Changing Political Environment

Question 1

Federal/State Government

Answer 1

LEGISLATIVE: (congress) senate, house of representatives

EXECUTIVE: (president) cabinet, armed forces, vice president

JUDICARY: (supreme court) < court of appeals < district courts

LEGISLATIVE: (legislative, general assembly) senate, house of representatives

EXECUTIVE: (governor) lieutenant governor, state national grid

JUDICARY: (state supreme court) < state court of appeals < trial courts

Question 2

US Presidents 1913-2001

Answer 2

1913-21   Wilson             D
1921-23   Harding           R
1923-29  Coolidge         R
1929-33  Hoover            R
1933-45  Roosevelt       D
1945-53  Truman           D
1953-61   Eisenhower    R
1961-63   Kennedy         D
1963-69  Johnson         D       
1969-74   Nixon              R
1974-77   Ford                R
1977-81   Carter             D
1981-89   Reagan           R
1989-93  Bush                R
1993-01   Clinton            D

Question 3

Impact of WW1 - Wilson

Answer 3

CONTROVERSY: entered war (pre-decision campaigned against this). Despite economic boost people=’mistake’

PRESIDENTIAL CHANGES: -too large role in decision making i.e. drafting bills into congress himself such as Selective Service Act 1917 (w/ leader of D House of Representatives to agree) X public=close to breaking seperation of powers -promoted league if nations when an isolationist approach was adopted by America

Question 4

Appeal of Republicanism

Answer 4

• rep ideals more attractive to people (harding = laissez faire ‘Less gov in business, more business in gov’
• X gov role to manage social/economic problems, just control gov spending (pleased majority=majority of votes from congress as less interferance & public; but at the expense of wider wealth gap and minorities losing out)

Question 5

Harding 1921-23

Answer 5

POLITICAL:

• X decison maker (not many enemies, but lacked typical US vision) & lack of knowledge on foreign affairs (Huges in charge)
• stopped antitrust organisations (business divide grows) & opposed organised labour (trade unions)

ECONOMIC:

• involved with ‘Ohio Gang’ (corrupt past defrauded gov)
• tax cuts for rich
• Huges admin (western trip) revised Germany’s war debts downwards through 1923 Dawes plan leg passed

SOCIAL:

• organised western/Alaska tour to explain policies
• paid German war sympathiser (affair) ‘hish money’ to prevent blackmail; cared more for rep than prized as good leader

Most historians regard Harding as the worst president in nation’s history due to lack of vision.

Question 6

Coolidge 1923-29

Answer 6

POLITICAL:

• supported 1928 Kellogh Briand Pact: renouncing war, settling international differences
• X run for 2nd term due to his republican political philosophy

SOCIAL:

• 1st public admired Coolidge for his honest/hardworking but TGD brought opinions against him
• criticised for failing to stop uncertainty in the stock market

ECONOMIC:

• vetoed McNary-Haugen bill to aid depressed agricultural sector whilst rural banks were shutting down & farmers loosing land
• secured lower taxes for wealthy and reduced business regulation, but this resulted in the misdistribution of wealth/overproduction of goods , destabilising the economy

Offered little optimistic vision, hower strong his personal integrity.

Question 7

Hoover 1929-33

Answer 7

POLITICAL:

• Wilson made Hoover involved in the American delegation to Versailles armistice
• ‘Rugged Individualism’: Hawley-Smoot tariff of 1930

SOCIAL:

• supported prohibition
• rejected farm subsidies and Agriculture Matketing Act had little impact on farmer prospects
• refused assistance of millions of Nation’s unemployed/hungry who were overwhelming private agencies

ECONOMIC:

• X emulate consumption needed to jump-start economy post TGD
• Reconstruction Finance Corporation used Fed$ in an unsuccessful attempt to stabilise Nation’s banking/financial sector
• 5,000 banks failed: 1932 1/3 unemployed: 1929 $12bn farm —> $5bn