High School U.S. History Study Guide for the STAAR test

The 1990s through Early 21st Century

The 1990s brought economic prosperity, relative peace, and and a golden age of culture. It is often looked back on and referred to as the good decade.

World Affairs and the U.S.

In world affairs, the U.S. was involved in bringing an end to the Cold War, standing up for Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War, and promoting peace in Palestine.

End of the Cold War—ended in 1991 with the official breakup of the USSR

The Persian Gulf War—Invasion of Iraq by the U.S. in the early 1990s to defend Kuwait against Iraq’s invasion of their oil fields and ports

The Balkans Crisis—in the early 1990s, ethnic conflict that engulfed the former Yugoslavia as Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats declared independence and Serbia set out to create an ethnically pure state. The U.S. and U.N. sent peacekeeping forces to the area. It is estimated that over one million people lost their lives in this genocide.

9/11—Al Qaeda terrorist attack on the U.S. Two planes flew into World Trade Centers in NYC, one into the Pentagon, and another was prevented from reaching its target and went down in a field in PA.

The Global War on Terror—After the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and Iraq on a mission to bring down the terrorist organizations responsible for the attacks. It has now been the country’s longest-running war.

Political Advocacy

Political advocacy in this period largely includes reactions to the War on Terror and the treatment of soldiers returning from war, including PTSD. Other issues include the national budget, the housing bubble crisis of 2008, and the recession that followed.

Third Parties

Third Parties are growing in importance. The Green Party has fielded a candidate in several major elections, as has the Libertarian Party. An increasing number of independents have impacted elections not by getting elected but by taking votes from major party candidates.

The 2008 Presidential Election

In 2008, Barack Obama became the first African American to be elected president.

Geography and Culture

Geography and culture attempt to explain why things are where they are. Your test will include 12 questions on this topic.

Geography and Major Events

Major events in history largely become important to learn about because of their geography and place in time. Major events tend to happen in important places, and sometimes places become important because of the events that take place there. These two concepts are closely related.

Human and Geographic Influences

The following are a few examples of the impact of humans on the physical landscape and how places became important. Geography has impacted the settlement patterns and events of these places.

Settlement of the Great Plains—influenced by the Homestead Act which gave people land if they settled in this area

Klondike Gold Rush—the discovery of gold that led thousands to move west to California and Alaska, influencing the population distribution we see today

The Panama Canal—greatly cut down on travel time; took a long time to build and was controlled by the U.S. for decades after its completion

The Dust Bowl—due to the drought that caused many farmers to leave the plains as their fields dried up and succumbed to dust storms; thousands moved east in search of work elsewhere

New Orleans Levee Failure—after Hurricane Katrina when the failure of the levees in New Orleans led to the flooding and destruction of much of the city; caused many people to leave and shift the population of the area dramatically

Political Boundary Changes

Over time, geography has been influenced by the change of political boundaries. As the U.S. grew over time, territories and states were added to the country. Also, as wars were fought, land changed hands.

Statehood—applied for at one time by each of the 50 United States; caused geographic growth of the U.S. in size with each addition

International Conflicts—territory gained by the U.S. as the result of the Mexican American War and the Spanish American War

Migration and Immigration

These both influence population patterns across space on the Earth. There are also causes and effects of each.

Migration

Migration refers to the permanent movement of people from one place to another. In this case, all of the following examples refer to migration trends within the U.S.

Western Expansion—migration of people West as the U.S. grew in territory; trend over time of the U.S. population moving west and south

Rural to Urban—the movement of people to cities as countries develop because fewer farmers are needed to produce massive amounts of food (machines do much of the work)

The Great Migration—the movement of black people out of the South in favor of urban areas in the North during the era of segregation. The North was a much easier place to live for African Americans than the South during this period.

Rust Belt to Sun Belt—due to the closure of many factories in the North around the Great Lakes (Rust Belt) in the later half of the twentieth century as industry was outsourced overseas; movement of many people to the Sun Belt (Southern U.S.) in favor of better weather and job opportunities there along with the relatively lower cost of living compared to the North.

Immigration

Immigration refers to people coming into the country from other countries. This can happen both legally and illegally. Legal immigrants enter the country with the correct documentation and knowledge of the U.S. as well as their country of origin. Illegal immigrants come into the country with no documentation or permission to enter.

Population Growth and Modernization

As population continues to increase and society continues to develop, the environment takes a hit. The earth is made of limited resources and the more people there are on earth, the more resources we demand. Additionally, as countries develop and standards of living rise, people have a greater impact on the environment as more people drive cars, live in single-family homes, and buy more things.

Effects on the Physical Environment

As population increases so does strain on the environment. This is especially true of urban areas and the logistics required to provide for the needs of urban dwellers. Some effects of population on the environment include deforestation, desertification, soil degradation, pollution, and resource depletion.

Managing the Environment

As the population in the U.S. grew, the government and private groups took up the cause of caring for and regulating environmental issues. The following are some examples of groups that have attempted to help preserve and conserve the physical environment.

National Park Systems—established in 1916, a federal group that works to preserve and protect some of the most pristine and wild places in America

Environment Protection Agency (EPA)—federal organization that regulates industry and prevents environmental degradation and pollution

Endangered Species Act—passed in 1973, attempts to protect endangered species by placing heavy fines on violations of the law.

Effects of Governmental Actions

The government’s actions have impacts on industries, communities, and individuals. The laws and government agents that enforce them are in place for all to follow, no one is exempt from the law.

Impact on Fifth Amendment Property Rights—states that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation.

The Arts

The arts are often viewed as a reflection of the period in which they were created. You can learn a lot about the past by examining the art produced during each era. The arts often reflect the events and public perception of the time.

Reflection of U.S. Issues

U.S. issues are often reflected in art, music, film, and literature. Think about the books you’ve read in English class or the music that is produced today. Both reflect the issues of the times. The literature reflects the issues of the period in which it was written, while modern music often reflects current issues.

Positive and Negative Impacts

The arts often drive social movements. They can have positive or negative impacts but most often affect change in one way or another.

Tin Pan Alley—origins of the popular music industry, in NYC where musicians and producers made the popular music of the early 1900s

The Harlem Renaissance—focus on the arts and cultural contributions by black people in the U.S.; often seen as the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Beat Generation—group of authors in the 1950s who influenced and wrote about culture in post WWII America

Chicano Mural Movement—began in the 1960s in the American Southwest; attempted to shine a light on Mexican-American culture

Rock and Roll—originating as early as the 1950s, widely popular music style that influenced American pop culture for decades

Country and Western Music—origins in folk music, told stories about life and brought attention to rural lifestyle in America

American Culture and the World

Over time, as the U.S. gained prominence and prosperity, popular culture from the U.S. spread across the world. The influence of powerful American companies (and outsourcing), the presence of the U.S. military globally, and the success of the entertainment business are all factors contributing to the spread of American culture worldwide.

American Culture Diffusion

American culture originally diffused through the movement of people and through literature. Later, as more technology became available (radio, telephone, TV, and, ultimately, the Internet), culture continued to spread rapidly.

The National Identity

The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Our country is made up of many different ethnic groups from many different places with many different backgrounds. Our national identity has been molded by accepting and celebrating those differences. Our form of government also celebrates the ability of all groups and individuals to have their voices heard.

Actions to Expand Economic Rights and Political Opportunities

Over time, our country has undergone major changes. The Constitution is a living document that is meant to change and adapt over time to the needs of the people as times change. Action groups and political organizations have worked to change the country for the good in terms of gaining rights for all races, women, and other minorities.

The Americanization Movement

As the country expanded westward and gained new territory, much of the land was taken from Native Americans. This movement sought to civilize the natives and force them to adopt an American lifestyle and give up their traditional ways of life.

Diversity of Contributions

Today, the unique contributions of all groups are welcomed and celebrated. The diversity of ethnic, cultural, and religious groups makes the U.S. great. The ability of millions of people to get along and thrive mark the culture of the country.

Influential Women

Some of the most influential women in U.S. history went to great lengths to bring change. Here are a few of the most noted ones:

Frances Willard—fought for women’s suffrage in the late 1800s

Jane Addams—known as the Mother of Social Work; a leader for women’s suffrage and world peace

Eleanor Roosevelt—First Lady, outspoken political activist, and diplomat

Delores Huerta—Mexican-American labor and civil rights activist

Sonia Sotomayor—first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice

Oprah Winfrey—talk show host, philanthropist, and one of the most successful women in U.S. history

Mottos

The following are two of many mottos our country has. Think about where you have seen or heard these and consider their importance.

”E Pluribus Unum”—Out of many, One. Refers to the unity that holds the U.S. together.

”In God We Trust”—used on our money, in the pledge, and in other places; evidence of a basis of faith

Congressional Medal of Honor

This is the highest U.S. military honor that one can achieve. Receiving this decoration is rare and holds a lot of meaning.

Vernon J. Baker—only living black man to receive this honor for his service in WWII; recognized for clearing four machine gun nests in Italy

Alvin York—one of the most decorated soldiers of WWI; known for capturing 132 Germans

Roy Benavidez—received this honor for his service in Vietnam and was known for fighting for his rights as a veteran