’s loosened the foreign policies in some areas, Asian territory was
watched even more and the US economy worsened
a. Stagnant economy
i. Inflation dramatically increased
ii. More women and teens were getting hired who did not have as much skill
as the men
iii. Machinery and US regulations limited growth as well
iv. 1978 – Carter got an $18 billion tax cut
1. Nonetheless, economy continued going downhill
b. The foreign issues concentrated on Asia were tight but started to get less intense,
and the foreign policies elsewhere were getting better
i. Peace accords at Camp David
 1. Between Israel Prime Minister and Egypt president with Carter
mediating
a. His greatest foreign policy success
ii. Détente, the thawing of the Cold War
1. Henry Kissinger was sent to China to encourage better relations
2. ABM Treaty and SALT lessened tension with the USSR
IV. Conclusion