The 1950s: Eisenhower, highways, suburbs and the postwar economy

Grade 11 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to I. Card A, exact, President Eisenhower, address on Little Rock, September 24, 1957, p. 689: "As you know, the Supreme Court of the United States has decided that separate public educational facilities for the races are inherently [by their nature] unequal and therefore compulsory [required] school segregation laws are unconstitutional. Our personal opinions about the decision have no bearing on the matter of enforcement; the responsibility and authority of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution are very clear." Card B, exact, same address, p. 689: "Whenever normal agencies prove inadequate [not enough] to the task and it becomes necessary for the Executive Branch of the Federal Government to use its powers and authority to uphold Federal Courts, the President's responsibility is inescapable [cannot be avoided]." Card C, a summary in our words: in September 1957, nine Black students, later called the Little Rock Nine, were enrolled to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. On September 2, Governor Orval Faubus called out the state's National Guard; in the days that followed it turned the students away. On September 24, 1957, President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10730, which put the Arkansas National Guard under federal command and ordered 1,000 Army paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division. The next morning, September 25, the nine students entered the school. Card D, a table in our words from the Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1961 (Bureau of Labor Statistics figures): unemployment rate, percent of the civilian labor force, selected years, yearly averages: 1950, 5.3; 1953, 2.9; 1954, 5.6; 1956, 4.2; 1958, 6.8; 1960, 5.6. Card E, a table in our words from the US Census Bureau, Historical Income Tables: median family income. In dollars of each year: $3,319 in 1950 and $5,620 in 1960. In 2025 dollars, which removes the effect of rising prices: $36,160 in 1950 and $49,960 in 1960. Card F, exact, President Eisenhower, message to the Congress regarding highways, February 22, 1955, p. 275: "Together, the uniting forces of our communication and transportation systems are dynamic elements in the very name we bear — United States. Without them, we would be a mere alliance of many separate parts." The Federal-Aid Highway Act was signed on June 29, 1956. Card G, a summary in our words: the G.I. Bill, formally the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, became law on June 22, 1944. It offered World War II veterans help with schooling, pay while they looked for work, and home loans. Veterans had received 4.3 million home loans by 1955, worth $33 billion in all, and veterans bought 20 percent of the new homes built after the war. Card H, exact, Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, section 108(a): "Because of its primary importance to the national defense, the name of such system is hereby changed to the 'National System of Interstate and Defense Highways'." Card I, exact, President Eisenhower, farewell address, January 17, 1961: "This conjunction [joining] of an immense Military Establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience." He gave the address three days before he left office.

2. 1.

   Eisenhower says personal opinions "have no bearing on the matter of enforcement" (card A) and the President's duty is "inescapable" (card B). How does Ari read the framing?

   • As a duty to enforce the ruling, whatever his own view, once normal agencies fail
   • As agreement with the ruling, since he repeats the Court's words
   • As a claim that the President may override a governor whenever he disagrees
   • As an attempt to overrule the Court, since he says opinions do not matter
3. 2.

   Card C shows the Guard turning the students away. Read with card B, why does Bo see "normal agencies" as inadequate?

   • Congress had passed a law that put the Guard under the President
   • Federal courts had no power over schools, so the President alone could act
   • The Guard asked the President for help when the crowd grew too large
   • The state's Guard blocked a court-ordered entry, so no state agency enforced it
4. 3.

   A student says unemployment rose steadily through the 1950s. What does card D show Jun?

   • A steady rise, since 1960 is above 1953 and 1956 in the table
   • A rise just in recession years, since the table shows 1954 and 1958 high
   • A steady fall, since 1953 is the lowest and 1960 is below 1958
   • The selected years rise and fall: 5.3, 2.9, 5.6, 4.2, 6.8 and 5.6
5. 4.

   Card E gives median family income in two kinds of dollars. Kira asks which statement about 1950 to 1960 is right.

   • About 69 percent more in buying power, since raw dollars show buying power
   • About 38 percent more in dollars of each year, about 69 percent more after prices
   • No gain in buying power, since the rise in prices cancels the rise in pay
   • About 69 percent more in dollars of each year, about 38 percent more after prices
6. 5.

   Card F is from February 22, 1955 and the act was signed June 29, 1956. What does the gap show Milo?

   • The message was written by Congress to ask the President to sign the act
   • The act was signed within a month of the message, so Congress acted quickly
   • The message began the process, and Congress took about sixteen months to pass it
   • Congress passed the act at once, and the signing was delayed by the President
7. 6.

   Card H gives defense as the reason for the new name. Which claim goes beyond the card, Noah asks?

   • Defense was given as a reason, along with other reasons card F names
   • The roads were built for military use alone
   • The name changed in the 1956 act, under section 108(a)
   • Congress linked the system to the national defense in its renaming
8. 7.

   Card G gives 4.3 million loans and 20 percent of new homes. Which claim do the numbers support, Pia asks?

   • Each veteran received a home loan by 1955 under the G.I. Bill
   • Veterans paid higher prices for homes, since loans of $33 billion raised demand
   • Most new homes after the war were bought by veterans
   • Veterans bought about one-fifth of the new homes built after the war
9. 8.

   Card I says a military and arms industry joined together is "new in the American experience." Ren asks if that shows the concern was justified.

   • No; it shows what he said was new, not that the concern was right
   • Yes; a President speaking as he left office had no reason to overstate it
   • Yes; the three days before he left office show he was sure of it
   • No; farewell addresses cannot be used as evidence of what a President thought
10. 9.

    Tala reads cards D and E. A note says families were worse off in 1960 because unemployment was higher than in 1950. What do the cards show?

    • Unemployment was slightly higher, but real family income rose about 38 percent
    • The two cards conflict, so neither can be used to judge the note
    • Unemployment rose and family income fell once prices are taken out
    • Unemployment fell and family income rose, so both measures agree on the note
11. 10.

    Zee's note says: "Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock because he agreed personally with integration." Which fix fits card A?

    • Change it to "because a law of Congress ordered him to send troops"
    • Change it to "because the governor asked him to protect the students"
    • Keep the note, since he repeats the ruling and so must have agreed with it
    • Change it to "to enforce a federal court order, saying opinions had no bearing"