TAKS BELLRINGERS

1. U.S. History TAKS BELLRINGERS

2. TAKS Objective 1: (US1A) identify the major eras in U.S. history from 1877 to the present and describe their defining characteristics TAKS Objective 1: (US1A)

3. Selected Government Reforms • Federal income tax • Direct election of senators • Child labor laws • Initiative, referendum, and recall All of the reforms in the box were enacted during — A Reconstruction B the Progressive Era C the Great Depression D World War II Which of the following best describes events in the United States during the Great Depression? F Japanese Americans were detained in internment camps. G The economy collapsed, and millions of people became unemployed. H Fears about communism led to the imprisonment of many people. J The government passed laws that eliminated poverty and discrimination.

4. We will not submit to the prosperity that is obtained by lowering the wages of working men and charging an excessive price to consumers, nor to that other kind of prosperity obtained by swindling investors or getting unfair advantages over business rivals. — President Theodore Roosevelt, August 6, 1912 President Theodore Roosevelt made this statement during which historical period? F The Progressive Era G The Gilded Age H Reconstruction J The Great Depression

5. What is the best title for this diagram? F Events of the Cold War G Events of the Great Depression H Events of the Roaring Twenties J Events of the Civil Rights Era

6. Objective 1: H.1 (B) apply absolute and relative chronology through the sequencing of significant individuals, events, and time periods Which of the following lists is in the correct sequence? A Great Depression Cold War Gilded Age World War I B World War I Cold War Great Depression Gilded Age C Gilded Age World War I Great Depression Cold War D Cold War Great Depression Gilded Age World War

7. Which statement best completes the sequence of events listed below? A The Japanese suffer a major defeat at Midway. B The Japanese surrender on board a U.S. battleship. C The United States initiates an oil embargo against Japan D The U.S. government apologizes for the internment of Japanese Americans.

8. Which of the following lists the historical eras shown above in the correct chronological order? A 1, 3, 2, 4 B 4, 1, 3, 2 C 1, 4, 3, 2 D 4, 2, 1, 3

9. Which event in October 1962 completes the sequence of events shown in this time line? A The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan. B The Cuban Missile Crisis occurs. C The Korean War begins.

10. Which of the following best completes the time line? A Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected president. B The Teapot Dome scandal is exposed. C Women gain the right to vote. D The League of Nations is formed.

11. TAKS Objective 1: (US1C) explain the significance of the following dates: 1898, 1914-1918, 1929, 1941-1945, [and 1957] From the Social Studies Center for Educator Development (SSCED) 1898 The Spanish-American War was triggered by the explosion of the Maine on February 15, 1898, in Havana harbor. American officials refused to accept the Spanish report that the cause of the explosion was internal and accidental. On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress to authorize armed intervention against Spain to free the oppressed Cubans. The Navy, commanded by Commodore George Dewey, sailed into Manila Bay in the Philippines on May 1 and with the assistance of military troops, captured it on August 13, a day after the armistice was signed. Hawaii was annexed by the United States on July 7 to secure a coaling and supply station in the Pacific Ocean. The "Rough Riders," led by Theodore Roosevelt, rushed San Juan Hill, Cuba, on July 1 and the American fleet destroyed Spanish ships in Santiago Harbor, Cuba, on July 3. Disease ravaged U.S. forces; 400 died in battle or due to injuries while more than 5,000 succumbed to malaria, typhoid, dysentery, and yellow fever. In peace negotiations late in 1898, the Cubans received their freedom from Spanish rule, and the United States acquired Puerto Rico, the island of Guam, and the Philippines.

12. 1914-1918 In 1914 World War I began in Europe, triggered when a Serb assassinated the heir to the Austria-Hungary throne. The Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and later Turkey and Bulgaria faced off against the Allies including France, Britain, and later Japan and Italy. President Woodrow Wilson declared neutrality but both the Central Powers and the Allies sought U.S. support. England and France benefited from American products which aided their war efforts and businessmen in the United States prospered even as anti-German sentiment increased. Trade with the Central Powers was limited because Britain controlled shipping channels in the Atlantic and diverted U.S. ships to British ports. German U-boats (submarines) sank the British passenger liner Lusitania on May 7, 1915, at the cost of 128 American lives. Wilson won re-election in 1916 on the assumption that he would not ask Congress for a declaration of war but Germany announced its plan to wage unlimited submarine warfare in early 1917 and sank four U.S. merchant marine vessels in March. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war. After the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) arrived in France, the German threat increased, and the Allied forces united under French Marshal Foch. By September, General John J. Pershing demanded separate command. The U.S. troops under Pershing participated in the last major offensive of the war, the Meuse-Argonne which lasted 42 days and involved 1.2 million U.S. troops. In the battle of Argonne Forest, one-tenth of all U.S. troops died in the heavy fighting. Germans surrendered on November 11, 1918. Peace negotiations began late in 1918 and continued into 1919. 1929 The Great Depression began in 1929. President Herbert Hoover's efforts to slow the speculation in paper profits through the Federal Reserve Board had little effect. In October, U.S. and foreign investors began selling shares at a panic pace. The stock market fluctuated considerably during the Fall of 1929. Erratic sales on "Black Thursday,“ October 24, caused investors concern and on October 29, "Black Tuesday," 16,410,030 shares were sold on the stock exchange. By late 1929, investors lost $40 billion in paper values, an amount greater than total U.S. expenditures for World War I. The collapse of the stock market preceded a world-wide economic depression. All industrialized nations suffered. By the end of 1930, more than 4 million workers were jobless in the United States and by 1932, 12 million were unemployed.

13. 1941-1945 The United States entered World War II in 1941 on both the Pacific and European fronts. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, prompted the United States to declare war on Japan. Germany responded by declaring war on the United States. Nearly 15 million men and more than 200,000 women enlisted. More than six million women worked outside the home to keep the economy going. In 1942 U.S. troops invaded north Africa and in 1943 the Allied troops invaded Italy. Also in 1943 the Japanese were driven from Guadalcanal. On June 6, 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower led 3 million Allied troops in the cross-channel invasion of France, landing at Normandy and pushing German forces out of France, liberating Paris in August. Adolf Hitler countered with a concentrated attack on American forces in the Ardennes forest on December 16, 1944. Over ten days, the German advance was stalled and then repulsed in the Battle of the Bulge. Eisenhower's troops advanced through Germany, meeting Soviet troops at the river Elbe in April 1945 and pushed on to Berlin. President Franklin Roosevelt died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945, nearly a month before German officials surrendered unconditionally on May 7. May 8 is designated V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day). War with Japan continued with the United States dropping fire bombs on Tokyo, March 9-10, 1945, in an effort to force its unconditional surrender. On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the military-base city of Hiroshima. A total of 180,000 were killed or missing. A second bomb fell on the naval-base city of Nagasaki on August 9 with 80,000 killed or missing. The Japanese agreed to surrender on August 10 if their emperor Hirohito remained as head of state. The surrender ceremony occurred on the U.S.S. Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

14. In 1898 more than 200 Americans died when the battleship U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana Harbor. This event prompted the beginning of the — A Mexican-American War B Civil War C Spanish-American War D Russo-Japanese War Which of the following took place from 1914 to 1918? A The Great Depression B World War I C The Populist movement D The Spanish-American War

15. TAKS Objective 1: (US3A) explain why significant events and individuals, including the Spanish-American War, U.S. expansionism, [Henry Cabot Lodge, Alfred Thayer Mahan,] and Theodore Roosevelt, moved the United States into the position of a world power Spanish-American War (1898) The Spanish-American War began when the United States intervened in Cuban affairs in opposition to Spanish rule. The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine on February 15, 1898, in the harbor in Hanava, Cuba, contributed to the start of the war. President William McKinley urged Congress to approve armed intervention in Cuba in his message to Congress on April 11. Another factor which prompted the war was U.S. interest in another Spanish possession, the Philippines. Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt urged Commodore George Dewey to invade the Philippines in the event of war with Spain. Dewey acted on May 1, 1898, and quickly destroyed the Spanish navy in Manila Bay. Although limited fighting occurred on the two fronts, more than 5,000 U.S. troops died from disease. The United States emerged as a world power as the treaty ending the "splendid little war" ceded the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific, and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, to the United States.

16. U.S. Expansion The United States has always been involved in foreign affairs but the degree of involvement has changed over time. After the War of 1812, those involved in foreign commerce sought peaceful negotiations with trading partners but others looked inward, seeing national development as providing the greatest economic opportunity. In the 1850s this began to change. Interest in strategic ports of call and shorter routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans prompted diplomats to negotiate with foreign powers over access to routes and trade. Thus the United States began to change its foreign policy from one of isolationism, avoiding involvement with other countries, to one of imperialism or expansionism, seeking control of foreign trade to bolster the domestic economy. The effort to expand into foreign markets caused American diplomats to "look outward" in the 1890s. Islands in the South Pacific including Hawaii were important depots for ocean-going trade and military vessels. The perception of unfair treatment of the inhabitants of Cuba and the Philippines, two colonies of Spain, led to the Spanish-American War (1898). The territory secured in the treaty ending the "splendid little war" angered those who opposed imperialism. Regardless, U.S. officials continued to seek foreign markets and to support American investment abroad. Trade with China began in 1784. In an effort to protect that trade, Secretary of State John Hay opposed the increase of British, German, Russia, French, and Japanese trade with China because of the competition it posed to American interests. He wrote letters to these governments requesting that they support an Open Door Policy in China (1899-1900). His policy stated that all nations would have equal trading rights in China. Many of these countries participated in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, an uprising of Chinese against foreign influences including business and missionary interests. Japan was another country strategically positioned as a supply stop for American trading and whaling vessels. Efforts to open it to foreign trade began in the 1850s. Securing a passage through Central America to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans also affected U.S. foreign policy beginning in the 1850s. Latin American relations involved negotiations with imperial powers controlling Latin American countries as well as the governments of countries which gained their independence. Dollar Diplomacy was a policy adopted by President Howard Taft (who served from 1909-1913) to encourage investment by American banks and businesses in Latin America. He promised military protection to those who invested. World War I reoriented the priorities of the emerging world power and U.S. foreign policy makers returned to a goal of isolationism.

17. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) Born in New York, Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president. He graduated from Harvard, was elected to the New York legislature, wrote history and served as president of the New York police boards. He gained national attention as the leader of the "Rough Riders," a volunteer cavalry unit which served in the Spanish-American War. He served as governor of New York and then as McKinley's vice president. When McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt succeeded to the presidency and was later elected to a full term in 1904. He supported expansionism, the development of a canal across Central America, and a powerful navy. Under Roosevelt's direction the United States became the police of the western hemisphere and numerous reforms were enacted: he prosecuted big business for trust violations, supported passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, and created national parks.

18. Which twentieth-century U.S. leader is described by the list above? A Henry Cabot Lodge B George Marshall C Theodore Roosevelt D Harry S. Truman

19. President Theodore Roosevelt increased American involvement in world affairs by — A issuing the corollary to the Monroe Doctrine B campaigning against international trusts C urging Congress to declare war on Germany D repealing federal tariff laws As a result of the events described in the headlines below, the United States — A became a world power B remained an isolationist in world affairs C rejected imperialism D placed limitations on foreign travel

20. The excerpt above most likely suggests that the United States — A has moved into a position of world power B needs to impose higher taxes on imported goods C has accepted the role of isolationist nation D needs to concentrate on domestic issues

21. TAKS Objective 1: (US3B) identify the reasons for U.S. involvement in World War I, including unrestricted submarine warfare It is a fearful thing to lead this great, peaceful people into war. . . . But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for . . . a 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. — President Woodrow Wilson, 1917 According to the excerpt, President Woodrow Wilson supported involvement in World War I because he wanted to — A protect U.S. colonial interests around the world B prevent communism from spreading outside the Soviet Union C make the world safe for democracy D provide Germany with humanitarian aid

22. Which of the following phrases best completes the title above? A Creation of the League of Nations B U.S. Entrance into World War I C Formation of the Allied Powers D U.S. Decision to Contain Communism

23. Which of the following most influenced President Woodrow Wilson’s decision to ask for a declaration of war against Germany? A The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand B Germany’s treatment of prisoners of war C The German use of aerial bombing raids D The Zimmermann telegram Which of the following actions by Germany led to the end of U.S. neutrality during World War I? A The invasion of Russia B The use of unrestricted submarine warfare C Attacks on U.S. colonies D The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

24. TAKS Objective 1: (US3D) analyze major issues raised by U.S. involvement in World War I, Wilson's Fourteen Points, and the Treaty of Versailles From the Social Studies Center for Educator Development (SSCED) World War I World War I was a global conflict which began in 1914 and continued into 1918. Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, and Russia) defeated the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary). About 20 other countries assisted the Allied Powers including the United States, which entered the war in 1917. The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and Bulgaria supported the Central Powers. The war was triggered by the assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Slavic nationalist, but the central issue was the competing nationalism and imperialism among major European powers.

25. Wilson's Fourteen Points (1918) President Woodrow Wilson traveled to Europe to participate in treaty negotiations ending World War I. He sought to reduce the risk of war and believed several adjustments to the method of conducting foreign policy could accomplish this. His suggestions included open covenants of peace with no hidden agendas, absolute freedom of navigation, removal of all economic barriers and support of equal trade, reduction of national armaments, impartial adjustment of colonial claims in the best interest of resident populations, and mutual guarantees of political independence of great and small nations. He also supported the establishment of an association of nations to maintain peace, a world parliament he called the League of Nations. Many opposed his dreams including Americans who favored isolationism; those who lobbied for harsher treatment of the Central Powers; and German-Americans, Italian- Americans, and others who believed the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on their native lands. All found reason to criticize the treaty. Wilson's pleas to adopt the League of Nations as the only hope for preventing future wars failed to sway the opposition. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge led the critics in the Senate. His reservations to the treaty along with Wilson's refusal to compromise prevented the treaty from garnering the two-third majority of votes needed for the United States to adopt the measure when it came up for a second senatorial vote on March 19, 1920. Treaty of Versailles (1919) Allied leaders wrote the Treaty of Versailles, the formal agreement to end World War I. Their challenge was to divide the territory contained in four empires which collapsed at the end of the war: Russia, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Germany. President Woodrow Wilson supported divisions which freed ethnic groups from foreign rule. The treaty established the League of Nations which obliged each country to defend the territory of other member countries. It also charged Germany with responsibility for the war, requiring it to pay reparations to the Allies and stripping the country of all colonies. Because Wilson was unable to secure the support of the U.S. Senate for the treaty, the League of Nations was formed without U.S. involvement.

26. Why did President Woodrow Wilson consider the last item in his Fourteen Points speech, the creation of a general association of nations, to be the most important? A Such an organization would provide a forum for addressing international problems. B It placed the United States in a leadership position among nations. C It excluded small colonial nations from the diplomatic process. D It guaranteed that Great Britain, France, and Italy would retain control of Europe The box above lists examples of — A the effects of U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War B the effects of U.S. imperialism on colonial territories C the U.S. economic policies that led to the Great Depression D the domestic impact of World War I on U.S. society

27. The three points listed below support President Wilson’s belief that the Fourteen Points were — F arranged by private negotiations G important to the United States’ supremacy H necessary to prevent future wars J reasons for punishing Germany

28. TAKS Objective 1: (US5A) analyze causes and effects of significant issues such as immigration, the Red Scare, Prohibition, and the changing role of women Red Scare (1919-1920) Paranoia regarding the threat of Bolsheviks to the United States was called the Red Scare. In the late 1910s citizens of the United States were concerned about political unrest in Europe. Capitalists believed that the Russian Revolution and rise of the Bolshevik power in 1917 threatened their world. The Bolsheviks called for workers to revolt. This threat, in the minds of Americans, did not disappear at the end of World War I, and strikes by workers contributed to the popular belief that a giant conspiracy was at work to destroy the U.S. government as it had overthrown Russia's. Radicals, immigrant laborers, and anyone who appeared to threaten the U.S. government were charged with crimes. They were often deported or executed depending on court verdicts. Prohibition Prohibition as enforced by the 18th Amendment emerged from the Progressive era's push for moral, social, and political reform. Temperance leagues began working to reduce alcoholism and social problems resulting from alcoholism as early as the 1820s. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was founded in 1874 and laws to ban alcohol were adopted in states as early as 1846. These states were considered "dry." In 1919 it became illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages following the ratification of the 18th Amendment. This amendment was the first legislation to ban alcohol at the national scale and it had negative consequences. The ability to sell grapes and barley was reduced and this hurt farmers. Enforcement was difficult and many were openly defiant of prohibition. Gangs could make millions of dollars dealing in illegal liquor so crime actually increased. The amendment was repealed in 1933. Tax collected on the sale of liquor then became an important source of revenue.

29. Which of the following is the correct cause-and-effect pairing of events that occurred during the 1920s? A Victory in World War I and the outbreak of urban riots B Labor strife and the downfall of unions C Prohibition and the rise of organized crime D Fear of foreigners and the closing of U.S. borders During the 1920s, what was the most likely reason for the existence of illegal bars called speakeasies? A Conservation B Immigration C Prohibition D Unionization Which of the following had the greatest impact on the role of women in U.S. politics? A The growth of the labor movement B The passage of the Prohibition amendment C The creation of New Deal agencies D The accomplishments of the suffrage movement

30. During the 1920s the nationwide prohibition of the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol in the United States contributed to the — F ratification of the women’s suffrage amendment G growth of organized crime H end of Progressive reform J demand for stricter immigration policies

31. TAKS Objective 1: (US5B) analyze the impact of significant individuals such as Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, Henry Ford, and Charles A. Lindbergh From the Social Studies Center for Educator Development (SSCED) Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) The most renowned defense attorney of his time, Clarence Darrow was born in Ohio to a working-class family. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1878. He and his family moved to Chicago in 1887 to further his law career. He defended Eugene V. Debs in 1894 against charges of criminal conspiracy in relation to the American Railway Union strikes. His attraction to social concerns prompted him to argue criminal conspiracy cases and cases involving union violence and labor rights. He opposed the death penalty and supported racial equality. In 1925, he defended John T. Scopes who was charged by fundamentalists for violating a Tennessee statute against teaching evolution in the schools. His closing arguments are models of expository speaking. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) A noted politician and orator, William Jennings Bryan supported reforms benefiting ordinary people. He served as a representative to the Illinois legislature where he favored income tax, prohibition, and women's suffrage. He earned the Democratic nomination for president in 1896 but lost the race. He also lost in 1900 and 1908. He served as Woodrow Wilson's secretary of state but resigned in 1915 because he did not support Wilson's aggressive stance toward Germany. Bryan made a fortune in real estate deals in Florida. His last oration was as a spokesman for the prosecution in the Scopes trial in which he supported a literal interpretation of the Bible and denounced the teaching of evolution in the schools.

32. Henry Ford (1863-1947) Henry Ford helped create a mobile society by mass producing and marketing the Model T automobile, making it an indispensable part of American life. Through his efforts, the automotive industry became a world-wide phenomenon. Born on a farm near Detroit, Michigan, Ford worked on the farm, at a shipbuilding firm, and for a company which serviced steam engines. During the winters he experimented on building his own internal-combustion engines. He drove his first home-built automobile in 1896. The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 and he developed the Model T by 1908. Ford used mass production to reduce the price of the Model T, and he worked to perfect the assembly line. He retained complete company control and used it to amass billions of dollars. Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-1974) Born in Detroit to a political family, Charles Lindbergh studied mechanical engineering and flying, gaining a reputation as a mechanic and pilot. He completed the U.S. Army Air Cadet program in 1925 and was made second lieutenant. He set a record in aviation history when he flew the specially built monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, nonstop from St. Louis to Paris on May 20-21, 1927. Afterward he served as a technical advisor to commercial airlines, testing new aircraft and developing viable routes. He favored neutrality before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, then he supported the war cause, testing military aircraft and sharing technical knowledge. His interest in nature led him to support conservation efforts and he directed the World Wildlife Fund.

33. Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean was important to Americans because it — F allowed the United States to demonstrate new military technology to European allies G helped Great Britain to develop new aviation technology H embarrassed the fascist dictators of Germany and Italy J symbolized American ingenuity, courage, and ability In which of the following did attorney Clarence Darrow defend an instructor accused of teaching the theory of evolution? . F Plessy v. Ferguson G The Scopes trial H The Alger Hiss spy trial J United States v. Nixon

34. How did the person depicted in the image above most influence American culture immediately after his historic flight in 1927? F He helped negotiate the Treaty of Versailles and end German militarism. G He promoted military spending during World War II. H He was treated as a hero and inspired a sense of hope. J He helped end nativism by spreading European traditions

35. Which title best completes the diagram above? A The Scopes Trial B The Espionage Act C The Palmer Raids D The Bonus Army

36. TAKS Objective 1: (US6A) identify reasons for U.S. involvement in World War II, including the growth of dictatorships and the attack on Pearl Harbor From the Social Studies Center for Educator Development (SSCED) World War II (1941-1945) World War II was a global conflict which began in 1939 and continued into 1945, in which the Allies (Great Britain, Russia, the United States) defeated the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan). Economic and social crises followed World War I in much of central Europe. Political unrest and fear of communist revolutions comparable to that led by V. I. Lenin in Russia in 1917 triggered the rise of Benito Mussolini and the founding of the Fascist Party in Italy, and the rise of Adolf Hitler and the founding of the Nazi Party in Germany. At the same time, extreme militarists in Japan exerted more control in the 1930s. Hitler's attempts to unite all German-speaking people in Europe led to his invasion of Czechoslovakia and then Poland in 1939. Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany. The United States declared war on Germany following the invasion of Russia in June 1941, and on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The war remains the deadliest in history with between 40 and 60 million dead from battle and acts of genocide perpetrated by Nazi officials. Dictatorships A dictator is a ruler who wields absolute authority and controls the government within a state or nation. Prior to World War II several men assumed the role of dictator in European countries including Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. Other countries such as Spain under Fascist Francisco Franco worked to overthrow republican governments and impose dictatorial rule. The League of Nations did not oppose the actions of dictators nor did nations such as Britain, France, or the United States intercede as the republican government of Spain fell to Franco. This encouraged the dictators as they organized and strengthened their control in Europe.

37. During World War II, the United States became an ally of which of the following European dictators? F Adolf Hitler G Joseph Stalin H Benito Mussolini J Francisco Franco In the 1930s, which countries were ruled by dictatorships that were widely regarded as threats to the safety and security of the world’s democracies? A Mexico, Brazil, and India B France, Spain, and Greece C Germany, Japan, and Italy D Japan, Mexico, and Turkey

38. The factors shown in the diagram above contributed to U.S. involvement in — A the Cold War B World War I C World War II D the Spanish-American War

39. TAKS Objective 1: (US6B) analyze major issues and events of World War II such as fighting the war on multiple fronts, the internment of Japanese-Americans, the Holocaust, the battle of Midway, the invasion of Normandy, and the development of and Harry Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb From the Social Studies Center for Educator Development (SSCED) World War II (1941-1945) World War II was a global conflict which began in 1939 and continued into 1945, in which the Allies (Great Britain, Russia, the United States) defeated the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan). Economic and social crises followed World War I in much of central Europe. Political unrest and fear of communist revolutions comparable to that led by V. I. Lenin in Russia in 1917 triggered the rise of Benito Mussolini and the founding of the Fascist Party in Italy, and the rise of Adolf Hitler and the founding of the Nazi Party in Germany. At the same time, extreme militarists in Japan exerted more control in the 1930s. Hitler's attempts to unite all German-speaking people in Europe led to his invasion of Czechoslovakia and then Poland in 1939. Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany. The United States declared war on Germany following the invasion of Russia in June 1941, and on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The war remains the deadliest in history with between 40 and 60 million dead from battle and acts of genocide perpetrated by Nazi officials.

40. Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) Harry S. Truman assumed the presidency following the sudden death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1945. Having served as a senator from Missouri, he knew little of the workings of the executive office. He had no time to learn. Within weeks he attended the founding of the United Nations; represented the U.S at the Potsdam conference where two European powers, the Soviets and the British, discussed post-war order; and authorized the use of the atomic bomb in Japan, first on Hiroshima on August 6 and then on Nagasaki on August 9. In response to the spread of Communism, Truman announced the Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947, which pledged U.S. support to nations opposing Communism. The Cold War, characterized by the antagonistic conflict between two world powers, the Soviet Union and the United States, began during Truman's administration. When the Communist North Koreans invaded South Korea in June 1950, Truman appealed to the United Nations, which dispensed forces to support South Korea. Truman's refusal to commit more effort to win the war frustrated voters and they elected Dwight D. Eisenhower as president in 1952.

41. The significance of the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, was that it — A caused the Soviet Union to join the war against Germany B liberated Paris from German control C opened a second major front in the war in Europe D forced Germany to surrender immediately to Allied forces During World War II, the Soviet Union pressured the other Allies to open a second front in France in order to — A allow the Soviet Union to send troops to fight in North Africa B help French communists resist the Nazis C free the Soviet Union to concentrate on fighting Japan D Germany to move some of its troops away from the eastern front Why did President Harry Truman decide to use the atomic bomb in World War II? A To end the war quickly and save American lives B To make sure the Swiss remained neutral C To free prisoners of war in Europe and the Pacific

42. Japanese Americans were held in internment camps during World War II because they — A disobeyed the state laws of California B disagreed with President Franklin Roosevelt’s war strategy C were labeled a threat to U.S. security D were unwilling to serve in the U.S. military The Battle of Midway was a crucial victory for the United States because it — A dealt a severe blow to the Japanese navy B was the last sea battle of the war with Japan C was fought on Japanese territory D destroyed Japan’s will to continue fighting

43. TAKS Objective 1: (US6D) describe U.S. responses to Soviet aggression after World War II, including the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, [and the Berlin airlift] From the Social Studies Center for Educator Development (SSCED) Soviet Aggression Between 1918 to 1920 communists defeated anti-communists in Russia. In 1922 the communists created the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or the Soviet Union). European countries and the United States feared that communist expansion threatened established government, particularly democracy and freedom (see Red Scare). Following World War II, communists sought to take over Greece and establish an airbase in Turkey. President Harry S. Truman managed to persuade Congress that this was a global struggle of freedom over communism. Several policies of Truman's were directed at containing Soviet (communist) aggression. He believed that the United States should support "free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." This was the basis of his Truman Doctrine, which guided American foreign policy for years. Also in 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall proposed an economic program to contain communism. His Marshall Plan supported economic aid to Europe and generated increased trade between the United States and European nations. In 1948 Stalin attempted to eliminate involvement of the west in Berlin and enacted the Berlin blockade. This prompted the United States to join Canada, Iceland, and nine other Western European nations in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Each pledged loyalty to the other in case of attack. British and U.S. planes flew tons of supplies into Berlin in an operation called the Berlin Airlift.

44. One example of President Truman’s response to Communist aggression after World War II was the Marshall Plan. This plan — A created the House Committee on Un-American Activities B provided funding for the economic reconstruction of Western Europe C established an alliance with Great Britain and France to de-colonize Africa D provided military training for Latin American soldiers One of the primary goals of the Marshall Plan was to prevent the — F spread of democratic forms of government G collapse of the Soviet Union’s economy H collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe J spread of communism in Western Europe

45. One reason for the large increase in defense spending between 1950 and 1960 was — F an unprecedented inflationary economy G funding for military involvement in South America H the Cold War and the arms race with the Soviet Union J a large investment in supersonic military transports

46. Don’t be afraid to . . . read every book, as long as any document does not offend our own ideas of decency. That should be the only censorship. How will we defeat communism unless we know what it is, what it teaches, and why does it have such an appeal for men, why are so many people swearing allegiance to it? — President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Speech at Dartmouth College, 1953 In the excerpt above, President Eisenhower was responding to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s public attempts to — A promote religious tolerance B limit free speech C increase U.S. literacy rates D restrict conservative political influence

47. The information listed above describes which of the following agreements? A Warsaw Pact B Strategic Arms Limitation Talks C Atlantic Charter D North Atlantic Treaty Organization

48. The purpose of the organization formed by the 1949 treaty excerpted above was to — F create an alliance to protect against communist aggression in Europe G provide military assistance to countries seeking independence in the Americas H provide financial aid to rebuild countries in Africa J regulate economic ties with communist countries in Asia

49. What threat was President Truman referring to in the excerpt above? A Regional wars in South America B The spread of communism C Civil disobedience in U.S. cities D The formation of the United Nations

50. Which of the following statements best characterizes the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was created in 1949? A Each member nation is committed to the defense of all other member nations. B All member nations will cooperate in rebuilding war-torn nations. C Trade barriers between all member nations will be removed. D All member nations will enforce trade embargoes against communist countries During the Cold War, nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for the purpose of — F advancing communism G free trade H mutual defense J terrorism control