How the GI Bill's Promise Was Denied to a Million Black WWII Vet

Which of the following best describes the text's main idea?

• The GI Bill provided Black veterans with many opportunities to become successful after World War II.

•  Because of the way it was structured, many politicians used the GI Bill as a way to oppress Black veterans.

• The original GI Bill caused controversy by providing Black veterans more opportunities than white veterans.

• While the GI Bill was written for all Americans, Black veterans did not reap the same benefits as white veterans.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

How does paragraph 6 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?

• It details how Southern Democrats knew from the start that the GI Bill could be used to make the racial divide even wider.

• It suggests that after World War II ended, Americans felt badly about the racial discrimination that had previously existed.

• It explains that from the start, certain lawmakers were determined to exclude Black veterans from GI Bill benefits.

• It summarizes the original intentions of the GI Bill by explaining that it was created to benefit Black veterans.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

Which statement best captures the author's point of view in the article/passage?

• "In fact, the wide disparity in the bill's implementation ended up helping drive growing gaps in wealth, education and civil rights between white and Black Americans." (Paragraph 4)

• "It ushered into law sweeping benefits for veterans, including college tuition, low-cost home loans, and unemployment insurance." (Paragraph 9)

• "'These impediments were not confined to the South,' notes historian Ira Katznelson. 'In New York and the northern New Jersey suburbs, fewer than 100 of the 67,000 mortgages insured by the GI bill supported home purchases by non-whites'" (Paragraph 18)

• "'Though Congress granted all soldiers the same benefits theoretically,' writes historian Hilary Herbold, 'the segregationist principles of almost every institution of higher learning effectively disbarred a huge proportion of Black veterans from earning a college degree.'" (Paragraph 22)

What connection does the author draw between the GI Bill and America's history of racism?

• The GI Bill was created to support Black veterans and end the racial divide that held Black Americans back.

• Because of the Jim Crow laws, it was very difficult for Black Americans to join the military and benefit from the GI Bill.

• While it appeared to be beneficial to Black Americans, the GI Bill intensified racism in the United States by widening the economic gap.

• Originally intended to help all Americans veterans, the GI Bill was the first American legislation that had drawbacks for white Americans.

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CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.7.6

How does the author develop their main idea over the course of the text?

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2