Chapter 1 Flashcards
The list of presidents in order (from 1913 to 1981)
Wilson (1913 - 1921) D Harding (1921 - 1923) R Coolidge (1923 - 1929) R Hoover (1929 - 1933) R Rooservelt (1933 - 1945) D Truman (1945 - 1953) D Eisenhower (1953 - 1961) R JFK (1961 - 1963) D Johnson (1963 - 1969) D Nixon (1969 - 1974) R Ford (1974 - 1977) R Carter (1977 - 1981) D
New Deal
Rooservelts policy - The federal government and president would do whatever they could to save the country from disaster.
What did Rooservelt promise in his new deal
- Balance the budget (although put this aside when he gained power)
- The government would be responsible for welfare
- Improve living standards and reduce unemployment
The NRA
National Recovery Administration - Practice for business to set minimum wages and hours. FDR encouraged people to support businesses that joined the NRA
The AAA
Agricultural Adjustment Agency - Subsidised farmers to produce crops with excess demand.
FDR and Congress
Roosevelt understood how to manipulate congress - granted him special powers. Allowed him to pass multiple legislations for taxes / welfare etc.
Roosevelt and people
FDR was confident. He started fireside chats to communicate to people. This was a huge success - increased his popularity. Received loads of letters from people thanking him.
Roosevelt and the media
Used radio etc. for positive media coverage. Gave the media insights on his policies.
Who disliked Roosevelt
- Wealthy business men
- Republicans due to the huge increase in legislation and presidential power.
How FDR increased the importance of presidency
Increased white house staff in order to increase federal intervention.
Increased the expectancy for presidents to be involved in forming legislation and policy and to give insight to the media
Government were responsible for welfare
Employment rose significantly when America joined the war in 1941 but people were captured or killed at war.
The impact of WW2
FDR said in a fireside chat to remain neutral
Started war production - sold to allies boosting profits, higher employment.
Farmers exported more food - more profit.
Lend-Lease Act
March 1941, Allowed the US to lease war goods to Britain if they were returned after the war
Harry Truman Overview
Democrat (1945-53)
Personality - not confident, overwhelmed by the job and made mistakes under pressure
Media - worked well with the media with briefings although sometimes didn’t explain enough e.g. Korean war
Public - didn’t try to connect, made mistakes and didn’t explain strategy (Korean War)
Worked well with his staff but didn’t always appoint the right people
Didn’t work well with congress as the majority was republican.
Eisenhower overview
Republican (1953-61)
He was optimistic and friendly
Worked well with the media but minimised the cold war problem
Good public manner with clear speeches
Exceptional organisation - set up regular meetings
Worked well with congress
When was the second red scare and who was the key leader
1947-54
Joseph McCarthy
Why was the second red scare more significant than the first
The USSR were spying on the US and set up a spy ring who were arrested.
China turned to communism and this made Truman receive backlash. Media claimed he wasn’t doing enough against communism.
Counter-Culture
Young people (hippies) were trying to reshape society. and change the culture. They believed in peace and a simple way of life.
Radical student groups wanted a more equal society.
Conservatives were against it as it went against traditional family values and religion
The Truman Doctrine
Truman wanted to prevent countries falling under communism
The marshall plan
Trumans system of aid to help countries fighting communism. One example was when the US airlifted supplies to Berlin after the USSR blockaded the city. Truman also established US bases in other countries.
The impact of the cold war on the presidency
- Gave the president more power to go to war and war preparations such as nukes
- The CIA now reported to the white house and not congress
- Size of the army increased
- The president had the power to react to a nuclear attack without addressing congress.
When was the Korean war
1950-53
The impact of the Korean war on the presidency
Truman didn’t feed enough information to the media so they went to other sources and published false news including Truman was going to use a nuke.
Truman wanted a limited war and this lost him support as Americans wanted him to scale up.
No support when he sacked MacArthur.
People began losing faith in the government
Cost alot of money - taxes were raised.
When was the Vietnam war
1954-75
