Directions

Welcome to the interactive viewing guide for The Century: America's Time - Happy Daze (1953-1960). This unit covers the Eisenhower years, a period often remembered for its suburban conformity, the rise of television, and the early, pivotal victories of the Civil Rights Movement.

Instructions:

Complete the Identity Panel above.
Watch the documentary via the link in the sidebar.
Answer the 15 questions sequentially.
Your progress is saved locally. Click "FINISHED" at the end to grade your work.

Part I: The Eisenhower Era & Suburban Life

1. Who was the popular WWII general elected President in 1952, promising stability and a return to "normalcy" after two decades of war and depression?

Harry Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower Douglas MacArthur Richard Nixon

2. What medical breakthrough in 1955, developed by Jonas Salk, brought an end to the fear of a paralyzing disease that targeted children?

The Penicillin Shot The Polio Vaccine The Smallpox Cure The Insulin Treatment

3. The expansion of which system transformed the American economy and allowed for the rapid growth of suburban life?

The Transcontinental Railroad The Federal Aviation Network The Interstate Highway System The National Electric Grid

4. By 1960, what new appliance was found in 90% of American homes, fundamentally changing how families received news and entertainment?

The Dishwasher The Air Conditioner The Television The Microwave

5. What was the name of the movement of writers and poets who began to rebel against the mass-market conformity of the 1950s?

The Lost Generation The Hippies The Beat Generation The Transcendentalists

Part II: The Civil Rights Surge & Cultural Shift

6. The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared that segregation in which institution was unconstitutional?

Public Transportation Public Schools Government Offices Restaurants and Diners

7. Who became a national symbol of resistance in 1955 after refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus?

Coretta Scott King Rosa Parks Harriet Tubman Sojourner Truth

8. What new musical genre, popularized by artists like Elvis Presley, bridged racial divides and shocked older generations?

Jazz Big Band Rock and Roll Country & Western

9. In 1957, Eisenhower sent federal troops to which city to protect nine African American students integrating a high school?

Birmingham Little Rock Selma Memphis

10. What was the term used to describe the mass movement of white families from diverse city centers to the homogeneous suburbs?

Urban Sprawl White Flight The Great Exodus Suburban Drift

Part III: The Cold War & The Space Race

11. What was the name of the world's first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, causing widespread fear in America?

Apollo 1 Sputnik Vostok Explorer

12. The US government responded to the Soviet space lead by creating which federal agency in 1958?

The CIA The NSA NASA The AEC

13. Which Senator's downfall in 1954, following televised hearings, marked the end of the "Red Scare" paranoia he had stoked?

Joseph McCarthy Barry Goldwater Lyndon Johnson Robert Taft

14. What type of "debate" occurred between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev in 1959, showcasing American consumer luxury?

The Radio Debate The Kitchen Debate The Kremlin Summit The Sputnik Stand-off

15. By 1960, the "Happy Daze" began to fade as tensions rose over the revolution in which nearby island nation?

Puerto Rico The Bahamas Cuba Jamaica