The American Dream in the 1950s

For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.

1.Baby Boom- After WWII, the soldiers returning from war that were settling into family life who contributed to an unprecedented population explosion.

2. Dr. Jonas Salk- The doctor that developed a vaccine for the crippling disease known as polio.

3. Interstate Highway System- An act that was authorized by Eisenhower that authorized the building of a nationwide highway network that was 41,000 miles of expressway.

4. Franchise- A system when a company offers similar products or services in many locations such as McDonalds. In places like McDonalds the franchise would send money and products to the locations so that the owner could run the business.

5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
In the 1950s the average American was given more time that they could spend on their leisure once given 40-hour weeks and vacation time. It also helped them to have more leisure time when people began to own labor-saving devices such as washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and power lawn mowers. Once they were given more time they could use it to enjoy sports such as fishing, bowling, hunting, boating and golf. Also many Americans became fans and attended baseball, basketball and football games and also watched professional sports games on their televisions.

The Arms Race

1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?

I think that Dulles is speaking about an atomic bomb that they could drop on the USSR.

2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.

Yes I would because the Communists are the USSR is surrounded on all sides by the NATO, the SEATO and the CENTO.

3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?

Yes, I do think that Dulles had a nuclear weapon in mind.

4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?

That they were using the U-2 plane to spy on the Soviet.

5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.

Because they were spying on the USSR.

6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?

The USSR had never said no to the USA flying over them and looking for evidence, they just said that they didn't want to agree to the treaty.

7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?

Yes, I do believe that they would have used them and possibly agreed to the treaty depending on what they were trying to hide.

8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?

So that it would be harder for the USSR to link the missles to the USA and might believe that it was just Europe.

9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.

Bombs made more for security than to actually use on the opponent to prevent them from using theirs.