Changing political environment 1917-80 Flashcards
system of government
multi-level system - federal, state and local
two party system (republican/democratic)
separation of powers - no one group has all power (judicial, executive, legislative)
how did political environment change (1917-33) - impact of WW1
Wilson took USA through war (despite campaigning against it) following news of Zimmerman telegram (potential for German and Mexican alliance)
Wilson attempted to involve USA in foreign affairs following war
trade by 1916 reached £1260 million in munitions to Britain
Return to normalcy (1917-33)
promised Americans a return to normalcy
Harding saw this as a stable, steady way of life - wanted to shift focus back on the USA again
black soldiers saw this as a strive towards greater equality
WASPs saw this as a return to how things were before war
began return to normalcy by reducing tax
isolation (1917-33)
wanted USA to be able to support other nations but not become entangled with them
‘buy American’ - tariffs such as Fordney McCumber tariff act encouraged this
introducing tariffs that favoured US businesses
not joining league of nations (organisation formed at the end of war to help peacefully solve issues and support nations)
also meant cutting back on numbers of immigrants - 1921 emergency quora act (357,000 immigrants a year 3%)
decreased 150,000 (1924)
not completely isolated (e.g., helped Europe rebuild economically after war)
possible that without great depression USA would have become more internationalist
increase in hire purchase due to consumerism boom meant more people could buy expensive goods (boom period suggested republican policies were working)
how did presidency change - Wilson
Wilson only second democrat president since civil war
many people saw him as taking far too big of a part in decision making
took America into war despite campaigning against it - promoted league of nations without consulting Congress
believed presidents hsould be involved in law making (would approach congress with drafted bills)
for many, this was unwanted change in presidential behaviour coming up close breaking separation of powers
Appeal of republicanism
Wilson’s behaviour and reaction to war led people to turn towards republican ideals
wilson replaced by Harding (‘less gov in business more businesses in gov’)
Laissez faire - not job of government to control economy (control wages, working hours or prices)
campaign aims vague (president who wouldnt get involved)
as president did not attempt to draft laws or drag America into foreign affairs - however he employed friends who exploited their positions to make money
made administration seem corrupt (nepotism)
Appeal of republicanism - following Harding
Democrat may have been elected but they could not agree on candidate, so position went to republican candidate Coolidge (Harding vice-president)
Combined laissez faire with morality that he hoped would restore faith in the party
USA entered period of prosperity and recovery - people began thinking republicanism was working
Boom economy of 1920s had flaws that were not clear at the time - by the time Hoover was campaigning (1929) these economic and social flaws were clear
Hoover convinced society that republicans were the only ones that could eliminate poverty, encourage equality and restore economy
What influenced political landscape - first red scare 1919-20 (communism and strikes)
1917 - Russian revolution (monarchy taken over by communist government) - soviet union
disturbed capitalist USA
strikes following WW1 when working conditions didnt improve
communist party of america founded (CPUSA)
1919 - around 1/4 of all workers striking
rumours of communist revolution began to spread as strikes became national news and ‘red hunting’ broke out
workers rallies all over USA (e.g., New york)
First red scare 1919-20 (bombings and palmer raids)
1919 - bombs explode in eight cities targeting public officials including new head of judiciary A. Mitchell Palmer
1920 Wallstreet bombings - 38 dead (blamed on communists although no arrests made)
Palmer raids - Mitchell Palmer directly ordered raids on private housing and public meetings etc to arrest as many communists as possible
arrested 10,000 in 70 cities (although often held without charges)
only deported 556 of these
First red scare - 1919-20 (Case of Sacco and Vanzetti)
1920 - two people robbed and murdered
italian immigration anarchists charged (during palmer raids onslaught) - gained national attention
republican judge clearly prejudice against them - men sentenced to death on circumstantial evidence
gained huge international support within the 7 year struggle to prove men’s innocence
sent to electric chair 1927 - became martyrs in huge left wing propaganda exercise in Europe
1st Red scare - impacts and KKK
people no longer felt safe to share their opinion
Ku Klux Klan - considerable violence occureed in some parts of the country targeting specific groups in society that are ‘un-American’
Rugged individualism - Hoover (1929-33)
Hoover allowed for laissez faire policy by allowing people to take responsibility for themselves
encouraged people to look after themselves so that they would make their own way in the world and prosper (fulfilling American dream)
people who believed in this believed that people (even poor) were weakened by government support - removed self reliance
government shouldnt interfere in working hours, pay or working conditions even if they were being exploited by businesses
USA should isolate from other countries (isolationism)
restrict immigration - with rising unemployment after the war unlimited immigration that was encouraged before became a problem - most immigrants werent moving to America to bring wealth to the country
The great depression
October 1929 - underlying problems with the boom in the 1920s combined with out-of-control share trading created the wall street crash to then trigger the great depression
hoover began policy of allowing things to sort themselves out (what they had done for the small depression following the war)
voluntarism - encouraged businesses to carry on as they were and keep investing as they were
promoting new programmes, not reduce workforce/ wages (led to reduced wages and unemployment)
created national credit corporation (NCC) 1931 - attempt to help failing banks survive given funds of $500 million only spent $10 million by end of 1931
decline of republicanism
Hoover continued with laissez faire approach following wall street crash
encouraged businesses to set up private charities to aid people at personal level - didnt work due to economic state of country
1930 - created presidents emergency committee for employment - this turned out to be easily overwhelmed
decline of republicanism - government intervention
following failure of laissez faire approach, Hoover saw that federal intervention was necessary between 1930-32
Hoover changed from encouraging private help to giving states funding for them to afford some help
finally began asking congress to pass laws to give direct federal help (significant and unwelcome change of direction away from laissez faire approach)
agricultural marketing act (1929) - gave $500 million to set up co-operatives and boards to steady agricultural economy
national credit corporation (1931) - attempt to help failing banks survive funds of $500 million only spent $10 million by end of 1931
Hawley Smoot tariff (1930) - highest tariff in American history (average duty of 40% on agricultural and industrial goods) - led to fewer American goods to be exported
