Be prepared to answer the following essay questions. Be sure to include specific examples that support your thesis and conclusions. Your response to each essay must be at least 500 words in length.
1. World War II inspired Americans to sacrifice and come together for a common cause-the defeat of fascism and militarism in Europe and Asia. To what extent did America's fight for democracy abroad translate into more democracy and equality in the United States?
2. What factors led to the postwar Red scare? What was Senator Joseph McCarthy's role in the movement? What impact did the crusade against communism have on civil liberties in the United States?
3. The federal government and federal court actions had a significant impact on the rights and status of African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans during the 1950s. What spurred federal action on these issues during the Cold War era? What were the positive and negative outcomes for these groups?
4. The year 1968 has been called the year of upheaval. Describe the domestic and foreign disturbances that made that label particularly apt.
5. Compare the two recent wars in the Persian Gulf. What factors distinguish the war in 1991 from the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003?