Four Essays. Write essays of 1-1.5 pages each on four questions. Include a picture with each essay. Explain how particular things in the picture relate to your key points.
World War II. Explain how the U.S. got involved in World War II. What interests were considered especially important? What factors were critical in winning the war? What lessons could we learn from this experience?
World War II and American Society. How did Americans adjust to changes during the war years? Describe some of the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the war. In what ways did the war leave a lasting impact on America?
Cold War. What was the Cold War about? Describe some of the key events related to the Cold War between 1945 and 1960. Was the conflict avoidable? In what ways might the conflict appear different to us now than it did to people at the time?
Post-War America. What major social, economic and cultural changes do you see in America following World War II? Do you see these developments as new and remarkable, or as a continuation of trends that started earlier?
Post-War Politics. Describe some of the political events in America during the Truman and Eisenhower years. What key issues were on people's minds? How did leaders in this era build on the ideas of the New Deal? What new developments do you see?
The 1960s. What was remarkable about the 1960s and early 70s? Describe at least three major social or political movements. How does the portrayal of this era in our textbook compare with impressions you might get from popular media?
Three key terms. Develop an essay connecting three key terms from the handouts. Show how each of these terms is important and how they relate to each other.