1.1 How did the political environment change from 1945-1980

Question 1

What was the presidential style of Truman

When was he in power?

Answer 1

“shy” Truman (1945-1953)

Personality- unconfident and not charismatic and overwhelmed by big decisions.

Media- He knew the relationship with the media was important so he did briefings with Flipchart and pointer

Public- He did not appeal to the public and didn’t try to explain strategy.

Organisation- Worked well with the White House administration.

Congress- Did not work well in congress despite the Republican majority.

Question 2

What was the presidential style of Eisenhower?

When was he in power?

Answer 2

optimistic Eisenhower (1953-1961)

Personality- Optimistic and kind

Media- He knew the importance of the media but often obscured or minimised a problem.

Public- He appealed to the public as he was accessible and used clear imagery

Organisation- He had exceptional organisational skills and held frequent briefings.

Congress- he did well in congress as he had good bargaining skills.

Question 3

What was the presidential style of Kennedy?

When was he in power?

Answer 3

charming and charismatic John F Kennedy. (1961-1963)

Personality- came from a political family and knew the importance of charm and speech making.

Media- he had a good relationship with the media and even knew their names.

Public- he was charming and charismatic and appealed to the public

Organisation- Poor, they did not consult the right people and there was no long term planning. ( Bay of pigs).

Congress- Was good as he was good at political bargaining and he had useful family connections.

Question 4

What was the Presidential style of Johnson?

When was he in power?

Answer 4

( Experienced ) Lyndon B Johnson (1963-1969)

Personality- Experienced in politics and could win people over.

Media- Did not have a great relationship with the media but kept them informed.

Public- he was patchy he could give good speeches but then he also gave some awkward speeches.

Organisation- Kennedy’s organisation didnt suit him but he kept it.

Congress- As he was experienced in politics he was able to persuade and get what he wanted.

Question 5

What was the presidential style of Richard Nixon?

When was he in power?

Answer 5

(Suspicious)Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

Personality- Clever but had the tendency to make rash decisions.

Media- Did not trust the media and managed it badly.

Public- Not good with people was awkward and insecure.

Organisation- he was not good at taking advice

Congress- he was suspicious of many in congress which tainted his relationship with them

Question 6

What were the 4 presidents after 1945?

Answer 6

Truman (1945-1953)
Eisenhower (1953-1961)
John F Kennedy (1961-1963)
Lyndon B johnson (1963-1969)
Nixon (1969-1974)

Question 7

What was Hoover’s attitude?

What did it mean

Answer 7

Rugged individualism.
This was a spin on laissez faire that made people take responsibility for themselves.

it was based on 3 key values.
- that government help weakened the poor and the us should not get involved in regulating businesses.

• The USA should isolate itself from other countries.
• USA should restrict immigration as immigrants looked to better their own life and not better the USA.

Question 8

What was Hoover’s action?

Answer 8

In 1929 he persuaded congress to set up the “FEDERAL FARM BOARD” committee that helped out farmers.

When Hoover realised that Laissez faire was not working he called on big businesses and wealthy individuals to help the poor.

Hoover then acknowledged the charities were still not enough, so he tried to pass laws through congress.
This ended up putting the government into debt.

Question 9

What is an example of the Public’s resentment towards Hoover?

Answer 9

They called shanty towns “Hoovervilles”

Question 10

What was Roosevelt’s idea?

what did it consist of

Answer 10

Roosevelt proposed the ‘new deal’ which was direct federal help to all.
-He was given wartime powers, initially he had the priority of balancing the budget put he put this aside.

-

Question 11

Give an example of 3 alphabet agencies and what they did?

Answer 11

AAA- agricultural adjustment agency. It regulated production of crops and bought surplus crops.

CCC- civilian for conservation corps. Programme for young men to work in conservation (they had to pay money back to their family.

NRA- National recovery administration- This enforced codes of practice for businesses, including work hours and minimum wage. (This made business owners furious)

Question 12

How far do you agree Hoover’s policy were the reason he lost the election.

Answer 12

Agree- Rugged individualism had proved not to work.
- Us economy needed a proactive response but Hoover wanted laissez faire.

Disagree- Roosevelt offered ‘new deal’ and more government support

-Roosevelt was a charismatic candidate fireside chats/

Question 13

What is communism? 4 things

Answer 13

Comunism is the opposite of capitalism

it promotes equality and fairness for all.

Everyone must work for the state and there is one political party.

Only produce as many goods that is needed.

Question 14

Why was communism relevant in America?

Answer 14

In 1905-1917 the communist revolution was occurring in Russia.

In 1917 the USSR/Soviet Union took over the monarchy in Russia.

This sent a shockwave of fear through the world as it was feared that workers would rebel against their Capitalist bosses.

Question 15

What showed there was a red scare in America?

Answer 15

During WW1 working conditions were extremely poor.
However, post war these conditions did not improve so individuals striked.

Communist organisations were set up like (Communist Labour Party CLP) and (American Communist party CPUSA). Many anarchists handed out pamphlets to spread the communist ideologies.

In 1919 there were 3,600 strikes.

21 January 1919 35,000 shipyard workers went on strike.

There was then a strike of 60,000 in Seattle.

36 bombs were sent in the post to Capitalist individuals.

Question 16

How did America deal with the First Red scare?

Answer 16

Americans became very suspicious and authorities often bent the law to arrest and deport anarchists.
“palmer raids” (raids happened without an arrest warrant)

Question 17

What was the impact did the Red scare have on the US

3 reasons

Answer 17

• there was a high level of suspicion on anarchists (people began to suspect their neighbours)
• employees were sacked in fear of rebellion
• Many suspected anarchists were deported.
• KKK targeted un-American people.

Question 18

What is an example of the America suspicion towards anarchists.
(What did it show about America)

Answer 18

Sacco and Vanzetti case.
They were two Italian anarchists who were accused of a murder near a shoe factory.
The case was based on poor evidence, yet they were executed.

This case shows that America were fearful of anarchists and would treat them in an unjust manner.

Question 19

What was the Second Red Scare?

Answer 19

1947-1954
The second time that there was a fear of communism spreading to America. (The Second Red Scare had more basis than the first).

Question 20

What were the factors leading to the Second Red Scare?

6 (reasons)

Answer 20

1- Elizabeth Bentley, a government official, told the HUAC that she had been part of a Moscow led spy ring.

2- China became communist in 1949 and USSR held first nuclear weapon test.

3- Rosenbergs were convicted an executed for passing
an atomic secret

4- Joseph McCarthy hurled accusations at communist individuals, raising alarm.

5- HUAC was a group created to investigate (unamerican) activities / communists

6- Americas passed internal security bill

Question 21

How was Hollywood relevant to the red scare?

Answer 21

There was investigation carried out on the influence of communism on Hollywood.
“the Hollywood 10” were 10 individuals who refused to speak and were later arrested.

Question 22

Why was Joseph MCarthy relevant to the Second Red Scare?
What did he do?
What led to his demise?

Answer 22

He was the head of the response to the second red scare.
He hurled allegations at people being communist.

1-Red baiters hounded people they thought were communist.

2-At an anti-communist speech he accused 205 people of being communist and then suggested he left the list on the plane. He later revised this number to 81.

3-His Speeches allowed him to gain control over the American public.

4-He then turned his view to accusing the army. The senate then passed a vote of censure on Mcarthy.

Question 23

Why was there an idea of anti- communism in America during second red scare?

Answer 23

• The FBI questioned people they suspected of communism on little evidence. They tapped phones and opened letters.
• In 1950 all books written by Karl Marx (“father of Communism”) were taken off shelves
• Anti- communism was so prevalent it united republicans and democrats.

Question 24

What was Liberalism and who suggested the idea?

Who were liberalists?

Answer 24

President Kennedy suggested the “idea of liberalism” and it was being concerned of the welfare of the people and being less suspicious than before.
- These were the values of the American Dream.

• Liberals were usually educated and middle class
• many liberal politicians developed the idea of positive discrimination.

Question 25

What was counter culture?

Answer 25

A series of groups of young people trying to remake society and rejecting their parents ideas and distrusting the political machine. They wanted to change society.

Question 26

Give an example of two counter culture groups and what they were?

Answer 26

Hippies- these were individuals who wanted to live in communal societies as they did not believe in family, they did not aspire to have more and lived simple lives.
-They smoked weed and took mind altering drugs.

Radical student groups they wanted to make more equality in society to make it closer to the American dream.
They wanted to change the way their courses worked and wanted to end the war in Vietnam

One radical student group was the SDS “students for democratic society”
They were against bigotry like anti-communism and protested against the war in Vietnam.

Another radical group was the “free speech movement”
When a student was arrested they took to the main square.
On 4 may 1970 4 students were shot by Ohio national guardsmen.

Question 27

What was the conservative reaction to counter-cultures?

Answer 27

Older Americans were bewildered by counter culture as it challenged:
The principle of family
Consumer culture
Rejected the values of hard work
and showed that a liberal government did not work

Question 28

What was a major event linked to the counter culture?

Answer 28

“Woodstock Festival” it was marketed as 3 days of peace and musics. Many Hippies congregated at this festival (400,000) and it showed the powerful counter-culture movement.

Question 29

What were the events leading up to America joining the Second World War?

Answer 29

In a Fireside chat Roosevelt suggested that the USA would remain neutral despite suggesting Americans could fight in Europe.

America then began to provide food goods and ammunition to Britain on a “cash and carry basis”.

Britain had started to become overrun in the war so Churchill was no longer able to pay for the supplies.
Roosevelt knew he was not able to do it on a credit basis as the neutrality act prevented this.

Therefore, Roosevelt came up with the “lend lease” scheme and “destroyer for bases scheme”.

In the lend lease scheme America would lend supplies and then be returned after the war.

In the “destroyers for bases scheme” the USA gave America 50 naval destroyers in return for America to use it’s bases.

Then Japan bombed pearl harbour in December 1941
this caused America to join the war.

Question 30

What were three impacts of America joining the second world war.

Answer 30

• Within a year of the outbreak the USA made 47 billion worth of production.
• industry profits rose from 17 million to 28 million dollars in 1943
• the working week was extended and wages rose.
• out of the 16 million that went to fight 400,000 died and 600,000 were wounded or captured.

Question 31

Why was there more US involvement after the Second World War? (2 reasons)

Answer 31

• Foreign events had an impact on the USA so it was important that the USA became a leading power to effect these events.
• The USA was concerned of the spread of communism so got involved. Truman doctrine and Marshall plan gave aid to war torn countries.

Question 32

What was Truman’s policy (how did he do this).

Answer 32

Truman wanted a policy of “containment”
Truman doctrine- helped countries that could have fallen to communism.
Marshall Plan- gave help to war torn countries to prevent takeovers from communist regimes.

Question 33

What were the different categories that the Cold War had an impact on?

Answer 33

• Nuclear defence.
• arms race
• the armed services
• space race

Question 34

What was the impact of nuclear defence on domestic policy? (4 impacts)

Answer 34

America knew that the USSR had nuclear capability

In the early 1950s the federal defence administration was
set up to organise evacuations with advice such as wearing wide-brimmed hats.

Schools ran regular “duck and cover” rehearsals.

The 1956 interstate act road network was made to create fast evacuation.

In 1958 you could buy a fallout shelter for 1,300$.

Question 35

What was the impact of the arms race on domestic policy?

Answer 35

Between June 1947 and June 1948 the US holdings of atomic bombs rose from 13-50.

It started an arms race that was very expensive and both countries had massive stock (MAD)

Question 36

What was the impact of the armed services?

Answer 36

The creation of a large military force affected the domestic economy. It opened up many jobs and it was a major customer to many businesses from food to fabric.

Question 37

What was the impact of the space race?

Answer 37

It demanded large investment from both countries and USSR scored a political point when they let the first ever sattelite sputnik 1 to set off October 4th 1957.
in July 1959 the us put the first man on the moon.
President Eisenhower set up the national Aeronautics and space administration.

Question 38

What was the impact of the Cold War on the presidency?

4 reasons

Answer 38

1)The power of the president to go to war or make treaties without Congress grew with the USAs involvement with Nato and the UN.
The U’S size and wealth made them feel like they were the only people capable of stopping the USSR.

2) After the war in 1947 the National security act reorganised US military forces under a new Defence department.
The armed forces greatly enlarged and the commander in chief had the ability to move forces around without consulting congress.

3) The national security act created the central intelligence agency (CIA) that reported to the White House and not congress.
4) the existence of nuclear weapons meant a nuclear war may begin without warning. The president had to have the power to act at once and not consult congress.

Question 39

What were the two other major events in the Cold War:

Answer 39

Korean War 1950-1953

Vietnam War 1955-1975

Question 40

What happened during the Korean War?

What did Truman want?

Answer 40

June 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea with the help of USSR advisors. Truman wanted to fight “a limited war” and keep the Koreans in North Korea as the war was going on in the context of the red scare Truman wanted to decrease Hysteria of an all out war.

Question 41

What were the results of the Korean War?

Answer 41

5 million people died.
5 million became homeless
35,000 US troops were killed 
900,000 Chineese casualties 
17,000 UN troops died.

Question 42

What was the impact of the Vietnam war on domestic policy?

Answer 42

The government lost credibility and Respect - figures like Muhammed Ali criticised the government.
Similar defence budget concerns as the war in North Korea.
Rising inflation.
1st December 1969 there was a lottery held for all 18-24 year olds and some were drafted to go to war.

People attempted draft dodging to not have to go to war.
WASPS managed to get their children exempt.

Was symbolic for people to burn their draft cards

Question 43

What was the impact of the Vietnam War on the presidency?

Answer 43

It drove the presidents into unpopular domestic policies.

As presidents were seen to have the power in foreign affairs and so as more responsible for it than domestic policy.

Created backlash for the presidency- there were protests against the war in Vietnam. People chanted Hey,Hey Johnson how many kids have you killed today.
Shone a cynical light on the president.

Humiliation for the presidency- “the planned withdrawal”
showed that the USA had lost which was humiliating for the government and so to the presidency.

Question 44

What was the impact of the Korean War on domestic policy?

Answer 44

Initially Truman wanted to fight a war of containment and keep “North Korea in North Korea” as he did not want to have to deal with the hysteria of a full scale war. Truman was thereafter criticised for not doing enough.

Republicans were tired of having a cooperative congress and the Korean War gave an opportunity for this.

President was involved in foreign policy and congress in domestic policy.

Question 45

What was the impact of the Korean War on the presidency?

Answer 45

1-The Korean War caused a shift in how the media dealt with the president. They pledged to give Truman support in exchange for inside information.

Truman held back with the media so the media started getting information from misleading sources leading to misleading headlines.

2-Truman found it difficult to regain media support as he was not a good communicator.

3- Truman sacked general Mcarthur. Democrats and Republicans were both frustrated as they wanted to scale up the war.

5- Disillusionment with the presidency as media suggested there was bickering in congress which went against fair congress.

Question 46

Why did the Korean War start?

Answer 46

June 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea with USSR resources.

Therefore, Truman sent UN troops to Korea and suggested that he wanted to fight a limited war as he did not want to exacerbate the hysteria of the cold war. He said it was ‘policing’.

Question 47

What was the changing mood after Hoover’s presidency?

Answer 47

• Democrats gained more power in the house of reps and the senate.
• Hoover became unpopular with his slogan ‘a chicken in every pot’
• In 1932 election Roosevelt proposed his new deal
• His campaign song was ‘happy days are here again’.

Question 48

What happened during the 1932 elections between Hoover and Roosevelt?

Answer 48

-Hoover only won 6 states and 40 million voters went to vote.

Question 49

What were the negative aspects of Roosevelt’s presidency?

Answer 49

• He promised to balance the government budget, but he did not end up doing this.
• The help that the alphabet agencies gave was the bare minimum and they had to do tests for them.

Question 50

How did Roosevelt increase the importance of the presidency?

Answer 50

• He used presidential executive orders when congress was not helping him
• His intervention was compared to that of Stalin and Mussolini
• He was good at managing people and was well liked, he received sack fulls of letters
• He was seen as breaching the constitution with NRA and AAA
• Was seen as breaching separation of powers by trying to pack the supreme court with his judges.

Question 51

How did Roosevelt’s legacy change the presidency and how did it not?

Answer 51

• The president was to be involved in policy making and law.
• Was expected to be involved in the media
• Government was seen as responsible for welfare
• Truman and Kennedy took inspiration with their packages.

NO
Separation of powers still existed
-The president did take part in law making but needed the approval of congress.

Question 52

How did Korean War impact the presidency?

Answer 52

• Truman was seen as not doing enough in fighting his ‘limited war’
• He lost public support when he sacked general Mcarthur in 1951
• Truman came under pressure to help nationalists in Taiwan to fight the Chinese
• Congress and the white house were seen as bickering and this came to the fore of media.

Question 53

Why did confidence in government decline, 1968-80

Answer 53

MASSEP

• Media
• Administration white house
• Scandal
• Social factors
• Events
• Presidents

Question 54

How did the media cause confidence in the government to decline?

Answer 54

-More people had TV and radio sets so media was expanding.

• During FDR media took responsibility of explaining policy
• During TRUMAN it was about critiquing policy
• After 1968 it was about uncovering government deception?

Question 55

How did the White House administration cause a decline in confidence?

Answer 55

• Roosevelt enlarged the staff of the White House and set up bureaus that reported directly to him.
• Staff members acted in the president’s name without consulting him
• As the cost of campaigning rose, parties would make deals with businesses and donors and they expected influence in return.

Question 56

How did Scandal cause a decline in confidence?

Answer 56

• Water Gate scandal (1972-1974) showed that Nixon was capable or robbery and surveillance of his political opponents.
• Tapes were shown of nixon: he swore, was suspicious of everyone and it painted the presidency in a terrible light.

Question 57

How did social factors cause a decline in confidence?

Answer 57

• Social problems and how they were handled at a local state level.
• Protests happened after the death of MLK.
• There was increased violence between students and officials. Eg Ohio national guard killed 4 students and injured 9.
• The 1965 voting rights act caused white democrats in the south to vote republican

Question 58

How did mishandling of events cause a decline in confidence of presidency?

Answer 58

-As presidents took on more responsibility in war. Like Vietnam war. As the media exposed scandals this looked worse.

Question 59

How did the presidents cause a decline in confidence of the presidency?

Answer 59

-All the presidents 1968-80 contributed to a decline in confidence.

Johnson put troops in vietnam without the approval of congress, he communicated poorly with the public.

• Nixon’s public communication style was forced and few warmed to him. His management of the watergate was bad.
• Ford, he pardoned Nixon, rather than taking him to a trial that would further corrode confidence.
• Carter campaigned on the fact he was very moral. However, he could not manage congress and his presidency was marked by poor decisions.