History Short Answers and Essays (Essay Sample)

Name
Instructor
Course
Date
History Short Answers and Essays
Introduction
This paper looks into the various history of American society and how it has evolved to the current day America. This essay will look into American history, including the civil war, the cold war, Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, and the changes in American society in the 1990s. The paper provides an opportunity for the reader and students to walk through making the United States and what it entailed. The essay will explore the book ‘The American Yawp reader’, a primary source, and account for various historical events in America. For example, the fights it had to fight to gain the democracy enjoyed today by all. The journey of the black Africans and other minority groups like the Mexicans through immigration, the struggles for these groups through civil rights activism, and today’s America that embraces diversity. The paper also provides a rich history of the United States as a superpower and what the position entailed. For instance, fighting for free nations to maintain superiority and influence over a large area. In one way or another, most of the battles that America fought were connected to the idea of superiority. One also gets to understand the concept of communism and capitalism. It explains why America is among the leading capitalist country today. This paper also shows the origin of the today's enjoyed democracy and what it cost the nation of America. Therefore, this paper is a journey into America’s history and its making, like battles (cold war, civil war, Vietnam War), the fight for civil rights, military prowess, the industrial revolution, and technological advancement.
Part 1
Explain the origins and methods of the Cold War strategy of Containment.
The cold war containment was a foreign policy adopted by the United States to isolate the communists during the Cold War. The measure aimed at preventing the communist from spreading to the neighboring countries. The Truman doctrine was a request to support the anti-communist regime. According to him, communism was an evil seed nurtured by misery and want, and he believed it was the duty of America to protect other free nations to preserve the freedom of the people. Truman believed freedom blended peace, and if America as the leader of capitalist nations, does not control the spread of communism, they endanger world peace.
President Truman suggested the containment idea as the best way to keep the communist away. One of the ways that the United States used to contain/ isolate the communist societies was using the military. This measure was suggested by the NSC-68 report seconding the suggestion by Truman. More funds were set aside for military spending, especially in making nuclear bombs to achieve this. Another way is to establish the North Atlantic treaty organization by president Truman (NATO), a mutual defense pact. NATO was a military alliance between European countries, one Asian country, and two North American countries. NATO aimed to ensure the freedom and security of these countries through military power. According to John McCarthy, the end of the Second World War was not the end of the war but the start of the cold war. When speaking about communism, he advises that the United States should not relax and be deceived; there is peace but should shun communist countries in all ways possible.
Explain the origins behind the Culture of Conformity in the 1950s and its impact on the 1960s.
The 1950s were known for abundance in America and the culture of conformity. The society experienced massive economic growth, which led to various classes of people and plenty of consumer goods. The economic growth and life improvement led to conformity as everyone wanted to adapt to the new norm. However, the increase in the economy led to inequalities such as a class of rich and the poor. The women and the minority groups were discriminated against. Society experienced moments of contradictions, like allowing a free or liberating lifestyle and at the same time an experience of conformity. The changes in American society led to migration by Mexicans to provide labor, leading to millions of immigrants. Also, there was segregation in schools due to the presence of minority groups and income inequality gaps. In Brown vs. Board of education of Topeka, the court ruled against school segregation. The conformity was due to economic growth and called for a particular way of life. For example, consumerism, conventional family life, and mainstream culture.
While the 1950s was characterized by an increased economy and a better way of life for Americans, it also increased inequality. The minority and women were discriminated against. The schools and churches were faced with the worst kind of segregation. As a result, the 1960s will be remembered as years of active activism, especially concerning civil rights. Many movements came into place to fight for civil rights. For example, the national organization of women. The students, too, came up to fight for their rights and a student democratic society. The Port Huron statement talks of a manifesto by Tom Hayden proposing participatory democracy to preserve diversity and culture. Another example of human rights campaign was by Lyndon Johnson on voting rights. While addressing Congress, he pushed for the voting rights act. Therefore, the 1960s can be termed years of great awakening and fights for equality and democracy.
Explain Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 and their significance to the Civil Rights Movement.
Since reconstruction time, the 9980 and 9981 executive orders were adopted to protect the American citizens against discrimination. For example, the 9980 0rder authorized an establishment of review boards and agencies where racially discriminated employees could appeal. The 9981 order was to ensure equality in the armed forces. It demanded that there should be equal opportunity and treatment for all people regardless of origin, color, religion, or race. The 9981 orders were necessary for the civil rights movement because they inspired the other sections to end discrimination. It was also a significant achievement after more than a century of sanctioned discrimination in the army. The 9980 order was a form of relief to the employees as it gave them a platform to air their grievances, thus, gave them a chance to refute discrimination of any kind. The two orders were essential to the civil rights movement since they signified that its efforts to fight for equality were successful. The desegregation of the armed forces became a model for equality for African Americans. The two orders also set the course for civil rights in the following years and gave leeway for the minorities like black Americans.
Explain some of the gains of the 1960s feminist movement
One of the 1960s women movement was the national organization for women and its famous ‘statement of purpose’. The organization was formed in 1966 by Shirley Chisolm and Betty Friedan, and through the statement of purpose, the organization and its feminism goals.
The organization's goals were equality for all women and equal partnership for all sexes. The movement believed women could carry the responsibilities and have the privileges as men. This era saw various changes, like more women were joining the workforce and changing the traditional narrative that women are home keepers and should do the minor jobs in society. This change brought about enlightenment and exposure that made them see the disparities between men and women in the work industry. Like every other human being, the movement believed women should have the chance to develop their full human potential. Therefore, the movement sought to fight against women's discrimination in government, churches, medicine, law, judiciary, education, labor unions, and political parties.
The 1960s feminist movement was vital since it experienced several gains, such as equal access to education. Today, a woman can study any subject of their choice, even those deemed as men’s courses like engineering and political courses. Through the feminist movement, women also gained increased participation in workplaces and politics. The women were also granted abortion rights, and legal protection of women was established. Another thing is that the women's birth control was approved, and child-rearing responsibilities could be shared between men and women. The employment sector also started embracing equal pay for equal work despite gender. While movements were fighting for women's rights in the past years, the 1960s saw a significant change in the way women were treated, and society’s perception of women changed a great deal. The women's rights movements of this time saw a society that appreciated women as much as men, and women stood equal opportunities as men.
Explain the Tet Offensive and its significance to the Vietnam War
The series of attacks by the Northern Vietnamese on South Vietnam cities refers to as the Tet Offensive. The purpose of the offensive attacks was to incite a rebellion against southern Vietnam and force America to withdraw from its involvement in the Vietnam War. The north targeted various places in the south, such as government buildings, cities, and towns. While the Tet Offensive did not achieve its purpose of inciting rebellion against anti-communist southern Vietnam, they managed to weaken the United States support for the Vietnam War. The attack of cities such as Saigon and Hue sent a message to the northern troops were not as weak as earlier claimed by the Johnson administration. The impact of the Tet offensive on Vietnam was imme...