Survey of United States History (C121)

Correct Answer

C. The Cuban Missile Crisis

Explanation

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was the closest the world came to nuclear war during the Cold War. It was triggered when the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles being placed in Cuba. This led to a tense 13-day standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, as both sides prepared for potential conflict. The crisis ended when the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba and the secret removal of American missiles from Turkey.

Why other options are wrong

A. The Korean War

Although the Korean War was a significant Cold War conflict, it did not escalate to a direct nuclear standoff between the U.S. and the USSR.

B. The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a prolonged conflict but did not bring the world to the immediate brink of nuclear war like the Cuban Missile Crisis did.

D. The Berlin Blockade

The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) was a major Cold War crisis but did not involve the same level of nuclear threat as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Instead, it was resolved through the Berlin Airlift, where Western nations supplied West Berlin by air rather than engaging in direct military confrontation.

Correct Answer

C. Women's suffrage advocates.

Explanation

Many supporters of the Declaration of Independence in 1848, particularly those involved in the Seneca Falls Convention, originally aligned with both the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements. However, by the 1870s, after the passage of the 15th Amendment (1870), which granted Black men the right to vote, many male abolitionists and politicians distanced themselves from the women’s suffrage movement. Women suffragists, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, felt betrayed when voting rights were extended to Black men while women were still excluded. This led to a division between supporters of racial equality and women’s suffrage activists.

Why other options are wrong

A. Abolitionists.

Most supporters of independence who had aligned with the abolitionist movement continued to support the end of slavery, especially after the Civil War and the passage of the 13th Amendment (1865). While political strategies changed, they did not completely distance themselves from abolitionists.

B. Supporters of Southern secession and states’ rights.

Many of those who supported the Declaration of Independence in 1848 were against Southern secession, which occurred in 1860-1861. By the 1870s, these individuals were aligned with Reconstruction efforts and not with Southern secessionists.

D. Federalists.

The Federalist Party had already disappeared by the 1820s, long before the 1870s. By this time, the major political debates were between Reconstruction-era Republicans and Democrats, not Federalists.

Correct Answer

A. Married women obeyed their husbands and stayed at home to raise their children.

Explanation

The ideology of "true womanhood," also known as the "cult of domesticity," dictated that women’s primary role was in the home, where they were expected to be pious, submissive, and devoted to family. This belief reinforced gender roles that kept women out of the workforce and political life, emphasizing their duty as caretakers and moral guardians within the household.

Why other options are wrong

B. Single women worked in factories by day and went to college in the evening.

While some single women did work in factories, the idea of true womanhood discouraged women from pursuing higher education. Women were expected to focus on marriage and homemaking rather than personal advancement through college. Education for women became more common later in the 19th century but was not a defining part of true womanhood.

C. Married women volunteered and worked to promote social reform.

Although some women participated in social reform movements, such as abolitionism and temperance, the dominant ideology of true womanhood discouraged married women from engaging in public activism. Women who took active roles in reform movements often faced criticism for stepping outside their traditional roles.

D. Single women became teachers so they could contribute to the family income when they got married.

Teaching did become one of the few acceptable professions for women, but true womanhood emphasized that their ultimate goal was marriage and homemaking, not financial independence or career development. The idea that women should work for income conflicted with the belief that men were the primary providers.

Correct Answer

C. They were expected to take care of children and household chores

Explanation

During the colonial period and the time leading up to the American Revolution, women were largely confined to domestic roles. They were responsible for raising children, managing household duties, and supporting their families. Although some women played indirect roles in the Revolution—such as boycotting British goods and making homemade supplies—their primary societal expectation remained within the domestic sphere.

Why other options are wrong

A. They were leaders in the fight for independence.

This is incorrect because, while women contributed to the revolutionary cause, they were not recognized as leaders in the movement. Some women, like Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren, played key roles in advocating for independence through writing and organizing, but leadership was largely reserved for men.

B. They were primarily involved in trade and commerce.

This is incorrect because men dominated trade and commerce during this period. While some women helped manage family businesses or worked as shopkeepers, they were not the primary participants in economic activities. The majority of women were expected to focus on domestic responsibilities rather than engage in trade.

D. They were allowed to vote and own land.

This is incorrect because, in most colonies, women were not granted voting rights or land ownership. Laws and customs at the time restricted property ownership to men, and women were generally expected to be dependent on their fathers or husbands. Some widows were able to inherit property, but this was not the norm.

Correct Answer

D. He led a campaign against alleged communists

Explanation

Senator Joseph McCarthy became infamous during the Cold War for leading a campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government and other sectors of society. His aggressive tactics, known as McCarthyism, fueled anti-communist hysteria, leading to blacklisting, investigations, and accusations without substantial evidence. His actions significantly contributed to the Red Scare of the 1950s.

Why other options are wrong

A. He promoted communist ideals in Congress

This is incorrect because McCarthy was strongly anti-communist. Instead of promoting communist ideals, he accused others of being communists and sought to root them out of American institutions.

B. He advocated for peace with communist nations

This is incorrect because McCarthy was hostile toward communism and was known for his extreme anti-communist stance. He viewed the Soviet Union and its ideology as a threat to the United States.

C. He supported the Soviet Union's policies

This is incorrect because McCarthy was one of the leading figures opposing Soviet influence in the United States. He accused individuals of being communist spies and sympathizers, often with little or no evidence.

Correct Answer

B. They led to increased fundamentalist beliefs and political engagement

Explanation

Television evangelists like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Jim Bakker gained widespread influence in the late 1970s and 1980s. Their broadcasts attracted millions of viewers and played a major role in reinforcing conservative religious beliefs. These evangelists also encouraged political activism, aligning many evangelical Christians with right-wing politics, particularly on issues such as abortion, school prayer, and opposition to secularism.

Why other options are wrong

A. They focused solely on charitable activities

While some television evangelists were involved in charity, their primary impact was in shaping religious and political beliefs, rather than just humanitarian efforts.

C. They caused a decline in church attendance

Instead of decreasing church attendance, televangelism often strengthened religious participation by making sermons and religious messages more accessible to a wider audience.

D. They promoted secularism in religious practices

Rather than promoting secularism, television evangelists strongly opposed it, advocating for a greater role of religion in public life and politics.

Correct Answer:

B. The doctrine of 'separate but equal' is inherently unequal in public education.

Explanation:

In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) by declaring that separate facilities are inherently unequal. The ruling emphasized that segregation harmed Black students by creating a sense of inferiority, thereby negatively affecting their educational and personal development.

Why other options are wrong:

A. The doctrine of 'separate but equal' is beneficial for public education.

This is incorrect because the ruling explicitly stated that segregation had detrimental effects on students and was unconstitutional.

C. The doctrine of 'separate but equal' should be upheld in all cases.

This is incorrect because Brown v. Board of Education overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, rejecting segregation as unconstitutional.

D. The doctrine of 'separate but equal' applies only to higher education.

This is incorrect because the ruling applied to all public schools, not just colleges or universities.

Correct Answer

C. To create laws

Explanation

The legislative branch, composed of the U.S. Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives), is responsible for creating and passing laws. Congress drafts, debates, and votes on bills, which can become law if approved by both houses and signed by the president. This branch plays a fundamental role in shaping the nation's policies and regulations.

Why other options are wrong

A. To enforce laws.

Law enforcement is the responsibility of the executive branch, which includes the president, federal agencies, and law enforcement bodies. The legislative branch does not enforce laws; it only creates them.

B. To interpret laws.

The judicial branch, particularly the courts, is responsible for interpreting laws and determining their constitutionality. The legislative branch does not have this function.

D. To administer justice.

Administering justice is a role primarily carried out by the judicial branch, including courts and judges. The legislative branch does not handle judicial proceedings.

Correct Answer

B. Compassion and consideration for women's rights

Explanation

In her famous letter to her husband, John Adams, Abigail Adams urged him to "remember the ladies" when drafting new laws for the emerging nation. She advocated for greater consideration of women's rights, warning that women might rebel if they continued to be ignored in the political system. Her letter is seen as an early call for gender equality and has been referenced as an important moment in the history of women's rights in America.

Why other options are wrong

A. More land for farming.

Abigail Adams' concerns were focused on women's rights, not land distribution. Although land ownership was a significant issue in the early United States, her letter did not focus on acquiring more farmland. Instead, she sought to address the legal and societal limitations placed on women.

C. The abolition of slavery.

While Abigail Adams and her husband were known to have anti-slavery views, her letter primarily addressed the role of women in the new republic. The abolition of slavery was a separate issue that was not the focus of this particular letter. Her writings on slavery were not as direct or urgent as her request for women's rights in her correspondence with John Adams.

D. Increased military support for the colonies.

Her letter did not discuss military strategy or the need for additional military support. The American Revolution was ongoing at the time, but Abigail Adams' primary concern in her letter was the legal and social standing of women in the new nation, not military matters.