1. In the time since they occurred, the "Fair Deal" policies of Harry Truman's presidential administration and the "Modern Republicanism" of Dwight Eisenhower's presidential administration have often been held up as standards of excellence for presidential administrations. Yet, the ability for these administrations to attain the kinds of growth and success they did might be attributed to the economic boom coming out of World War II that the United States experienced between 1945 and 1960. In other words, this growth may have been a product of particular elements of its time period that subsequent years could not duplicate. Identify four distinct economic, political, and/or cultural developments from between 1945 and 1960 that contributed to U.S. growth and success at the time period. For each example, clearly identify the development and clearly explain how the development contributed to U.S. growth and success between 1945 and 1960. Then, clearly explain how the combination of the developments you have discussed produced an environment that facilitated kinds of success and growth that may not have been achievable in the same ways before or since.
2. The Cold War largely defined U.S. foreign policy from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. With that in mind, describe how the Cold War influenced U.S. foreign policy in each decade from the 1950s through the 1980s. Specifically discuss each of these four decades, with clear indication of major foreign policy events and policies from each decade and explanation of how the Cold War produced those policies and events. Finally, discuss at least two ways in which the Cold War affected domestic life in the United States from the 1950s through the 1980s.