Review Questions Chapter 26

Pages 655-658

1. In the election of 1948 what happen to the Democratic party? What were the issues that split the party? How was Truman able to win the presidential election of 1948? What was the employment background of Harry Truman before be became President? Who was Tom Pendergast and what was his relationship with Harry Truman?

2. What were the major issues of the Truman administration? What was the Taft-Hartley Act? After the election, what did the Fair Deal do, what hindered the Fair Deal?

3. How did Eisenhower see his role as president? What was Eisenhower's stand on the role of the government in economic matters and public welfare? What is the statement: "What is good for our country is good for General Motors, and vice versa." all about?

Chapter 26 Pages 638-655 and 658-667

1. Why do you think the authors begin the chapter with the story of Ray Kroc? What points are they trying to make?

2. Describe and explain the reasons for the general economic prosperity of the era and the effects of that prosperity. What is the Interstate Highway Act of 1956? Why is this Act important to Temple and Central Texas? What effects does the GI Bill have on American society? What role does the federal government play in the economy?

3. What is going on in Germany and Japan?

4. How and why did the corporate world, the blue-collar workers' (unions), and the agricultural world change during the 1945-1960 period?

5. What happens to the birth rate and life expectancy? What does William J. Levitt do?

6. What were the major technology developments and how did they effect peoples lives?

7. What characterized conformity and consensus in American life in the 1950's? Do you see any of this today? Who challenge the conformity, and what forms did the challenges take in literature, music and art?

pages 659-667

8. What happens with minorities during this time? What does President Truman do in the area of civil rights? What is Brown v. Board of Education? Who is Rosa Parks? Who were the braceros? Why does this program take place?  For Native Americans what was the policy of "termination"?

9. Compare life in the United States in the 1950's for most Americans to life in the 30's and 40's. What did most people work towards in the 1950's? What did T. V. do for life in America?