See What You Know About The Recent Past And Take This Quiz That's About History From 1900-1959!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 30 min play time
From 1900 to 1959, so many things happened in so many different fields that it would be difficult to name them all. It was definitely a period of advancement on all fronts. Take this quiz and see what you know about these events that took place from 1900 to 1959!
Quiz written by
Daniel Rackley20th Century History Quiz Questions
73 Questions · 249 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Developed by the United States as an all-purpose military automobile, today what popular Sports Utility Vehicle is used for both highway driving and off-roading?
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AJeep
-
BChevy
-
CRam
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DFord Truck
Jeep
The Jeep was used by Allied soldiers during the war. Nazi Germany used BMWs and Volkswagens. The word "jeep" was originally used as slang for new, uninitiated army recruits or new machines, like prototype vehicles.
Question 2
This sitcom was a popular television comedy in the 1950s. The lead character was a woman who used physical comedy and later became the first woman to run a major television studio.
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AAmos 'n' Andy
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BI Love Lucy
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CDennis the Menace
-
DThe Twilight Zone
I Love Lucy
'I Love Lucy' ran from 1951 to 1957. It was the first scripted TV show to be shot in front of a live studio audience. It has been voted greatest TV show of all time in a survey by ABC News.
Question 3
This popular movie, based on a novel, starred Judy Garland, used Technicolor, and was nominated for six Academy Awards.
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AThe Wizard of Oz
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BIt Happened One Night
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CGone with the Wind
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DKing Kong
The Wizard of Oz
This was the first movie made with Technicolor. Named the most viewed movie on television.
Question 4
The Cleaver family became a household name in the late 1950s as part of what popular television show that presented an idealized version of American life in the 1950s?
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ABonanza
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BLeave it to Beaver
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CThe Honeymooners
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DDragnet
Leave it to Beaver
A very tame version of suburban life (the idealized American, middle-class lifestyle), is what's portrayed in 'Leave it to Beaver'. It's important to remember that this particular television show showcases a quixotic version of American life. It also does not include those living in destitution, or the lives of people of color at that particular time.
Question 5
Thousands of homeless Americans lived in shantytowns named after this president who was blamed for the Great Depression:
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ACoolidge
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BTruman
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CRoosevelt
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DHoover
Hoover
Hoovervilles (slums) developed along cities in the US during the Great Depression. Hoover was blamed for the Depression as he was president at the time of the Crash in '29, but it wasn't solely Hoover's fault. The Great Depression was a result of myriad problems that occured under former administrations, weak anti-trust laws, speculation, etc. Moreover, according to John Kenneth Galbraith, there was little economic understanding at that particular time, so for Hoover to understand how to remedy the issues of the Depression most likely wouldn't have been possible.
Question 6
Popular musicians, comedians, and entertainers like Frank Sinatra performed regularly on entertainment and news programs that millions of Americans "tuned" into using what device?
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ARadio
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BWalkie Talkie
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CVCR
-
DWalkman
Radio
The 1930s and 1940s are sometimes referred to as the Golden Age of Radio. This broadcast medium enjoyed immense popularity up until the 1950s when television superseded it.
Question 7
The Cuban Revolution was a revolt against the authoritarian regime of Fulgencio Batista led by what political leader?
-
ARomulo Gallegos
-
BDaniel Ortega
-
CFidel Castro
-
DSalvador Allende
Fidel Castro
The revolution took years and was fought by the 26th of July Movement led by Castro. Cuba became a revolutionary socialist state following the removal of US-backed dictator, Batista. This changed the relationship with the US. (Note that Batista limited civil liberties. Under Batista, economic disparities increased).
Question 8
The US government, as allowed by Executive Order 9066, removed what particular group of Americans and immigrants from their homes, neighborhoods, and work, forcing them to relocate to internment camps until after World War II ended?
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AJapanese Americans
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BRussian Americans
-
CAfrican Americans
-
DNative Americans
Japanese Americans
In the landmark Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States, 1944, the Court sided with the US government stating that the executive order that interned Japanese Americans was constitutional, regardless of their citizenship.
Question 9
What popular fashion doll was created in 1959 by Mattel, Inc.?
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APolly Pocket
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BCabbage Patch
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CBarbie
-
DAmerican Girl
Barbie
Barbie is the most profitable line of toys ever created. To date, Mattel has sold over 1 billion Barbie Dolls.
Question 10
This busy airport, along with thousands of other projects, was created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a program that employed millions of Americans as a result of the New Deal.
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ALaGuardia
-
BLAX
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CO'Hare
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DLogan
LaGuardia
The WPA gave thousands of Americans jobs during the 1930s through the federal and state governments. The WPA developed infrastructure that's still in use today. Much of this infrastructure is still in use today, but has not been continuously updated and is a political issue.
Question 11
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in what famous 1942 romantic film?
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AIt's a Wonderful Life
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BCasablanca
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CCitizen Kane
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DGone With the Wind
Casablanca
Casablanca is a romantic movie set during WWII. It won 3 Academy Awards including for Best Picture, and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. I was based on the unproduced stage play 'Everybody Comes to Rick's'.
Question 12
After years of working to find a cure, scientists developed the first successful vaccination for what disease in 1952?
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ADiphtheria
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BPolio
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CChickenpox
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DTetanus
Polio
After being developed by Jonas Salk and a team at the University of Pittsburgh, the vaccine became widely used in 1955 and reduced the number of reported cases each year from 350,000 in 1988 to 33 in 2018.
Question 13
What law provided benefits like low-cost mortgages and tuition assistance to American soldiers returning home after World War II? Many historians argue that this law, though helpful to most, excluded many black veterans.
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AThe Lend-Lease Act
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BManpower Development and Training Act
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CThe G.I. Bill
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DFamily Support Act
The G.I. Bill
Officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the G.I. Bill was signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944. Though helpful to white vets, the bill was affected by Jim Crow laws, especially in the south.
Question 14
What water resistant adhesive was invented and used during World War II as a useful way to repair weapons and other devices?
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AGorilla Glue
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BDuct Tape
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CSticky Tack
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DScotch Tape
Duct Tape
Duct tape was created by Johnson and Johnson and was used by soldiers to help keep things water resistant while fighting overseas. It is one of the most versatile materials around today.
Question 15
The Central Intelligence Agency staged a coup in 1954 in what Latin American country following the extensive lobbying efforts of an American corporation, the United Fruit Company?
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ABolivia
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BPeru
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CGuatemala
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DMexico
Guatemala
The United Fruit Company, an American Corporation, was given rights from authoritarian leaders to lands in Guatemala for its fruit trade. A Pro-democracy movement ousted the authoritarian regime (Ubico). Jacobo Arbenz was then democratically elected in 1951, but the US government engineered a coup against Arbenz, arguing that he was a communist. (Containment, the foreign policy designed by Kennan, stressed the necessity to stop the spread of communism). Arbenz was removed and the US propped up a military regime. As a result, Guatemala fought a civil war from 1960-1996. The US backed the regime during this conflict.
Question 16
This medical contraption was first used for clinical purposes in 1928 on patients suffering from polio:
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AIron Lung
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BNebulizer
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CBack Brace
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DLeg Crutches
Iron Lung
Patients were put inside the iron lung, which acted as a ventilation system, to compress and depress the chest, simulating natural breathing patterns.
Question 17
This parade is the largest parade in the world and first started in the fall of 1924.
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ASt. Patrick's Day Parade, Dublin
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BThe Philadelphia Mummers Parade, Pennsylvania
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CMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC
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DDia De Los Muertos Parade, Mexico
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC
This parade is frequented by millions of Americans every Thanksgiving in NYC.
Question 18
What famous sky scraper was completed in 1931?
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AJohn Hancock Tower
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BShanghai Tower
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CChrysler Building
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DEmpire State Building
Empire State Building
Designed in Art Deco style. The Empire State Building was thwarted at the tallest building in NY after the creation of the The World Trade Centers. (Changed in 2001).
Question 19
American writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wrote this work, which was published in 1925. The book became popular following Fitzgerald's death during the WWII era.
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AThe Great Gatsby
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BThe Sound and the Fury
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CUlysses
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DThe Stranger
The Great Gatsby
A popular book that showcases the extravegent and expensive life of many people during the Roaring 20s.
Question 20
The National Interstate and Defense Highways Act fashioned the growth of suburban communities in postwar America by popularizing car travel. In what year was this expansionary act signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower?
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A1949
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B1950
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C1956
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D1959
1956
With the creation of highways came other well-known businesses, including the Holiday Inn and other hotels which are often found on highway exits. McDonald's and other fast food chains started to appear at the same time. The highway system also expanded the St. Lawrence Seaway from the Atlantic to the Great Lakes, making the St. Lawrence River a major waterway for trade vessels in the mid-20th century.
Question 21
What company was essential to the American air force as it created both the B-17 and B-29 bombers? To avoid potential attacks, this company disguised its manufacturing plants with farmland.
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AGeneral Motors
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BGeneral Electric
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CBoeing
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DDuPont
Boeing
Boeing was established in the early 20th century in Seattle. The company was essential to the US air force efforts in WWII and has since created commercial aircraft, as well as aerospace products.
Question 22
The Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik into space in 1957. The US government feared trailing the Russians in what was called the Space Race. As a result, the US government formed what agency in 1958?
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ANational Security Agency (NSA)
-
BCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA)
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CDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS)
-
DNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The US was not only competing with the Soviet Union on land but in space. The two nations were competing for global influence and power. This included a space/technological race, as well as a massive increase in nuclear weaponry.
Question 23
This device became a popular source for news and entertainment for Americans following World War One:
-
AVideo
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BNewspaper
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CTelevision
-
DRadio
Radio
The radio was used during WWI. After WWI, the radio became popular and accessible to American consumers. TV would be next.
Question 24
The Japanese bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1941, causing the US to officially enter World War II. In an address to the nation, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated that this was a "date which will live in infamy". What was that date?
-
AJuly 7th
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BJune 13th
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CDecember 7th
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DNovember 7th
December 7th
The bombings of Pearl Harbor brought the US into the war, but the US had been helping the Allied powers since the war's outbreak in 1939. The US sold arms to France and Britain and sent aid via the Lend-Lease Act.
Question 25
Japanese internment resulted due to the attacks of Imperial Japan on Pearl Harbor. In addition to the threat of national security, what is another reason historians argue that the US government chose to intern the Japanese?
-
ACommunism
-
BReligion
-
CFacism
-
DRacism
Racism
There is a long history of racism in America, including racism toward Asian Americans including: Chinese Exclusion Act; Johnson-Reed Act; the "model minority" following the Immigration Act of 1965; miscegenation laws; public health policing of Chinese and other Asian spaces and bodies, and more. Historians like Peggy Pascoe, M. Ngai, and Nayan Shah all shed light on American racism toward Asian people, including the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War.
Question 26
Organized crime spread during the era of Prohibition. What is the name of the infamous struggle between an Irish and Italian gang in Chicago that resulted in the deaths of seven by gangster Al Capone and the South Side Italian gang?
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ARosewood Massacre
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BLudlow Massacre
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CSaturday Night Massacre
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DSt. Valentine's Day Massacre
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Gang violence was high during the 1920s as a result of Prohibition and the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol. Al Capone was a well-known gangster in charge of this distribution, as well as drugs, in Chicago.
Question 27
What was the name given to the top secret US atomic weapons development program?
-
AThe Manhattan Project
-
BThe Brooklyn Project
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CThe Chicago Project
-
DThe Oppenheimer Project
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a nuclear research and development project that resulted in the creation of nuclear weapons. It was led by Robert Oppenheimer and was supported by the British and Canadian governments. The first two bombs were used on Japan, but the US continued to test bombs - during Operation Crossroads, as well as the underwater, on land, and above ground testing on Bikini Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands.
Question 28
Named after a senator from Wisconsin, what is the name of the practice of making false accusations, spreading the fear of communism, and intensifying public censorship?
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AConservatism
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BTranscendentalism
-
CMcCarthyism
-
DAnarchism
McCarthyism
Joseph McCarthy's claim that he had a list of communists in the government, though not proven, occurred during the Korean War. Fear of communism at that time earned the Senator popularity amongst the people and the hawks in Washington. McCarthy's popularity all but disappeared, however, following his challenge to the US Army in 1954. He died three years later, having lost most of his popularity and influence.
Question 29
What is the name of the cultural icon most closely associated with women factory and naval yard workers during World War II?
-
AMother Goose
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BWonder Woman
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CLady Liberty
-
DRosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter
Thousands of women worked in factories during WWII as men fought overseas. Rosie posters highlighted the capabilities of women workers. The US government (as well as Allied governments) created similar posters to encourage women to join the workforce at this particular time. Women were responsible for creating weapons and aircrafts, products that were essential to the war effort. Many women remained in the workforce following the end of the war.
Question 30
What year was the JonesโShafroth Act signed by Congress, giving Puerto Ricans United States citizenship?
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A1917
-
B1911
-
C1913
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D1916
1917
The US acquired Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War, making the island a US territory in 1898. The US has recognized all Puerto Ricans as US citizens since the early 20th century.
Question 31
This waterway connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is essential to maritime trade. In 1904 under President Theodore Roosevelt, the United States took control over the waterway's development. It was officially finished in 1914. What is the name of this waterway?
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AWelland
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BSuez
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CErie Canal
-
DPanama Canal
Panama Canal
The US controlled the Panama Canal from 1914 to 1979. Control of the area officially passed to the Republic of Panama in 1999. The canal is used most for maritime trade between the United States and East Asian nations.
Question 32
The original ______ comic was sold in the United States in 1938. This particular issue sold for $3.2 million in 2014.
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ABatman
-
BHulk
-
CX-Men
-
DSuperman
Superman
Superman is one of the most popular comic book characters ever created.
Question 33
What soulful tune, originally recorded by musician Big Mama Thornton, was released in 1956 by Elvis Presley? It became his best-selling song and helped him earn the title of "King of Rock and Roll".
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AGreat Balls of Fire
-
BJohnny B. Goode
-
CPeggy Sue
-
DHound Dog
Hound Dog
Elvis's live performance of "Hound Dog" in 1956 was not applauded by most Americans. Many argued that Elvis was an oversexed, talentless musician. This performance was used in the 1994 film 'Forrest Gump'.
Question 34
This famous baseball player set a home-run record in 1927. Not until 1974 did MLB player, Hank Aaron, beat this record.
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AJackie Robinson
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BBabe Ruth
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CLou Gehrig
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DTed Williams
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth was the most celebrated athlete of his time. He played Major League Baseball for 22 years.
Question 35
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. led what non-violent campaign in Montgomery, Alabama in favor of fair treatment and equal rights for blacks following the open racial segregation of Rosa Parks on public transportation?
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Amarch on Washington
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Bdiner sit-in
-
Cbus boycott
-
Dsalt march
bus boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott, where blacks refused to take public transportation, lasted for a year from 1955-56. The US Supreme Court then ordered Montgomery to integrate its public transportation system. MLK was only 26 years old at the time, but became the leader of the non-violent Civil Rights movement.
Question 36
Which famous Belfast made ship sank between April 14 and 15, 1912?
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ATitanic
-
BBritannic
-
CLusitania
-
DCarpathia
Titanic
The Titanic was a British passenger ship that sank in the Atlantic after colliding with an iceberg while traveling to New York City from the UK.
Question 37
Two atomic bombs named Little Boy and Fat Man were dropped in Japan, killing thousands of people instantly, and leaving many with radiation poisoning. This act by the US government led to the end of World War II. What two cities were devastated by the dropping of these two weapons?
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AKyoto and Tokyo
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BNagasaki and Tokyo
-
CHiroshima and Tokyo
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DHiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The US dropped the first bomb on August 6, 1945 on Hiroshima. The blast killed 80,000 people immediately. The US dropped the second bomb on 3 days later on Nagasaki, killing 40,000. Japan surrendered shortly after. Historians debate whether using the bombs was necessary to end the war based on how damaging and devastating they were. Some, however, argue that the bombs probably saved Japanese and American hundreds of thousands of lives if the war had continued.
Question 38
What popular amusement park opened its doors in Anaheim, California in 1955?
-
ADisneyland
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BDisneyworld
-
CSix Flags
-
DHersheypark
Disneyland
Many amusement parks were built at the edge of cities, along public transportation lines. Disneyland was among them. This trend continued throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
Question 39
What piece of fiction, published in 1939, won author John Steinbeck the National Book Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and later a Nobel Prize:
-
ANineteen Eighty-Four
-
BA Tree Grows in Brooklyn
-
CThe Grapes of Wrath
-
DThe Catcher in the Rye
The Grapes of Wrath
This book is about a family traveling in the Mid-west of the US during the Depression who are then trapped in the Dust Bowl, a period of severe dust storms and damaged agriculture. It showcases the hardships millions witnessed during the 1930s.
Question 40
What is the relationship between the following two Supreme Court cases: Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?
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AOne invalidated the separate but equal doctrine, while the other enforced it.
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BOne ignored the exclusionary principle, while the other incorporated the fourth amendment through the fourteenth.
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COne argued that restricting jury service to white men was constitutional while the other repudiated that notion.
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DOne said the president was above the law, the other said they were not.
One invalidated the separate but equal doctrine, while the other enforced it.
The court unanimously decided that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case gave power to the Civil Rights movement.
Question 41
This synthetic polymer has been used to create ropes, tires, carpets, clothing, food packaging and much more. It was created by the DuPont industrial company in the 1930s, and was showcased at the World Fair in New York in 1939.
-
AAramid
-
BNylon
-
CSpandex
-
DRayon
Nylon
Nylon has various uses. After its invention in the 1930s, it was used during WWII as a replacement for silk in parachutes.
Question 42
In 1925, a teacher was convicted and fined for teaching evolution at a school in Tennessee. What is the name given to this highly publicized case that showcased the differences between fundamentalist and modern views of American values?
-
AThe State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
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BTexas v. Johnson
-
CGideon v. Wainwright
-
DMcCulloch v. Maryland
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
Not until the 1960s was evolution put into school books following this trial. This trial also drew prominent Christian and former presidential nominee, William Jennings Bryan, to the case as prosecutor.
Question 43
Which of these popular comic book characters first appeared in 1941?
-
ASuperman
-
BCaptain America
-
CBatman
-
DIron Man
Captain America
Captain America is a WWII superhero cartoon. He often fought Nazis and later became a part of Marvel's Avengers.
Question 44
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal was a series of programs established by the federal government to help Americans suffering as a result of the Depression. The New Deal focused on the "3 Rs." What is NOT one of the three Rs?
-
ARelief
-
BRefund
-
CRecovery
-
DReform
Refund
Relief through public works; Recovery work in the housing sector, etc.; Reform of the financial system, trade, and prevention from another collapse.
Question 45
What Marxist revolutionary helped secure power for the Soviets during the Russian Revolution and was assassinated in Mexico in 1940 by orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin?
-
ATrotsky
-
BLenin
-
CMarx
-
DEngels
Trotsky
Trotsky was a leader of the Bolsheviks but lost much influence following Lenin's death when Stalin took power. Trotsky was critical of the Communist Party, and argued in favor of better economic planning. He was pushed out of the Communist Party and was later deported prior to his death.
Question 46
Which US president gave the orders to drop the atomic bombs in 1945?
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AHarry Truman
-
BDwight D. Eisenhower
-
CFranklin Delano Roosevelt
-
DDouglas MacArthur
Harry Truman
Truman did not know about the bombs until he became president following FDR's death. His decision to use them is one of the most controversial and debated in modern military history.
Question 47
This peace treaty was signed in June of 1919, ending World War I.
-
ATreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
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BTreaty of Versailles
-
CTreaty of Paris
-
DTreaty of Ghent
Treaty of Versailles
This Treaty is significant, particularly because it established a War Guilt clause, which forced war-torn Germany to not only accept responsibility for the war, but also to pay reparations, deindustrialize and disarm. The Treaty of Versailles helped give rise to extremism in Germany, and sowed the seeds of the Second World War.
Question 48
What country was divided at the 38th parallel with opposing ideologies emerging on either side of the demarcation, causing one of the first major "hot wars" fought during the Cold War?
-
AVietnam War
-
BAfghanistan War
-
CJapanese War
-
DKorean War
Korean War
Korea was divided in two (North and South) after the Japanese surrendered at the end of WWII. (Korea had been under Japanese control during the war). The Republic of Korea (South Korea under US influence) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea under the Soviet Union's influence) formed the country. Despite the war, Korea is still split today. North Korea wants the country to unify as a communist state.
Question 49
France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany in 1939 after Nazi Germany invaded what country, starting the Second World War?
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AFrance
-
BFinland
-
CPoland
-
DRomania
Poland
The Nazis believed in a racial hierarchy. Poles were considered racially inferior to the Germans. Hitler argued in favor of lebensraum, policies and practices that argued that racially inferior people needed to be removed (Polish, Slavic, Russian, etc), for the development of racially superior races (Germans).
Question 50
Suburban areas burgeoned in the post-war period. House assembly was quick and each unit was nearly identical. What is the common name of the neighborhood developments that housed many returning veterans?
-
ARooseveltown
-
BWashingtontown
-
CLevittown
-
DJeffersontown
Levittown
The development of Levittown and other suburban neighborhoods helped house many young couples. The communities were established quickly and efficiently. But it is essential to understand that though impressive and efficient, these neighborhoods were not inclusive. Middle-class whites made up the population who lived in these areas. Developments red-lined (refused) blacks, other people of color, and poor from living in these areas.
Question 51
This champion racehourse became a symbol of hope for many Americans in the 1930s
-
ASeabiscuit
-
BSecretariat
-
CSea Bird
-
DAmerican Pharoah
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was an unliklely winner in a time when Americans had little hope of economic and job recovey following the great crash. Horse racing and the success of Seabiscuit was a sport that provided Americans an entertainment outlet at this difficult time.
Question 52
Which of these countries officially declared their independence in 1948?
-
AIran
-
BIreland
-
CIsrael
-
DItaly
Israel
The British empire took control of Palestine following WWI after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The British government issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which explained the empire's goal to support the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. Truman recognized the state of Israel the same day it was established (May 14, 1948). This is an unstable area, as people of Israeli and Palestinian descent both call this area their homeland. Historians write about Palestinian diaspora, or the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians as a result of the creation of this homeland. Historians also discuss the violence back and forth between Israelis and Palestinians.
Question 53
What body of water did the first airplane cross over in 1919:
-
APacific Ocean
-
BAtlantic Ocean
-
CMediterranean Sea
-
DIndian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
WWI technology siginificantly improved the long-distance capabilities of airplanes. Charles Lindbergh is famous for making the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, from New York to Paris, France. But Lindbergh was actually the 19th person to make the trip.
Question 54
What president threatened to pack the Supreme Court after the Court struck down a piece of the National Recovery Administration?
-
ACalvin Coolidge
-
BFranklin Delano Roosevelt
-
CHerbert Hoover
-
DHarry Truman
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
FDR threatened to pack the supreme court with justices who would support New Deal agendas.The law was never supported by Congress and FDR suffered from loss of political support as a result. The Court did, however, uphold the right of the federal government to regulate labor-management relations.
Question 55
Congress made what natural landform a National Park on February 26, 1919?
-
AGrand Canyon National Park
-
BYellowstone National Park
-
CYosemite National Park
-
DZion National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon was made a national park on February 26, 1919.
Question 56
This Ford vehicle became the first mass-produced automobile on a moving assembly line in 1913:
-
AFord Model A
-
BFord Model K
-
CFord Model T
-
DFord Model I
Ford Model T
The first moving assembly line for mass automobile assembly reduced vehicle production time to just 30 minutes.
Question 57
States around the world gained autonomy during the 1950s following the Second World War in what was called the decolonization movement. In 1956, what country nationalized the Suez Canal, which was previously co-owned and controlled by the French and British since its construction in the mid-1800s?
-
AJordan
-
BEgypt
-
CIsrael
-
DIndia
Egypt
British and French troops were sent to the area to protect the canal, but Eisenhower condemned the action and pushed for the European powers to accept a ceasefire. This is a very significant time because most of the European colonies around the world were decolonizing and the US wanted to disassociate itself from European colonization. The US acting in favor of Egypt's Nasser over its Allies was a bold move concerning political relationships. There was an attempt by the Eisenhower administration to compete for alliances and loyalty of decolonized areas throughout the world as the US feared the spread of communism to these fragile areas. The US decision to side with Egypt was a strategic move to make the US look a certain way to the rest of the world at this time.
Question 58
A speculation bubble developed throughout the roaring twenties and caused the stock market to crash, triggering the worst economic crisis and economic depression in the United States. This economic crash affected all industrialized nations, limiting production and trade worldwide. What year did the Great Crash happen?
-
A1933
-
B1927
-
C1929
-
D1928
1929
Land and stock speculation, Britain's return to the gold standard, record high trading, a series of booms and busts, burgeoned purchase of stocks on margin, and an influx of gold on wall street all contributed to the Great Crash. Income maldistribution, the structure of trusts and corporations, the unstable banking structure, foreign trade imbalances, and lack of economic intelligence all led to the Great Drepression.
Question 59
Who became Premier of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin? He was known for the "Thaw" that occurred during the 1950s and early 1960s when the Soviet government temporarily reduced censorship and suppression of the Russian people.
-
ALeonid Brezhnev
-
BYuri Andropov
-
CMikhail Gorbachev
-
DNikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Unlike Stalin, who was known for purges, eliminating political opponents, deporting millions of people to Siberia, controlling the media, and using heavy propaganda throughout the country, Khrushchev encouraged de-Stalinization. He released prisoners from the Gulags, opened up the media, and limited censorship.
Question 60
Before winning the 1928 presidential election, he was a worldwide engineer, who acted as United States food administrator during WWI, as well as the director general of the American Relief Administration:
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AHerbert Hoover
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BWoodrow Wilson
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CFranklin Delano Roosevelt
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DCalvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover
Hoover did great things, helping others overseas during WWI, prior to becoming president. He became president at the worst possible time, right on the cusp of the Great Crash in '29. Little economic knowledge did not help his cause, trying to put millions of people back to work. Unfortunatly, Hoover is very rarely considered a good president.
Question 61
Vietnam was considered a colonial territory of what European nation from 1887 to 1954?
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ABelgium
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BGermany
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CGreat Britain
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DFrance
France
Vietnam was part of French Indochina, French colonial territories in Southeast Asia. But the Nazi invasion of France in 1940 weakened France's ability to control its colonial territories. Japan took control of Vietnam and occupied the area with the goal to control China's southern border. Neither the Japanese or the French maintained control of colonial Vietnam. By 1954, when France formally relinquished its claim to that area, the US was involved in the South, supporting Ngo Dinh Diem, while Ho Chi Minh led the communists in the North and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Vietnam had been occupied for years. Freedom from colonial powers was replaced with a hot war between the Soviet Union and the US in Vietnam.
Question 62
German U-boats sank this passenger ship in 1915, contributing to American entry into World War One:
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AAndrea Doria
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BSS Edmund Fitzgerald
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CRMS Titanic
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DRMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
The Lusitania sank rapidly off the coast of Ireland following a German torpedo strike, killing over 1,000 people, including 128 Americans.
Question 63
Originally called "Criss-Crosswords", what popular board game was first manufactured in 1948?
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ACheckers
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BConnect Four
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CMonopoly
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DScrabble
Scrabble
Today, Scrabble is available in 29 languages and approximately 150 million sets have been sold around the world. Roughly 1/3 of American homes has a Scrabble set.
Question 64
What famous man led a nonviolent march in 1930 against British control of salt production in India.
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AHenry David Thoreau
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BIndira Gandhi
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CMohandas Gandhi
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DMartti Ahtisaari
Mohandas Gandhi
Under British rule, the Indian population was not able to produce or sell salt, and were forced to buy expensive and often imported salt. Gandhi used civil disobedience to protest against these measures.
Question 65
Jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Dave Brubeck, traveled overseas during the Cold War to represent "American values" through integrated jazz bands. What president initiated this CIA/State Department-run mission?
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AHarry Truman
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BJimmy Carter
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CJohn F. Kennedy
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DDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
The US was competing for loyalty/relationships from newly autonomous states as a result of the decolonization movement. The government used jazz, a traditional black American music, developed in the south, to represent the US abroad. Why? Black and white musicians playing together at overseas venues helped the US look better abroad while at home blacks fought for their civil rights and experienced racists and limiting laws throughout the country. By using jazz and jazz musicians, the US government thought it would appeal to other people of color in decolonized states, thus helping the US gain political and economic control in those areas during the Cold War against the Soviet Union.
Question 66
African Americans started moving from southern to northern states to escape strict Jim Crow segregation during the early 20th century. What is the name of this movement, which saw 6 million people move from the deep south in search of equal opportunity?
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AFree Culture Movement
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BThe Great Migration
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CAnti-Jim Crow Movement
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DBlack Concsciousness Movement
The Great Migration
African Americans living in America's South were rarely equal to white citizens. Even though all people--including former slaves--were granted citizenship if born in the United States following the ratification of the 14th amendment, African Americans did not have the same opportunities as caucasians. (See Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson 1896, which enforced the separate but equal doctrine. Not until 1954 Brown v. Board was this reversed). The Great Migration showcases how African Americans wanted equality, enough to uproot their families and move to unknown parts of the country. Unfortunately for many, they continued to experience racism and hatred in the North.
Question 67
The 1916 Easter Uprising took place in what country?
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AGreece
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BFrance
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CBritain
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DIreland
Ireland
The Easter Uprising was an armed insurrection in Dublin, Ireland in 1916, with the goal of ending British rule in Ireland. Even though the insurrection wasn't successful against the power of the British military, this uprising made for increased Irish nationalism, leading to the Irish War for Independence.
Question 68
What year did The Great War begin in Europe?
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A1917
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B1915
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C1914
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D1919
1914
The Great War, also known as World War One, started in Europe in 1914 and ended in 1918. The United States entered the war in 1917 after declaring war on Germany.
Question 69
What European country fought a civil war between 1935 and 1939?
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AAlgeria
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BBolivia
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CSpain
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DGermany
Spain
This war was fought between leftists and and right wing revolutionaries. Some argue that it was a fight between those in favor of democracy and fascism. Francisco Franco won the battle and ruled over Spain as a military dictator until his death in 1975.
Question 70
In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the National Labor Relations Act, which gave workers the right of collective bargaining, and the ability to form and/or join unions. The NLRA is better known as the ___________ Act, named after the Senator who introduced this bill to the Senate floor.
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ASampson
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BJones
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CStewart-Debbs
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DWagner
Wagner
The Wagner Act gives workers the right to collective bargaining and the right to unionize.
Question 71
Americans witnessed the emergence of new sounds and dances, like the Charleston, during the Jazz Age of the 1920s. What musician was NOT part of the Jazz Age in the '20s?
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AWynton Marsalis
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BLouis Armstrong
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CBessie Smith
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DDuke Ellington
Wynton Marsalis
All listed musicians are associated with jazz, but Marsalis wasn't born yet. He is currently a famous American jazz musician.
Question 72
Chiang Kai-Shek was the president of what country from 1928 to 1975?
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AVietnam
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BJapan
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CChina
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DKorea
China
He led the suppression of the Chinese Communist party. In 1946, civil war broke out between his party and the Communists. In 1949, the Communists won and made China the People's Republic of China. Chiang and his fled to Taiwan. There Chiang established a government and ruled as President of the Republic of China for 25 more years. His government was recognised by many countries as the legitimate government of China, and Taiwan controlled China's seat in the United Nations until the end of his life in '75.
Question 73
In 1923, Canadian scientist Frederick G. Banting and Scottish physiologist John Macleod, won the Nobel Prize for their medical co-discovery of:
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AGerm Theory
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BInsulin
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CAnaesthetic
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DPenicillin
Insulin
Discovering insluin has helped those suffering from Diabetes.
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