University of Houston
Review Sheet for Mid-term Exam #2
For the in-class exam on Tues. Nov. 4 you will answer about 20-25 multiple-choice questions, 3-5 identification questions, and one essay question. Out of a total of 60 points, the multiple-choice and identification sections combined will count for about 35 points and the essay about 25 points. You will have some choice of questions in the essay and identification sections. Thus the format is very similar to the first mid-term exam.
The exam will cover lectures and readings on World War I through “The Cold War at Home” (lectures 9/25-10/30, textbook chapters 19-24, Reader pp.167-286).
BRING YOUR UH ID, SEVERAL #2 PENCILS, and a PEN. We will provide Scantron forms and blue exam booklets. This will be a CLOSED BOOK exam. You will not be able to use any electronic devices, outlines, notes, or other written materials during the exam.
Essay Topics:
You will have only about 35 minutes to write your essay (everyone else will face the same challenge). Since the essay will count for more than a third of the exam, plan in advance about what you would argue and what examples you would use to support your argument for each question. The exam will give you a choice between two essay questions, so you should prepare for four of the following questions. Be sure your essay draws on the pertinent lectures AND readings. You are being tested on your mastery of assigned readings and lectures for THIS course; do not use outside readings or websites to study.
1) The 1920s witnessed a clash between old and new American values. A) Identify both the “old” and “new” values, B) explain why they came into such harsh conflict in the 1920s (hint: part of the answer can be traced to World War I), and C) discuss in depth at least three examples of this clash. (If you missed the lectures on the 1920s, do not pick this question! You’ll need to use the textbook as well, and you might consider the Reader selection by Randolph Bourne (also the Reader units on Sexual Revolution and Woman Suffrage from before the first midterm).)
2) The stockmarket crash of late 1929 triggered the Great Depression and revealed underlying weaknesses in the U.S. economy. A) How did the “New Deal” try to end the Great Depression? B) What in your view were the major successes and weaknesses of the New Deal? (Hints: In evaluating the New Deal, it may be helpful to think about who benefited and who did not, or about its short-term and long-term effects. Also, don’t forget the Reader units on industrial unions and Mexican-Americans in this period, in addition to textbook and lectures.)
3) During the Great Depression, high unemployment rates created a labor surplus, but then the mobilization for World War II produced a temporary labor shortage. A) Discuss various group and government responses to high unemployment in the 1930s, and B) then discuss group and government responses to the labor shortage during the war in the 1940s. C) In your view, what were the major long-term effects (if any) of these developments? (In addition to lectures and the textbook, you will need to use the Reader units on Mexican Americans and Industrial Unionism, and the in-class film “Rosie the Riveter.”)
4) Compare and contrast the United States’ entrances into the first and second world wars. A) What internal debates initially prevented the U.S. from entering these wars, B) what policies did Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt pursue during the “neutrality” periods, and C) in each case when and why did the nation finally officially go to war? D) Point out major similarities and differences between these two “roads to war,” and discuss how the road to World War II was influenced by memories of World War I. (You will need lectures and the textbook.)
5) Why did the Cold War develop, and how did U.S. policymakers wage it in the late 1940s and the 1950s? Your answer should explain A) the origins of this superpower rivalry (reaching back into World War II if not earlier), B)the main ideas and tactics of successive U.S. leaders in fighting the Cold War, and C) at least two important examples of Cold War conflict around the world in the 1946-1955 period. (You will need to use lectures, the textbook, and the Reader units on the Cold War.)
Suggestions for studying:
Go over your first midterm and identify mistakes that you can avoid on this next test. Especially if you got a D or F on the first exam, you should see your TA for help (bring your exam).
Look over the syllabus and remind yourself of what we have covered. Gather all books, Reader study guides, and lecture notes. You may study in groups, but your work on the exam must be your own.
Review readings and lecture notes, with special attention to lecture outlines and lists of terms (don’t forget terms from Reader study guides, online). Don't try to memorize every detail. Instead, ask yourself, what were the main points of each lecture, and what examples best illustrate those points? What was the main significance of each term? Were the main issues raised in each Reader unit? In the textbook, pay special attention to items from the list of terms provided with lecture outlines.
As you review, jot down ideas and examples for the possible essay questions. Make a "timeline" of major events/examples for each topic, and think about what conclusions you draw about the topic from that evidence. Make sure to demonstrate your familiarity with pertinent examples from lectures AND readings (textbook, Reader units), and the in-class film (“Rosie the Riveter”).
Pick some terms at random and practice writing identification answers. Show them to your TA for feedback.
Suggestions for test-taking:
get enough sleep and eat a good meal
arrive a few minutes early, read instructions, and budget your time carefully
on multiple-choice, read every choice carefully and leave no blanks
on identifications, make sure to include the significance of the term
on essays, make sure to have a clear and specific thesis statement
on essays, keep the "b.s." to a minimum! be specific; use terms as building blocks
use the entire exam time; recheck your answers
DO NOT CHEAT! it’s wrong, it's unfair to your classmates, and penalties are severe