Final Exam Review
United States History 1877-Present
Susquehanna University

Tips for doing well on this exam:

  1. Start preparing your answers now!  You will FAIL if you wait to prepare until the night before the exam.
  2. Research your answers by first using your notes and then your text. I will scoring you exam with those sources in that orderInternet sources should only be used as a last resort.
  3. Verify your answers with your fellow classmates to make sure they are correct and COMPLETE.  Students often lose points because they do not include enough information.
  4. For essays, create a list of “Important Points” to write about and memorize them.  Use your ability to recall readings, lectures, and discussion to fill in the gaps and write your essay.
  5. Practice writing out your essays without your notes.
  6. Be sure to answer all the questions within the question.

There is a 50% penalty for answers not written in essay form.

I.    In ESSAY form:

IDENTIFY (explain who, what, when, and where)

EXPLAIN the historical significance (why is it important to history)

 

In the exam you will answer three (3) identifies.  I will select five (4) from this list and an additional five identifies (unknown to you) will be selected as an extra choices  (30 points). Remaining identifies will be added after the last class.

  1. Volstead Act
  2. Feminine Mystique
  3. Buying on Margin
  4. Agricultural Adjustment Act
  5. Wagner Act
  6. Atlantic Charter
  7. Smith-Connally Act
  8. Executive Order 8802
  9. Executive Order 9066
  10. “To Secure these Rights”
  11. Truman Doctrine
  12. Reagan Doctrine
  13. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
  14. Camp David Peace Accords
  15. Tet Offensive
  16. CREEP (CRP)
  17. Iran-Contra Affair
  18. Space Defense Initiative
  19. Marshall Plan
  20. March on Washington
  21. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas
  22. STOP campaign (ERA)

The below essay will be completed in greater at a later date

 

II.    Short Essay – answer one of the following. (20 Points) ALL OF THESE CHOICES WILL BE ON THE EXAM

23. Although the American public became weary of foreign affairs following the World War I, U.S. administrations continued to remain engaged globally during the inter-war years. Identify and explain 12 activities (treaties, executive agreements, and foreign activities) in which the U.S. participated between the Senate’s rejection of the Versailles Treaty and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
(12 grading elements)

(Treaties or executive agreements following the rejection of the Versailles Treaty to Pearl Harbor)

24. The Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal brought about a political uprising to reign in the power of the presidency. What actions did Congress take to end the era of "the Imperial Presidency"?
(10 grading elements)

III.   Essays

  1. Answer TWO minor essays.  (25 points each - ALL four essay selections will appear in the exam.)

OR  (meaning do NOT do both major and minor essays)

  1. Answer ONE major essays.  (50 points – the major essay covers a broader period of history is expected to be twice as long as a minor essay)

 

Minor Essays – Answer TWO (25 pts each)  ALL OF THESE CHOICES WILL BE ON THE EXAM

25.   As a farmer in the Great Depression you are suffering from nearly two decades of economic slump. Identify and explain two (2) reasons why the depression started earlier for you than it did for most Americans living in the cities. Identify five (5) programs sponsored by President Roosevelt to help farmers, explain how each of these five (5) programs tried to improve agriculture, explain the impact, positive and negative, each of these five (5) programs had on you and your family?
(17 grading elements)

 

26.  Congress responded to Hitler’s start of World War II by passing a series of neutrality laws. Identify four (4) activities prohibited by Congress under these neutrality laws and explain how each of the four (4) sought to maintain American neutrality. For what reason did Roosevelt want to enter the war? Identify three (3) pieces of legislation and explain how they (3) supported the Allies. Identify and explain the agreement that ended American neutrality. For what reason did this agreement end American neutrality?
(18 grading elements)

 

27.  Twice in the twentieth century the United States experienced a Red Scare. What were the Red Scares? In the first Red Scare, identify three (3) domestic and international events and explain (3) how they contributed to the first Red Scare. What leader was at the center of this scare? Identify one action by the government and one action in the private sector that was taken in response to this fear? What eventually caused each this scare to fizzle out?
In the second Red Scare, identify five (5) domestic or international events and explain (5) how they contributed to the second Red Scare. What leader was at the center of this scare? Identify one action by the government and one action in the private sector that was taken in response to this fear? What eventually caused each of this scare to fizzle out?
(24 grading elements)

 

28.  By the end of the Vietnam War, Americans began asking how the United States got involved in Indo-China. Identify 15 factors or events that contributed to the U.S. entry into this controversial conflict and what repercussions did the war have on presidential power and U.S-Soviet foreign policy?
(17 grading elements)

 

29.The road to equality for women has been long and difficult. Throughout this journey, champions of equal rights for women built successes through personal sacrifice, political action, and public support. Identify 17 successes in the struggle for women’s equality and explain why each one was important. Which of one of these successes contributed the most towards equality and why? What is Affirmative Action and what role (positive or negative) does it play in the quest for equality? Will complete equality between the sexes be achieved? Explain why or why not. At what point (what elements are necessary) will we have reached complete equality between the sexes?
(24 grading elements)

 

Answer ONE of four major essays.  (50 points – the major essay covers a broader period of history is expected to be twice as long as a minor essay) 

 

Major Essays  - Answer ONE (50 pts each)  ALL OF THESE CHOICES WILL BE ON THE EXAM

 

30. Since Plessy v. Ferguson, the Civil Rights movement (for both women and minorities) employed different methods and approaches to end discriminatory practices in both public and private life. Identify these violent and non-violent methods and the groups and individuals that employed them. To what extent have these methods been success and/or unsuccessful. What methods do you believe will BOTH improve the livelihood of women and minorities and improve black/white, male/female relations as well? Will equality between the races ever be achieved? Why or why not?
(38 grading elements)

 

31. Since the Civil War ended, the United States has entered into armed conflict for various reasons. In reviewing the below, explain what led the U.S. to enter each conflict. Explain if the conflict had a good or bad outcome and why. Identify any similarities in the reasons why the U.S. entered these wars?
Spanish-American, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Grenada Invasion, Panama Invasion, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq War, Syria, Libya,
(38 grading elements)