Chapter 16 - The Truman and Eisenhower Years (SSUSH 20)

SSUSH 20a - How did the Marshall Plan intend to discourage the spread of communism in Europe?

• by joining Europe nations together into the European Union

• by restoring economic stability to the nations of Western Europe

• by providing military assistance to France, Great Britain, and Italy

• by establishing freely elected governments in Poland and Czechoslovakia

Answer explanation

The Marshall Plan aimed to restore economic stability in Western Europe, which would reduce the appeal of communism by promoting prosperity and democratic governance, making it less likely for countries to turn to communist ideologies.

SSUSH 20a - Which statement BEST describes the outcome of the Korean War (1950-1953)?

• North Korea made minor gains in the South but lost territory in the North of China

• A majority of North Koreans fled southward, causing a collapse of North Korea

• North and South Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel, just as they had been before the war

• Korea was reunited under a coalition government consisting of both Northerners and Southerners

Answer explanation

The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, leaving North and South Korea divided at the 38th parallel, maintaining the pre-war status quo. This choice accurately reflects the war's outcome.

SSUSH 20b - Which of the following was one of the main causes of American economic prosperity in the 1950s?

• Increased domestic demand for electrical appliances and cars

• Reconstruction of war-torn areas of the United States

• Rapid settlement of the Great Plains

• Increased immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe

Answer explanation

In the 1950s, increased domestic demand for electrical appliances and cars fueled economic growth, as consumer spending rose significantly, leading to a boom in manufacturing and job creation.

SSUSH 20b - Which benefits did the GI Bill provide to veterans returning from World War II?

• free medical care and a special retirement plan

• low-interest mortgages and a bonus payment after five years

• low-interest mortgages and payments towards high school, vocational school, or higher education

• a guaranteed job and payments towards high school, vocational school, or higher education

Answer explanation

The GI Bill provided veterans with low-interest mortgages to help them buy homes and covered payments for education, including high school, vocational, and higher education, facilitating their reintegration into civilian life.

SSUSH 20c - Why were many Americans alarmed by the launch of Sputnik into space?

• it demonstrated Soviet missiles capabilities

• it showed that the Soviets were winning the space race

• it enabled the Soviets to spy on everyday Americans

• it used advanced technologies taken from the United States

Answer explanation

Many Americans were alarmed by Sputnik because it was perceived as a tool for the Soviets to potentially spy on the U.S., raising fears about national security and the implications of Soviet technological advancements.

SSUSH 20a - Which statement BEST explains the reason for US intervention in the Korean War?

• The United States wanted to defend South Korea from communist aggression

• The United States wanted to overturn the communist government of China

• The United States feared another Japanese conquest of the Korean peninsula

• The United States wanted to import inexpensive Korean manufactured goods

Answer explanation

The United States intervened in the Korean War primarily to defend South Korea from communist aggression, as part of its broader strategy to contain communism during the Cold War.

SSUSH 20a: Use the timeline to answer the question.

Which foreign policy did American leaders follow in response to these events?

• imperialism

• isolationism

• containment

• détente

Answer explanation

American leaders followed the policy of containment in response to events during the Cold War, aiming to prevent the spread of communism rather than engaging in direct conflict or isolation.

SSUSH 20b: Use the map to answer the question.

Caption: Roads created by the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act.

What was an important impact of these roads on the United States?

• State control of immigration routes has increased

• Travel and commerce between states became easier and faster than before

• Towns bypassed by the interstate system grew faster than those on the highways

• Increased traffic made it more difficult to move troops around the country

Answer explanation

The National Interstate and Defense Highways Act significantly improved travel and commerce by creating a network of highways, making it easier and faster for people and goods to move between states.

SSUSH 20b: Use this 1947 comic book cover to answer the question.

Which American leader MOST exploited the fears illustrated by this cover?

• President Harry Truman

• Julius Rosenberg

• Senator Joseph McCarthy

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Answer explanation

Senator Joseph McCarthy most exploited the fears illustrated by the comic book cover, as he led the charge against alleged communists in the U.S. during the Red Scare, using fear to gain political power.

SSUSH 20a: Examine the excerpt to answer the question.

What threat was President Truman referring to in this speech?

• a regional war between India and Pakistan

• the spread of communism to Greece and Turkey

• Communist infiltration of U.S. State Department

• Vietnamese resistance to French postwar imperialism

Answer explanation

President Truman was addressing the threat of communism spreading to Greece and Turkey, which was a significant concern during the early Cold War, as these nations were at risk of falling under Soviet influence.