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New YorkUS History

Module 5: Depression, war and the Cold War

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How did Cold War fear of communism at home threaten civil liberties?

Explain the second Red Scare and McCarthyism (loyalty oaths, HUAC, Senator McCarthy's accusations) and how Cold War fear of communism led to threats to civil liberties at home (NYS Framework 11.8, civic participation; human rights).
A Framework-level answer on McCarthyism for the New York US History and Government Regents: the second Red Scare, loyalty oaths and HUAC, Senator McCarthy's accusations, and how Cold War fear of communism at home threatened civil liberties and due process.
11 min answer →

How do you write the Part III Civic Literacy Essay on a constitutional or civic issue?

Apply the technique for the Part III B Civic Literacy Essay: describe the historical circumstances of a constitutional or civic issue, explain the efforts to address it, and discuss the extent of success or the impact, using the 6 documents and outside knowledge (NYS Framework, gathering, interpreting and using evidence; civic participation).
An exam-skills answer for the New York US History and Government Regents: how to write the Part III B Civic Literacy Essay, describing the historical circumstances of a constitutional or civic issue, explaining efforts to address it, and discussing the extent of success or the impact, using the 6 documents and outside knowledge.
13 min answer →

How did the Cold War shape American foreign and domestic policy after World War II?

Explain the origins of the Cold War and the policy of containment (the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO) and Cold War conflicts (the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis) (NYS Framework 11.8, geographic reasoning; conflict).
A Framework-level answer on the Cold War for the New York US History and Government Regents: its origins in the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, the policy of containment (the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO), and key conflicts such as the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
12 min answer →

What caused the Great Depression, and how did it affect the American people?

Explain the causes of the Great Depression (the 1929 crash, overproduction, uneven wealth, weak banking, speculation) and its human impact (unemployment, the Dust Bowl, Hoovervilles) (NYS Framework 11.7, economics; scarcity).
A Framework-level answer on the Great Depression for the New York US History and Government Regents: the causes of the 1929 crash and the Depression (overproduction, uneven wealth, speculation, weak banking) and its human impact, including mass unemployment, the Dust Bowl, and Hoovervilles.
11 min answer →

How did the New Deal respond to the Great Depression, and how did it change the role of government?

Explain the New Deal (relief, recovery, and reform programs, the Social Security Act), the debate over it and the court-packing controversy, and how it expanded the role of the federal government (NYS Framework 11.7, civic participation; power).
A Framework-level answer on the New Deal for the New York US History and Government Regents: the relief, recovery, and reform programs, the Social Security Act, the debate over the New Deal and the court-packing controversy, and how it permanently expanded the role of the federal government.
12 min answer →

How did World War II transform the United States at home and make it a superpower?

Explain US entry into World War II (Pearl Harbor), the home front (mobilization, women and minorities in the workforce, Japanese American internment and Korematsu v. United States), and the United States' emergence as a superpower (NYS Framework 11.7, civic participation; human rights).
A Framework-level answer on World War II for the New York US History and Government Regents: US entry after Pearl Harbor, the home front (mobilization, women and minorities at work, Japanese American internment and Korematsu v. United States), and the United States' rise to superpower status.
12 min answer →