Download NWCA Postwar Texas 1945–1963 Exam and more Exams Technology in PDF only on Docsity!
Question 1. Which group split the Texas Democratic Party in the 1940s by opposing the New Deal and supporting a “states’ rights” platform? A) Texas Regulars B) Texas Progressives C) Lone Star Liberals D) Southern Populists Answer: A Explanation: The Texas Regulars were a conservative faction that broke from the main Democratic Party in the 1940s, emphasizing states’ rights and opposition to federal intervention. Question 2. The 1948 Texas Senate Democratic primary controversy, known as “Box 13,” involved alleged vote‑fraud favoring which candidate? A) Coke Stevenson B) Lyndon B. Johnson C) John Tower D) Price Daniel Answer: B Explanation: “Box 13” referred to a precinct box that allegedly delivered 202 extra votes for LBJ, securing his primary victory over Stevenson. Question 3. Governor Allan Shivers’ support for Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election was primarily motivated by: A) A personal friendship with Eisenhower B) Opposition to the national Democratic Party’s civil‑rights platform C) Desire to secure federal highway funds for Texas D) A promise of a federal naval base in Galveston
Answer: B Explanation: Shivers, a conservative Democrat, opposed the national party’s liberal turn and helped shift Texas’s presidential votes to the Republican Eisenhower. Question 4. The Tidelands controversy centered on Texas’ claim to offshore oil rights based on which legal principle? A) The doctrine of res nullius B) The “Equal Footing” doctrine for new states C) The principle of terra nullius D) The “Rule of Capture” Answer: B Explanation: Texas argued that, as a former sovereign republic, it retained equal footing with other states regarding ownership of submerged lands. Question 5. The Veterans’ Land Board scandal of the early 1950s primarily involved: A) Fraudulent issuance of land contracts to veterans B) Embezzlement of federal disaster relief funds C) Illegal dumping of toxic waste on veteran farms D) Collusion with oil companies to overprice leases Answer: A Explanation: The scandal exposed widespread corruption in the VLB, where officials sold land to veterans at inflated prices and misappropriated funds. Question 6. Which factor most contributed to the decline of the “Cotton Kingdom” in post‑war Texas? A) Introduction of genetically modified cotton varieties
Question 9. The establishment of the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center) in Houston in 1961 was primarily justified by: A) Houston’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico for launch safety B) The city’s existing aerospace manufacturing base C) Political bargaining by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson for federal jobs in his state D) The presence of a large pool of retired military pilots Answer: C Explanation: Johnson leveraged his Senate influence to locate the NASA center in Houston, bringing high‑tech jobs to Texas. Question 10. Which defense contractor played a pivotal role in the development of early jet aircraft in North Texas during the 1950s? A) Lockheed Martin B) Vought Aircraft C) Boeing D) Northrop Grumman Answer: B Explanation: Vought, based in Dallas, was a major supplier of jet aircraft components and contributed to the region’s defense industry growth. Question 11. The invention of the integrated circuit in 1958 by Jack Kilby occurred at which Texas company? A) Texas Instruments B) Motorola C) Raytheon D) General Electric
Answer: A Explanation: Jack Kilby, an engineer at Texas Instruments, created the first working integrated circuit, revolutionizing electronics. Question 12. The 1956 Federal Aid Highway Act most directly affected Texas by: A) Funding the construction of the first trans‑Texas railroad tunnel B) Providing federal money for the interstate system, spurring suburban growth C) Mandating the removal of all streetcars in major cities D) Requiring all highways to be paved with concrete instead of asphalt Answer: B Explanation: Federal highway funds enabled the building of interstates like I‑35 and I‑45, reshaping urban development and commerce. Question 13. Sweatt v. Painter (1950) challenged segregation at which Texas institution? A) Texas A&M University B) University of Texas School of Law C) Baylor University D) Texas Tech University Answer: B Explanation: Heman Sweatt was denied admission to the University of Texas Law School because of his race, leading the Supreme Court to rule the separate facility was unequal. Question 14. The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision prompted which immediate action in Texas public schools? A) Immediate desegregation of all schools statewide B) A wave of “massive resistance” policies by local school districts
A) Native Americans living on reservations B. Mexican‑Americans denied a jury of peers C) Women seeking jury service D) Immigrants without citizenship Answer: B Explanation: The Supreme Court ruled that the systematic exclusion of Mexican‑Americans from juries violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Question 18. The Bracero Program primarily affected Texas agriculture by: A) Providing high‑wage, permanent labor contracts to U.S. citizens B. Importing temporary Mexican laborers to fill labor shortages C. Introducing mechanized harvesting equipment to farms D. Funding research into drought‑resistant crops Answer: B Explanation: The program allowed Mexican workers to work seasonally in Texas fields, shaping labor dynamics and demographics. Question 19. The American G.I. Forum, founded in 1949, was chiefly concerned with: A. Securing veterans’ benefits for Mexican‑American World War II veterans B. Promoting the integration of baseball teams in Texas C. Lobbying for the construction of a national highway system D. Establishing a statewide public television network Answer: A Explanation: The G.I. Forum advocated for equal treatment of Mexican‑American veterans, addressing discrimination in benefits and education.
Question 20. Which Texas city experienced the fastest population growth between 1950 and 1960, largely due to post‑war industrial expansion? A. Dallas B. Houston C. San Antonio D. El Paso Answer: B Explanation: Houston’s population surged from about 700,000 to over 950,000, driven by oil, petrochemical, and aerospace industries. Question 21. The seven‑year drought of the 1950s in Texas was popularly referred to as: A. “The Long Dry” B. “Time It Never Rained” C. “The Great Thirst” D. “The Dust Bowl Redux” Answer: B Explanation: The phrase “Time It Never Rained” captured the severity of the drought, prompting major water‑development projects. Question 22. The Texas Water Development Board, created in 1957, was primarily tasked with: A. Building dams on the Rio Grande B. Managing groundwater extraction permits statewide C. Planning and financing water‑conservation and supply projects D. Regulating private water‑bottling companies Answer: C
Answer: B Explanation: Television coverage turned high‑school football into a statewide spectacle, reinforcing community identity. Question 26. In the 1960 presidential election, why was Lyndon B. Johnson’s placement on the Democratic ticket crucial for Texas? A. He secured the entire Texas delegation for Kennedy B. He promised to appoint Texas governors to the cabinet C. He negotiated a federal water‑project for the Rio Grande D. He was the first Texas-born vice‑presidential nominee Answer: A Explanation: Johnson’s popularity ensured Texas’s electoral votes went to Kennedy, helping him win the presidency. Question 27. Governor John Connally’s “Higher Education Plan” of the early 1960s emphasized: A. The creation of a state‑run community college system B. Expanding the University of Texas system and establishing new research universities C. Eliminating tuition for all public colleges D. Merging Texas A&M with the University of Texas Answer: B Explanation: Connally pushed for the growth of the UT system and the establishment of new research institutions to modernize the state’s economy. Question 28. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas had which immediate effect on Texas politics? A. The rapid passage of the Texas Civil Rights Act of 1963
B. A surge in support for the Republican Party in the state C. Lyndon B. Johnson’s accession to the presidency, leading to “Great Society” programs in Texas D. The dissolution of the Texas Regulars Answer: C Explanation: Johnson became president, bringing federal Great Society initiatives that impacted Texas programs in education, health, and poverty. Question 29. Which Texas political figure was known as the “Liberal” counterpart to Allan Shivers during the 1950s‑60s? A. Ralph Yarborough B. Price Daniel C. John Connally D. William Blake Answer: A Explanation: Ralph Yarborough championed progressive policies and opposed Shivers’ conservatism within the Democratic Party. Question 30. The 1951 “Korean War Bonus” referendum in Texas resulted in: A. A statewide tax increase to fund veterans’ benefits B. Rejection of a proposed $1 billion bonus payment to Korean War veterans C. Approval of a new state‑run veterans’ hospital in Houston D. The creation of the Texas Veterans Memorial Commission Answer: B Explanation: Voters rejected the bonus, reflecting fiscal conservatism and concerns over state debt. Question 31. The “All‑Weather Highway” concept promoted in Texas during the 1950s referred to:
Question 34. The primary economic driver of the “Golden Triangle” after the 1947 disaster was: A. Shipbuilding B. Petrochemical refining and plastics production C. Cotton ginning D. Cattle ranching Answer: B Explanation: The region’s refineries and chemical plants expanded rapidly, making petrochemicals the dominant industry. Question 35. Which federal law in 1956 provided the funding mechanism for Texas’s interstate highway construction? A. The Federal‑Aid Highway Act of 1956 B. The National Defense Highway Act of 1952 C. The Texas Transportation Improvement Act D. The Highway Safety Act of 1955 Answer: A Explanation: The Federal‑Aid Highway Act (also known as the Interstate Act) authorized massive funding for interstate construction across the nation, including Texas. Question 36. The 1955 “Texas Water Development Board” was created in response to which crisis? A. A severe flood in the Brazos River basin B. The drought known as “Time It Never Rained” C. A cholera outbreak linked to contaminated water D. The collapse of the Gulf Coast levee system Answer: B
Explanation: The prolonged drought highlighted the need for coordinated water planning, prompting the board’s formation. Question 37. The Bracero Program was terminated in Texas in which year? A. 1955 B. 1964 C. 1972 D. 1980 Answer: B Explanation: The program ended in 1964 after growing criticism over labor conditions and competition with domestic workers. Question 38. The first integrated college football game in Texas, played in 1956, involved which two schools? A. Texas A&M vs. Baylor B. SMU vs. TCU C. Texas vs. Rice D. Texas Western vs. Arizona State (played in Texas) Answer: C Explanation: The 1956 game between the University of Texas and Rice University marked the first integrated intercollegiate football contest in the state. Question 39. Which Texas-born musician released “Summertime Blues” in 1958, influencing the rock‑and‑roll era? A. Buddy Holmes B. Roy Orbison
Question 42. Which Texas city was the site of the 1947 disaster that killed over 500 people and led to changes in industrial safety law? A. Galveston B. Texas City C. Beaumont D. Port Arthur Answer: B Explanation: The Texas City Disaster involved a massive explosion of ammonium nitrate, prompting stricter safety regulations. Question 43. In the aftermath of the 1950s drought, which major reservoir was completed in 1962 to help secure water supplies for Central Texas? A. Lake Travis B. Lake Buchanan C. Lake Texoma D. Lake Amistad Answer: A Explanation: Lake Travis, part of the Highland Lakes system, was finished in 1962 to provide water storage for Austin and surrounding areas. Question 44. The “Texas Regulars” were most closely aligned with which national political movement? A. The New Deal Coalition B. The Dixiecrat (States’ Rights) movement C. The Progressive Party of 1948 D. The Southern Strategy of the 1960s
Answer: B Explanation: The Texas Regulars shared the states’ rights, segregationist platform of the Dixiecrats. Question 45. Which Texas legislator authored the “Veterans’ Land Board” act that later became the focus of a major scandal? A. Price Daniel B. John Connally C. Lyndon B. Johnson D. Jesse H. Jones Answer: D Explanation: Jesse H. Jones introduced the act establishing the VLB, which later faced corruption allegations. Question 46. The 1954 “Brown v. Board of Education” decision was implemented in Texas through which state‑level agency? A. Texas Education Agency (TEA) B. Texas Commission on Higher Education (TCHE) C. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) D. Texas State Board of Education (TSBE) Answer: A Explanation: The TEA oversaw the desegregation process for public schools across Texas. Question 47. Which Texas city hosted the first “Space City” celebration in 1961 after NASA announced the location of the Manned Spacecraft Center? A. Dallas B. Austin
Question 50. Which Texas politician famously declared “The Texas Regulars will not support a candidate who supports civil rights” in 1948? A. Allan Shivers B. John Connally C. W. Lee O’Daniel D. James V. Allred Answer: C Explanation: W. Lee O’Daniel, a leader of the Texas Regulars, made the statement opposing the Democratic civil‑rights platform. Question 51. The “Golden Triangle” petrochemical boom largely relied on which natural resource discovered in the 1930s? A. Natural gas fields in the Permian Basin B. Offshore oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico C. Coal deposits in East Texas D. Uranium deposits in West Texas Answer: B Explanation: Offshore oil discoveries fueled the growth of refineries and chemical plants in the Golden Triangle. Question 52. In 1956, the Texas Legislature passed a law allowing the desegregation of which public service? A. Public libraries B. State parks C. Public transportation buses D. County jails
Answer: C Explanation: The law permitted the integration of public bus services, following federal pressure after Brown v. Board. Question 53. The 1952 “Texans for Ike” campaign was organized primarily by: A. The Texas Republican Party B. A coalition of conservative Democrats led by Governor Allan Shivers C. The Texas Chamber of Commerce D. The Texas Farm Bureau Answer: B Explanation: Conservative Democrats, especially Shivers, formed “Texans for Ike” to support Eisenhower. Question 54. Which Texas university was the first to adopt a “no‑segregation” policy for its graduate programs after the 1950s civil‑rights cases? A. Texas A&M University B. University of Houston C. Texas Tech University D. Baylor University Answer: B Explanation: The University of Houston opened its graduate programs to all races in the late 1950s, preceding many state schools. Question 55. The 1958 “Integrated Classroom” pilot program in Dallas schools aimed to: A. Test the feasibility of busing students across districts B. Provide simultaneous instruction in English and Spanish
