1945-1961

Question 1

Impact of Cold War on domestic politics (5)

Answer 1

• increased power of presidency
• dominated Republican and Democrat clashes
• Second Red Scare
• US involvement in Korea
• Affected American society and the economy

Question 2

Impact of the involvement in Korea on Truman’s presidency

Answer 2

• Unpopular, damaged Truman’s presidency
• Lost the control of Congress, made it harder to lead the country

Question 3

What was the policy of ‘containment’

Answer 3

Stopping communist influence spreading by helping countries that might otherwise end up communist

Question 4

What was the ‘Truman doctrine’ (1947)/ the Marshall Plan

Answer 4

the USA would provide assistance to those under threat to communism

Question 5

What effect did the Korean War have on the economy (3)

Answer 5

• Cost $67 billion
• increased US defence expenditure boosted the GNP
• inflationary

Question 6

What federal government organisations were set up in 1947?

Answer 6

The National Security Act (1947) created the CIA, and the National Security Council (NSC)

Question 7

How did the National Security Act 1947, increase presidential power (2)

Answer 7

• Provided the president with information about foreign threats that he could avoid sharing with Congress
• both the CIA and the NSC reported to the White House, not Congress

Question 8

Examples of Truman not consulting Congress (2)

Answer 8

-ordered the Berlin Airlift 1948
-Went to war with Korea

Question 9

Causes of the Second Red Scare (2)

Answer 9

• Communism appeared to be dangerously expansionist (China and the Soviets having an atomic bomb 1949)
• Republican desire for party political advantage

Question 10

What was set up to investigate communist threats

Answer 10

HUAC (dominated by Republicans), Loyalty boards

Question 11

Examples of high profile spy cases

Answer 11

• State department official Alger Hiss (1950)
• Rosenberg 1951

Question 12

What is the number of investigations in the Red Scare estimated

Answer 12

Approx. 3 million, between 1945-53

Question 13

What did Senator McCarthy do in 1950?

Answer 13

Made an anti-communist speech, claiming there were communists in the Truman State Department

Question 14

What was McCarty on?

Answer 14

Influential on Congressional committees on the investigation of Communists

Question 15

How many people lost their jobs due to McCarty (3)

Answer 15

-500 government employees
-600 school teachers
-150 college professors

Question 16

How many people watched the McCarthy hearings

Answer 16

-upwards of 20 million

Question 17

How were civil liberties curbed in the Second Red Scare (2)

Answer 17

• FBI allowed to open letters, tap phones and bug homes
• People had their freedom of speech severely limited

Question 18

Public perception of Truman + relationship with Congress

Answer 18

• didn’t appeal to the public, unpopular after Korea
• Didn’t work well with Congress, Truman vetoed 250 bills passed by Congress

Question 19

Public perception of Eisenhower + relationship with Congress

Answer 19

-Good public manner
- Worked well with Congress, good at political bargaining

Question 20

Example of Eisenhower exercising unprecedented presidential authority

Answer 20

1955- when Communist China threatened Taiwan, Congress ceded its constitutional authority to declare war

Question 21

Truman and Congress

Answer 21

• Congress increasingly assertive, rejected most of Truman’s proposals
• Truman vetoed 250 bills passed by Congress, which overrode him 12 times

Question 22

Eisenhower’s ‘dynamic conservatism’

Answer 22

“conservative when it comes to money, liberal when it comes to people”
believed in self sufficiency

Question 23

Eisenhower more liberal policies

Answer 23

Social Security benefits were increased and coverage extended to 10 million more (1954)

Question 24

Truman’s personality and public appeal

Answer 24

• Not confident, not charismatic
• Didn’t appeal to the public and didn’t explain strategy for Korean War

Question 25

Eisenhower personality and public appeal

Answer 25

• cultivated an optimistic, friendly manner
• good public manner

Question 26

Truman being influenced by FDR

Answer 26

Truman’s Fair Deal 1949- recommended that all Americans have health insurance and minimum wage increase

Question 27

How did Truman redefine the role of the presidency (2)

Answer 27

• clearer distinction between cabinet members undertaking delegated work and advisory roles
• president as chief executive decision-maker

Question 28

How did Eisenhower shape the office of the president

Answer 28

• enlargement and increased organisation of the executive staff
• E.g introduction of chief of staff and a congressional liaison office