Changing political environment 1917-33 Flashcards
order and dates of the presidents
1.) Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
2.)Warren Harding (1921-1923)
3.)Calvin Coolidge (1923-29)
4.) Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
5.)FDR (1933-1944)
6.) Harry Truman (1944-1953)
7.)Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
8.) John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
9.) Johnson (1964-1969)
10.) Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
11.) Gerald Ford (1974-77)
12.) Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
13.)Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
which president brought the US into WW1
Woodrow Wilson (Democrat)
why was Wilson not trusted by Americans after the war
-he went against americas previously established isolationist policy regarding world affairs by entering WW1
-he had previously campaigned US neutrality
what was the impact of WW1
-increase in govt spending by 24.1%
-increase in industrial production by 39%
-national debt increased by 658 % to 25 Billion
-america loaned britain and france 2.3 billion
-economic depression post war
ow much did america loan britain and france during ww1
2.3 billion
how much did national debt increase in ww1
to 25 billion
how much did government spending increase in WW1
24% of GNP
how much did industrial production increase after WW1
39%
what was the return to normalicy, why was it prompted and who led it
-harding promised ‘return to normalacy’
-WASPS understood this as life before the war
-prompted as there was a short economic depression post WW1 (unemployment at 5 million by 1921 VS 1 million in 1919)
-due to depression there was huge social discontent (riots, protests and strikes)
-the gov needed to: reduce taxation (that was set high during the war), introduce tariffs (to protect trade/us industry), solve the race question and introduce countrywide radio(to boost technology)
what was isolationism and what was its impact
-USA should be supportive but not entangled with other nations- they had to focus on themselves and ‘buy american’
-buy american made consumerism prosper:Fordney and MCumber tarriff act of 1922 increased the cost of imports through tarriffs encouraging people to buy american
-strove to favour US businesses: introduced US favouring trade tax
-due to isolationism the US did not join the league of nations, didnt set up colonies, cut back immigration (1921 Emergency Quota)
-series of neutrality acts passed from 1935 and 39- restricted help the US could give other countries when they went to war
-increase in xenophobia: emergency quota act cutting back on immigration, other cultures were estranged in society
what was the 1921 emergency quota act and how and when was it extended
cut back immigration to 357,000 a year
was extended by another emergency quota act in 1924 that cut back on immigration to 150,000 a year in 1924 (with quotas from immigrants in different countries)
how did the great depression of 1929 influence isolationism
forced people to become more self focused instead of looking outwards
what were the presidential changes during ww1
-confidence in presidency decreased as wilson had campaigned neutrality and then took them into war - people thought had had too big a part in government decision making
-wilson drafted bills and took them to congress himself- an unwelcome change in presidential behaviour
-this caused a shift from engagement in gov to laissez faire under harding (isolationism as a result of war brought on laissez faire)
what was laissez faire and who intoduced it
-harding introduced laissez faire
-principles: not the job of the gov to control the economy or manage social problems, their job was to ‘keep their own spending under control’
-established the republican party as the party of ‘big business’ not willing to control wages, working hours or price
why was there an uprise in republicanism post ww1
-wilsons behaviour as a democrat in ww1 led people to republican ideals (even some southern democrats)
-hardings campaign ‘less government in business more business in government’ and his laissez faire policy was appealing as pwoplw thought wilson was too involved
-coolidge combined ‘laissez faire’ and morality that restored faith in republican party.
-a period of economic recovery under coolidge and people supported republicanism
what was the fordney mccumber tariff act
Fordney and MCumber tarriff act of 1922 increased the cost of imports through tarriffs encouraging people to buy american
when and what was the first red scare and what led to it
-1919-20
prompts of red scare:
Russian Bolshevik revolution in 1917 where monarchy was toppled and replaced with a comunist government (soviet union/ussr). fear of spreading communism worldwide
events of red scare:
-in 1919 there were 3,000 strikes (1/4 of workers) as workers conditions hadnt improved post war
-there was a shipyard worker strike of 35,00 which prompted a general strike of 65,00 (this prompted rumours of a communist revolution nationally)
-rumours of communist revolution prompted ‘red hunting’ as anti communist feeling escalated
-bombings: anarchist bombings (1919) were a series of bombings by followers of Luigi Galleani, bpombs exploded in 8 cities, 38 killed by a bomb on wall st.
what was the result of anti communist feeling escalating during the red scare
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
-businesses sacked empoyees they susspected of left wing communism
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
-out of fear, people no longer felt they could express opinions freely
-political violence implemented on those with left wing views (violence often came from KKK who had 5 million members at the time: targetted groups they considered un-american)
SOCIAL
-thousands arrested on suspicion
-only 556 deported once cases were considered
who led the palmer raids, what happened and why
-Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer led them after an anarchist bomb destroyed part of his house
-6,000 were arrested without trial and 556 ‘aliens’ were deported
what was rugged individualism and who introduced it
-Herbert hoover
-‘laissez faire’ with a twist.
-people would look after themselves and make their own way in the world and prosper
Rugged individualism felt:
-people were weakened by the government because it sapped their self reliance
-government shouldnt interfere to help with jobs and homes or regulate conditions (businesses to be free)
-Usa should isolate itself from other countries
-Usa should restrict immigration due to the belief immigrants caused rising unemployment
what caused the Great Depression
WALL STREET CRASH:
-in 1929 there were underlying problems with the economic ‘boom’ combined with out of control share-trading
-wall street crash triggered the great depression that hit the USA, the the rest of the world very hard
what were the impacts of the Great Depression
-it hit the rest of the world
-unemployment levels were 12 million
-unemployment soared, people lost their homes,
banks and businesses failed
-much more long lasting than depression after ww1 (was only 18 months), wasnt expected so it was left to sort itself out by the republicans
what prompted the decline of Republicanism
-Hoover set up Federal Farm board in 1929 for those who found it hard to sell goods
-June 1930: increases existing tariffs on foreign imports
-Hoover realised laissez faire wasnt working (too late) and thought the answer was private charities ( by businesses and wealthy) to help people on a local/ personal lwvwl
-1930: presidents committee for unemployment: temporary to find work projects and to create more jobs (it was overwhelmed)
-bonus army issue
-realised federal intervention WAS needed
-reluctantly went to congress to pass laws for direct federal help (UNWELCOME CHANGE) congress rejected many and the ones that were passed put the government in debt
-many blamed hoover for the Wall Street crisis as his welfare provisons were too little too late
-shanty towns of homeless people sprang about the country after him, named HOOVERVILLES
what was the bonus army and why/ when was it
WHEN
-IN 1932
WHY
- in 1924 bonus payment gave those who fought in first world war a bonus payment calculated by their years of service
-they were paid 50 dollars initially and rest of money went in a fund to pay out in 1945
-By 1932 veterans were unemployed/ homeless from the depression and demanded early pay but were refused
WHAT
-this prompted veterans to march on washingto in JUNE 1932
-estimated numbers range from 150,000 to 200,000
-camped in various sites in city in sight of White House
-28 JULY 1932 troop were sent in with tear gas, cavalry, bayonnets, machine guns and tanks (only tear gas and bayonets used) and camps dispersed
IMPACT
-reports published suggesting the camps were communist agitators and criminals (to justify police violence)
-Hoover lost significant support DESPITE urging the commander of the 12th infatry to use restraint
what solidified the decline of republicanism in 1932 and when did the democrats begin to regain majority
-failure to cure depression prompted people to begin to vote democrat
-hoover became increasingly unpopular due to his dealing with the depression (even within the republican party itself)
-by 1931 democrats were majority in the House of Representatives and gaining in the senate
1932 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN
-Roosevelt offered a new deal
-promised a new attitude to government and ‘Happy Days were here again’
-his campaign pointed to Hoover being led by the new four horsemen of the apocalypse ‘DESTRUCTION, DESPAIR, DELAY AND DOUBT’
-more than 40 million people voted (largest ever) and hoover won only 6 states
what were hardings key policies
-return to normality
-isolationism
-reduce taxation
-tarriffs
-not joining the League of Nations
how much of the vote did harding win
61 percent
what was hardings solgan
‘less government in business and more business in government’
when did harding die
1923- unexpectedly
what was the scandal during hardings government called
‘The Teapot Dome Scandal’- extensive corruption within his government administration, hiring his friends
how was coolige viewed and why was he popular
-honest
-symbol of traditional values threatened by the forces of change
-recieved 400 callers a day at the White House
-popular (reassuring speeches, cited the bible, ensured broadcast on radio, used visual images)
what happened during coolidge’s presidency
USA enttered a peiod of economic recovery with the boom of the 1920s
what was national debt like under Coolidge
-decreased national debt from 22.3 billion to 16.9 billion from 1923-29
what did coolidge do despite being seen as a laissez faire president
-supported tariffs
-regulated new industries like radio and aviation
-agreed to federal aid for relief of the 1927 Mississipi floods
how much did hoover win by and what was his principle
58 percent
rugged individualism
what did hoover do to help farmers and the public
-Agricultural marketing act (1929) (encouraged loans and established a federal farm board to stabalise prices by buying crops- failed to stop depression as no production limit set)
-increased spending on roads, bridges and public buildings
-gave 300 million in loans for ‘needy and distressed’ as a last resort for states
how did hoover help banks
-established Finance corporation which was given 2 billion to lend to businesses (failed0
what was the 1932 revenuew act and its impact
raised taxes that worsened the depression by decreasing consumerism
