1917-33 the changing political environment Flashcards
what is the Republican Party associated with?
the Republican Party came to be associated with the ideas of minimal government intervention in business and daily life, low taxes and conservative social policies
what are the Democrats associated with?
the Democratic Party was associated with the ideas of civil rights, unions in the workplace and progressive reform.After the 1930’s, the Democrats also associated with the idea of government intervention for social and economic reform.
what is the separation of powers?
Each branch of the American government should curb the action of the others, making sure no one group had all the power.
what is congress?
Congress is the law-making body of the USA, it has two elected bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives, that both have to agree laws before they become active. The president can veto any laws agreed by congress
what are the 3 branches of the US Government?
- LEGISLATIVE:Congress (senate and the house of representatives), the law-making body
- EXECUTIVE:President , carries out laws
- JUDICIARY:Supreme Court, applies and interprets laws
What is the role/purpose of congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives can both pass laws, however each law has to be passed by both houses. Congress must agree taxation and going to war. Senate can also veto presidential appointments.
what is the role/purpose of the president?
The president is the head of state, so they lead foreign policy, and head of the executive. In emergencies, he can issue Executive orders (laws that are not confirmed by congress) however the Supreme Court can override this.
what is the role/ purpose of the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court can declare any laws illegal if it thinks they break the rules of the constitution. The 9 Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by congress
what impact did the WW1 have on the political environment?
- Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) entered WW1 in 1917 despite campaigning against it
- after the war ended much of the public felt entering into the war had been a mistake despite its economic boost
what was the return to ‘normalcy’ after Woodrow Wilson?
- President Harding (Republican) promised a return to normalcy
- black soldiers hoped for greater equality
- WASPs wanted to return to the way things had been before the war
- after the war there was a short economic depression
- unemployment from 1919-1921 rose from 950,000 to 5,010,000 and lots of social discontent
- to return to ‘normalcy’ he stated the government had to balance its books, reduce taxation, provide countrywide radio and introduce tariffs
what is a Tariff?
Tariffs are taxes put on goods going into, or out of, a country to encourage or discourage trading abroad.
what is the American Dream?
Belief that the nature of US society enables an individual to fulfil his or her potential, especially through wealth
what is rugged individualism?
belief that individuals can and should succeed by their own efforts rather than through government aid
what was prohibition?
From 1920 to1933 when it was illegal to manufacture and sell alcohol in the United States.
Dries argued that drunkenness led to crime, insanity, poor health, communism overcrowded prisons , inability to work, poverty and family problems.
By 1919, the 18th amendment in to the constitution made it illegal to make, sell or transport alcohol.
-dries said it was patriotic to avoid beer as many breweries were German.
-Many people believed that food staples such as grain shouldn’t be wasted on alcohol in wartimes
-prohibition was seen as encouraging law breaking and was difficult to enforce.
Roosevelt ended prohibition in 1933.
what was the RED SCARE?
In 1919 the Soviets set up a Comintern to promote world revolution and an American communist party was formed which aroused American communist fears that there would be a revolution in the US.
Especially as:
-there were 3600 workers strikes
-political malcontents mailed dozens of bombs to business and political leaders in several cities
-there were race riots which the press attributed too communist influence on Black Americans
