Lecture Notes on History Exam Topics

USA Exam Questions - Key Topics

• Chapter 2 USA: Focuses on the effects of historical events.
• Freedom Rides: Impact on Civil Rights movement.
• Vietnam War: Social and political effects on soldiers and American government.

Practice Exam Focus

• Last 3 chapters of USA and Germany.

Practice Question A - The Freedom Rides

Source A: Freedom Rides (1961)

• Initiated by: Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
• Purpose: Challenge segregation on interstate buses.
• Route: Washington, D.C., to Jackson, Mississippi.
• Opposition: Violent encounters in Deep South.
• Outcome: Media attention, federal intervention (Kennedy administration), ICC ban on segregation.
• Resulting Tension: Between student activists and Martin Luther King Jr.

Impressions from Source

• Positive impact on Civil Rights movement.
• Language: Formal and supportive.
• Omissions: Lacks detail on who the student activists were.
• Overall Usefulness: Shows progression and provides context with notable figures.

Effects of Vietnam War

Social Impact on Soldiers

• Casualties: 58,000 died, 300,000 injured; significant Vietnamese casualties.
• Drafting Issues: Disproportionately affected African Americans and poor whites.
• Public Perception: Soldiers viewed negatively by opponents and supporters of the war.
• Long-term Impact: Physical disabilities and mental health issues.

Political Instability

• Criticism of US Support: South Vietnam government viewed as corrupt.
• Societal Split: Support for and against the war; Nixon's administration affected.
• Policy Influence: Vietnamization policy and public opinion.

Germany - Historical Context

Post-War Germany

• Weimar Republic: Establishment and early challenges.
• Treaty of Versailles: Economic and political impacts, unpopularity.

Stresemann Era (1924-29)

• Economic Recovery: Dawes Plan, Rentenmark, Locarno Pact.
• Political and Social Stability: League of Nations membership, domestic policies.

Civil Rights Movement in USA

Key Events and Figures

• Brown v. Board of Education: Landmark case ending school segregation.
• Montgomery Bus Boycott: Catalyst for broader activism.
• Freedom Summer: Campaign for voting rights.

Impact and Legacy

• Federal Response: Legislation like the Civil Rights Act.
• Public Awareness: Increased through media coverage and activism.

Conclusion

• Understand the cause and effect relationships in both USA and Germany historical contexts.
• Recognize the role of activism and government response in societal changes.