The Confident Year, 1953 – 1964 (chap.28)

Guiding Questions

• What were the sources of prosperity in the 1950s and 1960s? How did prosperity shape cities, families, and religion? Who was left out?

• How did President Eisenhower’s foreign policy affect U.S.-Soviet relations? What did he think was at stake in Vietnam?

• What was President Kennedy’s approach to the Soviet Union? How did his policies compare to those of Eisenhower? What did he think was at stake in Vietnam? in Cuba?

• Why was Brown v. Board of Education a turning point in the struggle for equal rights?

• Who initiated and led the Civil Rights Movement? What strategies for change were used by civil rights leaders between 1955 and 1965? What were the major successes of the movement during this time period?

• What was Lyndon Johnson’s vision for the U.S. in 1964? Was he able to implement this vision?

Note Taking Guidelines

• Make a concept web which illustrates the impact of prosperity on the social, economic, and political life of the nation.

• Add to your Cold War timeline the events discussed in this chapter. Based on this timeline, how would you compare President Eisenhower’s policies toward the Soviet Union with President Truman’s?

• Create a graphic organizer which illustrates the methods used by various civil rights organizations to achieve equality. Look for areas of continuity (such as goals) and areas of difference (strategies)

• Construct a chart which organizes the domestic and foreign policy successes (and failures) of Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.

Terms

After the Fact, “From Rosie to Lucy”

Guiding Questions

• What is the “feminine mystique” and how does it apply to this article?

• What happened to the role and status of women between World War II and the 1950s? What caused this change?

• How much of a role did the media play in this change? Is the media a reflection of society? Does the media shape society? How does this analysis apply to 1950s sitcoms?

• What about today? Do you see any connections between the discussion of media in this article and the media today?