AP®HistoryCollege BoardUS HistoryExam QuestionsPeriod 8: 1945-1980Culture after 1945

Culture after 1945 (College Board AP® US History): Exam Questions

3 mins3 questions
11 mark
Black and white photo of a rock and roll band with singer playing guitar, drummer on the left, and bassist in the background, on a studio stage.
Elvis Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show,", September 9, 1956

Elvis Presley’s performance on The Ed Sullivan Show contributed to debates about the

  • Expansion of public television funding

  • Racial integration and cultural appropriation in music

  • Government’s role in regulating the music industry

  • Tension between conformity and individuality in American society

Choose your answer

21 mark
Black and white photo of a rock and roll band with singer playing guitar, drummer on the left, and bassist in the background, on a studio stage.
Elvis Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show,", September 9, 1956

Which of the following groups would have been most supportive of Elvis Presley’s performance on The Ed Sullivan Show?

  • Religious leaders such as Billy Graham

  • Conservative politicians advocating traditional family values

  • Beat Generation writers like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac

  • Suburban teenagers after World War II

Choose your answer

31 mark
Black and white photo of a rock and roll band with singer playing guitar, drummer on the left, and bassist in the background, on a studio stage.
Elvis Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show,", September 9, 1956

Elvis Presley’s performance on The Ed Sullivan Show demonstrated the impact of postwar technological advancements on American culture as it

  • Showcased the role of television in shaping national culture

  •  Reflected the influence of radio in popularizing regional music styles

  • Highlighted advances in recording technology

  • Emphasized the growing popularity of car radios

Choose your answer