Travel Through The Decades With This 1930s-1980s Quiz!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 26 min play time
The decades between the 1930s to the 1980s were full of technological innovation, tragic loss through war and some of the greatest entertainment that has ever existed. Take this quiz and see what you know about these amazing decades!
Quiz written by
Daniel Rackley1930s-1980s Quiz Questions
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Question 1
Who were the first two astronauts to walk on the moon?
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AEugene Cernan and Pete Conrad
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BNeil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
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CSally Ride and Michael Collins
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DJim Lovell and Fred Haise
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two men to walk on the surface of the moon.
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
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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
Disco emerged as a popular genre of dance music in the late 1970s following the success of what film that starred actor John Travolta?
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ASaturday Night Fever
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BDirty Dancing
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CCan't Stop the Music
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DXanadu
Saturday Night Fever
Disco was a reaction to Rock and the counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s. It was embraced by people of color, men and women, as well as the gay community in major cities. Disco was danced to at discotheques. Like other music genres, disco is often associated with promiscuous dancing and drug use.
Question 4
She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, was canonized as a saint in 2016, and spent her life helping the poor. What is the name of this Catholic nun who passed away in 1997?
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AMother Angelica
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BMother Elizabeth
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CMother Teresa
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DMother Katherine
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was championed for her charitable work but was also criticized by some for her stance on certain issues.
Question 5
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 6
This piece of infrastructure separated East and West Berlin and remains a powerful symbol of the division that existed during the Cold War.
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ASilver Line
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B38th Parallel
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CBerlin Wall
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DPort Mann Bridge
Berlin Wall
Communist East German authorities built a wall that closed off West Berlin in 1961. The wall was built to stop East to West immigration during the Cold War.
Question 7
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 8
Rock music changed mainstream sounds and gained popularity among American youths. What British rock band performed for American audiences for the first time in 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show?
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ALed Zeppelin
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BThe Rolling Stones
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CThe Beatles
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DThe Who
The Beatles
Rock emerged in the 1950s in the US, but gained popularity in the 1960s. Consumer culture/television helped its growth. The Beatles brought quick, simple, yet "risky" music into the homes of young American consumers. During their Ed Sullivan show performance, they started out with "All My Loving" and ended with "I Want to Hold Your Hand".
Question 9
Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewy are part the cast of what popular franchise, created by George Lucas in 1977?
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AStar Wars
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BAlien
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CIndiana Jones
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DStar Trek
Star Wars
The 'Star Wars' franchise has expanded from movies into books, games, and television series. Disney bought the rights to 'Star Wars' and is continuing to expand on the original films movies including a new trilogy and additional "Star Wars Stories".
Question 10
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
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CAfrican Americans
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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 11
What iconic music and pop culture magazine was founded in San Francisco in 1967?
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ARolling Stone
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BThe Atlantic
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CThe New Yorker
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DEntertainment Weekly
Rolling Stone
The magazine was used in the 1960s through the 1970s to cover not only music, but politics at the time. Its name is said to have been inspired by a Bob Dylan song.
Question 12
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald while traveling in the presidential motorcade in what state?
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AAlabama
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BOklahoma
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CArkansas
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DTexas
Texas
The Kennedys were accompanied by the Texas governor and his wife. JFK and the governor were both shot, Kennedy fatally. JFK was declared dead thirty minutes later. Shortly after, Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president of the United States.
Question 13
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
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DAmerican Girl
Barbie
Barbie is the most profitable line of toys ever created. To date, Mattel has sold over 1 billion Barbie Dolls.
Question 14
The 1960 election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was one of the closest in American history, with Kennedy taking the victory. JFK's religious affiliations caused many voters to be wary of his loyalty to American citizens during the election. What religion did JFK practice?
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ACatholicism
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BBuddhism
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CIslam
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DProtestantism
Catholicism
Some voters (and politicians) feared that Kennedy's loyalty would be to the Pope first before his constituents, but he was voted in nonetheless.
Question 15
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
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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 16
"Waka-waka" is the sound this popular yellow arcade game character makes. This game gained world-wide popularity after its creation in 1980.
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ADonkey Kong
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BTetris
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CPac-Man
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DFrogger
Pac-Man
Arcades and arcade games like Pac-Man became popular in the 1980s.
Question 17
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 18
What is the name of the 38th president who took office following Watergate, a political scandal where the Democratic National Committee was broken into under the order of the Nixon administration?
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AGerald Ford
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BSpiro Agnew
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CGeorge Bush
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DJimmy Carter
Gerald Ford
The Supreme Court ruled that the president had to surrender the tape recordings he had from the White House during this scandal. President Nixon resigned in 1974 following the scandal. The 16-month investigation expanded congressional investigative powers.
Question 19
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 20
What "Iron Lady" became the first female Prime Minister of Britain in 1979, worked closely with President Ronald Reagan, and was the leader of the Conservative Party?
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AIndira Gandhi
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BMargaret Thatcher
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CMary Robinson
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DGolda Meir
Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher believed in laissez-faire economics, self-determination, hard work, and was strongly opposed to unions. Thatcher and Ronald Reagan would later work together during the 1980s, encouraging conservatism in their respective governments.
Question 21
What popular comedic sketch show began in 1975 and introduced such famous cast members as Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, and Gilda Radner?
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AThe Kids in the Hall
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BSaturday Night Live
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CMADtv
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DIn Living Color
Saturday Night Live
'SNL' pokes fun at current political and cultural issues. It is filmed in New York City and is the starting place for many popular comedy movie stars.
Question 22
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 23
Michael Jackson, also known as the King of Pop, produced hit song after hit song. What is the name of his creepy 1984 tune that included sounds of creaking doors, howling dogs, and lines like "It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark"?
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A"Bad"
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B"The Way You Make me Feel"
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C"Beat It"
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D"Thriller"
"Thriller"
Jackson's "Thriller" was produced by Quincy Jones. The album Thriller is the world's best selling album of all time.
Question 24
President Ronald Reagan's "supply-side" economic plan favored smaller government, limited industrial regulation, and tax cuts. What is the name given to "supply-side" economics during this era?
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ARedistributive Economics
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BReagonomics
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CCommunism
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DKeynesian Economics
Reagonomics
Reaganomics favored free-market activity with little restrictions. It is often referred to as trickle-down economics.
Question 25
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 26
What is the name of the cultural icon most closely associated with women factory and naval yard workers during World War II?
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AMother Goose
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BWonder Woman
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CLady Liberty
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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 27
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 28
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?
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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 29
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)
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BCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA)
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CDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS)
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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 30
Despite a Congressional ban, President Ronald Reagan's administration sold arms to Iran in exchange for hostages while feeding money to the anti-communist militant group, the ______, who opposed the socialist coalition government developed by the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
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AContras
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BAllendes
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CPinochet
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DSomozas
Contras
Covert activities to fund the Contras and the arms sale to Iran happened, according to the Reagan administration, in the name of democracy, despite the disapproval of Congress. Only 14% of Americans believed Reagan when he denied that the sale of weapons was for hostages. His image suffered due to the scandal, but he still ended his presidency with high approval ratings.
Question 31
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 32
What president signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an act that banned discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin?
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AHarry Truman
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BJohn F. Kennedy
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CLyndon Johnson
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DWoodrow Wilson
Lyndon Johnson
LBJ was more involved with the civil rights movement than his predecessor, Kennedy. He worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists on developing the Civil Rights Act and later the Voting Rights Act. (Of course, like all presidents, LBJ was flawed, but he did use his presidency to expand the rights of people of color, women, and others during the 1960s).
Question 33
What was the name given to the top secret US atomic weapons development program?
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AThe Manhattan Project
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BThe Brooklyn Project
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CThe Chicago Project
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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 34
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
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CMcCarthyism
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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 35
Actor Marlon Brando won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973 for what movie, based on a novel written by Mario Puzo?
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AGoodfellas
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BCasino
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CScarface
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DThe Godfather
The Godfather
'The Godfather' was the highest grossing film in 1972 and won the Oscar for Best Picture that year. It's an American crime classic.
Question 36
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
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BJohnny B. Goode
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CPeggy Sue
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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 37
A film was created by the United States Civil Defense Administration and shown in schools as a public awareness campaign concerning safety precautions during a nuclear attack. The film follows a cartoon turtle and also has a catchy jingle. What is the name of that film?
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AOne Week in October
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BThe Waking Point
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CDuck and Cover
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DTown of the Times
Duck and Cover
The Soviets successfully detonated an atomic bomb in 1949. The US was concerned about the threat of a nuclear attack. The government then created the Federal Civil Defense Administration in 1951 to help teach the public about what to do in case of a strike.
Question 38
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
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BHulk
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CX-Men
-
DSuperman
Superman
Superman is one of the most popular comic book characters ever created.
Question 39
What is the name of the table-top role playing game that drew opposition from religious fundamentalist groups who argued that the game used witchcraft, demonology, sadism, and more?
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AFinal Fantasy
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BZelda
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CDungeons and Dragons
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DWorld of Warcraft
Dungeons and Dragons
D&D is often credited with the birth of modern role playing games.
Question 40
What shuttle orbiter exploded on take-off on January 28, 1986?
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AApollo
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BChallenger
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CColumbia
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DAtlantis
Challenger
All seven astronauts and a schoolteacher onboard died in the accident. The accident was caused by the failure of two rubber O-rings as a result of low temperatures during take off.
Question 41
What popular amusement park opened its doors in Anaheim, California in 1955?
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ADisneyland
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BDisneyworld
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CSix Flags
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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 42
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
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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 43
Which of these popular comic book characters first appeared in 1941?
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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
What piece of fiction, published in 1939, won author John Steinbeck the National Book Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and later a Nobel Prize:
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ANineteen Eighty-Four
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BA Tree Grows in Brooklyn
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CThe Grapes of Wrath
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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 45
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.
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AAramid
-
BNylon
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CSpandex
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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 46
This talented athlete was known for his ability to dunk from the free-throw line.
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AMichael Jordan
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BLebron James
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CLarry Bird
-
DMagic Johnson
Michael Jordan
MJ is arguably one of the best NBA players of all time. He earned numerous awards during his career.
Question 47
1975's blockbuster thriller 'Jaws' is considered one of the best movies ever made. Who directed this hugely successful film?
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ARidley Scott
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BSteven Spielberg
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CJames Cameron
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DGeorge Lucas
Steven Spielberg
The movie helped make summer a season for major movie openers. It also won three Academy Awards. Reduced beach attendance was attributed to the movie. 'Jaws' made Spielberg a household name.
Question 48
British soldiers fired upon protesters who were marching against British rule in Northern Ireland, killing thirteen in 1972. The Irish Republican Army rapidly grew as a result of the shootings. What name is given to the day of this massacre?
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ABolton Massacre
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BMay Day Protests
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CSeptember Massacre
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DBloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday
About 10,000 people protested against the British that Sunday. 13 were killed and 13 more wounded. The British Army maintained that its troops had responded after coming under fire, but people in Northern Ireland fought against this claim. A public inquiry, one not led by the British government, was granted by Prime Minister Tony Blair, but it wasn't until 1998.
Question 49
Which US president gave the orders to drop the atomic bombs in 1945?
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AHarry Truman
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BDwight D. Eisenhower
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CFranklin Delano Roosevelt
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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 50
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?
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AVietnam War
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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 51
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
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BFinland
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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 52
A hostage crisis took place for 444 days during Jimmy Carter's presidency. It wasn't until Ronald Reagan's election that the hostages were released. In what country did this hostage crisis occur?
-
ABoliva
-
BIraq
-
CGermany
-
DIran
Iran
The Iranian Revolution favored an Islamic State. The Shah was overthrown, and the American embassy in Tehran was seized by pro-revolution Iranian students. There they held 50 Americans hostage for 444 days. The crisis was televised to the American public and severely undermined President Carter's foreign policy initiatives. Some argue the crisis cost him the election.
Question 53
What is the name of the group of riots that took place in Los Angeles, California in 1965 following the arrest of a black motorist, that resulted in over forty million dollars worth of property damage?
-
AZoot Suit Riots
-
BBlack Sunday Riots
-
CAccra Riots
-
DWatts Riots
Watts Riots
The riots weren't just a reaction to the arrest. Rather, the outrage stemmed from institutional racism. Things including high unemployment, lack of jobs, housing/redlining, and poor quality schools all contributed to the cause of the riots.
Question 54
The first Super Bowl was held in January of 1967. What team won the first ever Super Bowl?
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AGreen Bay Packers
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BNew England Patriots
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CClevland Browns
-
DMinnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers
The first Super Bowl was the result of a conflict between the NFL and a competing league that emerged, the AFL. The leagues decided to merge in 1966 and a championship game between the two sects was established.
Question 55
What conservative Supreme Court Justice, who subscribed to originalism, was nominated to the bench in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan?
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AAntonin Scalia
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BWilliam O. Douglas
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CHarry Blackmun
-
DRuth Bader Ginsburg
Antonin Scalia
Scalia took Rehnquist's seat on the bench when Rehnquist became Chief Justice in the late 1980s. He was a Harvard Law graduate who did not view the Constitution as a flexible document.
Question 56
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 57
The Environmental Protection Agency is a government agency which was established to protect human health and the environment. Under what president was the EPA created?
-
ARonald Reagan
-
BRichard Nixon
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CJimmy Carter
-
DLyndon Johnson
Richard Nixon
The EPA was created in 1970 to protect human health and the environment by creating and enforcing laws. It conducts research and assessment of, as well as education about the environment.
Question 58
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 59
The fall of what city to the North Vietnamese marked the end of the Vietnam War?
-
ASaigon
-
BHanoi
-
CDanang
-
DHaiphong
Saigon
The US airlifted Americans and many Vietnamese out of Saigon off of a building rooftop. Saigon "fell" as a result of a North Vietnamese attack on the city. Its airport was ruined in the attack, which made evacuation by plane impossible. The city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City after its capture.
Question 60
Sam Walton, the creator of Walmart, opened his first store in 1962 in what state?
-
ATennessee
-
BSouth Carolina
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CArkansas
-
DGeorgia
Arkansas
Walmart started in Walton's home state and has since become a global corporation and is the third largest employer in the world.
Question 61
What was the name of the surprise attack directed by Viet Cong forces on South Vietnamese cities and American troops in 1968 that further increased American disapproval of the Vietnam War?
-
AThe Tet Offensive
-
BEaster Offensive
-
CThe Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
-
DBattle of Pleiku
The Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a series of surprise attacks led by communists in the north and the Viet Cong on southern cities. This was the turning point of the War, and the US slowly began to withdraw troops from the area as a result. It took place during Tet, the Vietnamese lunar new year.
Question 62
What Apollo mission planned to land on the moon, but instead returned to Earth after an oxygen tank exploded, putting its three NASA astronauts in danger?
-
AApollo 11
-
BApollo 10
-
CApollo 13
-
DApollo 17
Apollo 13
The Apollo program was designed by NASA to land American astronauts on the moon. It ran from 1963 to 1972 and was largely successful, achieving its goal first in 1969.
Question 63
Known for arguing cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and Miranda v. Arizona, who became the first African American Supreme Court Justice in 1967?
-
ASonya Sotomayor
-
BThurgood Marshall
-
CBenjamin N. Cardozo
-
DClarence Thomas
Thurgood Marshall
Marshall was denied acceptance to the University of Maryland Law School due to his race. This event surely shaped how he approached cases on civil rights in his career. He was appointed by President Kennedy to the Supreme Court in 1967 and retired in 1991.
Question 64
What is the name of the 13-day confrontation between the US and the USSR concerning American missiles located in Italy and Turkey, and Soviet missiles in Cuba?
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ABay of Pigs Invasion
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BCuban Missile Crisis
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CBattle of Santa Clara
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D26 of July Movement
Cuban Missile Crisis
This direct crisis was the closest the Soviet Union and the United States came to nuclear war during the Cold War. The Soviets had secured an agreement with Cuba to station missiles on the island in order to prevent an invasion. There was direct communication between Washington and the Kremlin as a result of the crisis as they attempted to avoid nuclear war diplomatically. Missiles were removed from Cuba and later Turkey and Italy.
Question 65
What president threatened to pack the Supreme Court after the Court struck down a piece of the National Recovery Administration?
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ACalvin Coolidge
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BFranklin Delano Roosevelt
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CHerbert Hoover
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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 66
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?
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AJordan
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BEgypt
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CIsrael
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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 67
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 68
What type of art, often featuring movie stars or consumer products, was popularized throughout the 1960s by artists including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Rosenquist?
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AImpressionism
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BArt Deco
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CAbstract Expressionism
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DPop Art
Pop Art
Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans and images of Marilyn Monroe in bright colors are two memorable examples of Pop Art in the 1960s.
Question 69
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 70
Name the portable gaming device that was launched by Nintendo in 1989 that sold 118 million units worldwide.
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AGame Boy
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BSega Game Gear
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CAtari Lynx
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DPlaystation
Game Boy
Handheld gaming consoles are still created today as a result of the popularity of the Game Boy.
Question 71
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 72
Whites and blacks could finally legally marry in the United States in 1967 as a result of what landmark Supreme Court case?
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AMapp v. Ohio
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BMiranda v. Arizona
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CSweatt v. Painter
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DLoving v. Virginia
Loving v. Virginia
Miscegenation laws determined the legality of interracial marriages in the US until 1967. (Loving v. Virginia was decided around the same time of the successes of the Civil Rights movement in '64 and '65).
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