Ⅱ1. What was the American policy towards the Soviet Union before 1989?
"A long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies" became the U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union until 1989.
2. What was the Truman Doctrine?
The Truman Doctrine was America's foreign policy which promised to support any country that said it was fighting against Communism.
3. What were the three cornerstones of American postwar economic boom?
They were the automobile, housing, and defense industries.
4. What was the beginning of American involvement in Vietnam?
The beginning was that Truman sent military aid to Vietnam support the French in their fight with the Vietminh.
5. What was the key problem that affected the progress in U.S.-China relations from 1972 to 1979?
It was the Taiwan problem.
6. What was the most important document produced between China and the United States when President Nixon visited China in 19727
It was the Shanghai Communique.
7. What are Conglomerates in the USA?
Conglomerates are big companies that own several smaller businesses whose products and services are usually very different.
8. What are the three giants in the American automobile industry?
The three giants are General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.
9. What are characteristics of the U.S. economy?
The American economy is characterized by a high degree of monopoly.
10. Which country is the largest source of the U.S. imports?
Canada is the largest source of the U.S. imports.
11. What problems are facing the U.S. economy?
Unemployment, inflation, financial deficit, and trade deficit are the problems that always face the United States.
12. What are the two serious weakness of the Article of Confederation?
There was no national executive or law-enforcing branch, neither was there a national court system.
13. What are the three branches in the U.S. federal government?
They are the legislative, the executive and the judicial branches.
14. What is known as the "winner-take-all" system?
The presidential candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state.
15. What are the two special powers of the Senate in America?
The Senate also has certain powers especially kept to that body, including the authority to confirm presidential appointments of high officials of the federal government as well as ratify all treaties by a two-thirds vote. The Senate has the sole power to try such cases, and to find officials guilty or not guilty.
16. What is the most central function of the U.S. Congress?
The most central function of U.S. Congress is the passage of laws.
Ⅲ1. The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan: In order to protect Western Europe from Soviet expansion, the U.S. decided to offer Western European countries economic aids. This plan was announced by Secretary of State George Marshall on June 5,1947, so it was called the Marshall Plan. With the aid from the U.S., the production of Western Europe recovered and began to show signs of development.
2. Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal: In 1972, police at the Watergate apartment-office complex in Washington D.C. arrested five men who illegally broke into the offices of the Democratic National Committee. These five men later proved to be working for President Nixon. It became known as the Watergate scandal.
3. New Monetarist Policies
New Monetarist Policies: Such policies sought to fight inflation by increasing supply and reducing demand. On one hand, taxes were cut to increase economic dynamism. On the other hand, interest rates were raised to reduce the supply of money.
4. The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation: It was the first constitution of the United States of America. It was adopted at the Second Continental Congress and used during the War of Independence against Britain.
5. Checks and balances
Checks and balances: It is a system used by the U.S. Constitution. According to the checks and balances, system powers are divided among government branches and these branches check each other.
6. Electoral College
Electoral College: In the USA, the electors of all 50 states and the District of Columbia—a total of 538 persons—comprise what is known as the Electoral College. To be successful, a candidate for the Presidency must receive 270 votes.
7. the U.S. two-party system
the U.S. two-party system: The two-party system means that the two major political parties—now the Democrats and the Republicans—compete with each other to dominate politics at the federal, state, and local levels.