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Eisenhower (1953-1961) Flashcards

1
Q

When did Eisenhower become president?

A

1953

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2
Q

What was Eisenhower?

A

A republican

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3
Q

Where was Ike born and why was this significant?

A

Texas, small town in Kansas - there were few taxes to pay towards the federal government as they did very little for the American people

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4
Q

Why was Ike described as a ‘do nothing president’?

A
  • Did nothing for the civil rights movement
  • nothing for cold war
  • didn’t stimulate economy or extend the American dream
  • wasn’t as forceful as Truman, especially in foreign policy he preferred to maintain peace over war whereas
  • Truman enjoyed asserting US power
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5
Q

What did the Eisenhower family believe in?

A

‘self sufficiency’ - (independence)

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6
Q

What was Eisenhower’s promise?

A

To restore normality and stability

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7
Q

What were the expectations of Eisenhower, being a republican?

A
  • repeal of fair deal

- restore traditional US values involving minimal government intervention

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8
Q

Eisenhower’s reputation

A

American war hero - he was supreme commander of the Allies in Europe during ww2

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9
Q

Why did Ike do nothing for civil rights?

A

believed it wasnt the role of the president to intervene

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10
Q

Who did Ike defeat in the 1952 presidential election?

A

Robert Taft

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11
Q

Why did Eisenhower win the 1952 presidential election?

A

Policies for:

  • cutting federal budget (finances for foreign+defence policies)
  • cutting high taxes
  • removal of ‘socialised’ medicine
  • support for state rights
  • war hero - supreme commander of allies in Europe in ww2 - he was TRUSTED and therefore extremely popular amongst the American people
  • inspirational speaker
  • clever campaign, rather that attacking his democratic opponent he attacked Truman with the slogan, KIC2 (Korea, communism, corruption)
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12
Q

What did K1C2 stand for and involve

A

Korea, communism, corruption
Slogan used as an attack against Truman :
- Ike promised to end the Korean war
- attacked policy of ‘containment’ as being ineffective and introduced a policy of ‘rollback’
- Attacked Truman for being ‘soft’ on communism for allowing Soviets to reach Berlin and for ‘losing’ China
-Blamed Truman for allowing soviets to reach Berlin, despite the fact that he controlled the US army at the time

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13
Q

What was Ike’s time as president remembered as?

A

A golden age
Americans didn’t have to worry bout problems associated with the economy or war and could enjoy an economic boom
Eisenhower - associated with economic prosperity

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14
Q

Eisenhower’s attitude towards domestics

A

‘moderate republicanism’ and ‘dynamic conservatism’
he did not share the extreme views of some ‘old guard’ republicans who believed in completely abolishing programmes such as the new deal and the fair deal. However, as president he believed he had the role to provide some additional benefits to the American people whilst favouring more limited spending than Truman. He wanted to intervene to stimulate the economy and favoured limited expansion of the new deal.

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15
Q

Domestic policy goals/ achievements

A
  1. Facilitating the economic boom in a moderate republican manner
  2. Surviving as president for 2 terms - he was extremely popular
  3. Ending McCarthyism, and taking control over the anti-communism hysteria
  4. Managed a difficult republican party

HOWEVER
Did little for civil rights

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16
Q

Eisenhower’s domestic policy successes

A
  • expanded social security to cover 10 million Americans
  • increased minimum wage by 25%
  • established department of health, education and welfare
  • made $500 million available to support the government supported construction of low-income housing
  • 1956 interstate highway programme built a 41,000 mile road system
  • introduced 2 civil rights acts in 1957 and 60
    STIMULATED ECONOMY
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17
Q

When was the interstate highway act imposed and what did it involve?

A

1956
His most ambitious domestic project
Built 42,000 miles of road and made driving long distances faster and safer

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18
Q

Why did Eisenhower have less control over government spending during his final years as president?

A

Democratic control over congress
They spent more on domestic programmes than Eisenhower would’ve preferred, he used his veto to block expensive social reform programmes however, domestic spending still rose by a significant amount
From 31% of the budget in 1953 to 49% in 1961

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19
Q

How much did government spending on domestic programmes increase by?

A

1953 - 31% of the budget

1961 - 49% of the budget

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20
Q

How much did federal expenditure decrease during Ike’s presidency as a whole?

A

As a measure of GDP declined from 20.4% to 18.4% - during no presidency since Eisenhower’s has there been a decrease in federal spending s a percentage of GDP

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21
Q

Why might Eisenhower not be seen as responsible for economic successes?

A

Extremely lucky president, president at the ‘right time’
inherited economic prosperity and what was known as an ‘age of affluence’
Can be argued Ike didn’t need to intervene or take radical action as US was already heading towards stability through the ‘cycle of prosperity’ e.g. building of new, low-income homes provided employment
Roosevelts ‘new deal’ had kick started the economy, provided jobs and ended the economic depression, followed by Truman’s ‘21 point plan’ which expanded economic growth and promoted the American dream even further
The US had emerged from the war as the wealthiest most powerful nation in the world.
Other countries were in desperate need of raw materials and goods to rebuild their economy, the US was in a stable enough position to be able to aid these countries through the Marshall plan. As well as this, extremely powerful nations such as Great Britain and the USSR had been badly affected by the war - the US was at an economic advantage.
He built upon the work of T + R - would be crazy to abandon these ideas - all his work wasn’t his own ideas

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22
Q

Why was Eisenhower able to implement acts without being accused of what Truman had?

A

People were slightly less obsessed by communism - Eisenhower had put an end to the McCarthy hysteria

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23
Q

How many cars and telephones did Americans own?

A

By 1960 - half of the cars and telephones across the world

This made travel and communication far easier

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24
Q

How many families had televisions?

A

By 1960 - 90% of families
Led to the increasing popularity of sport and music. Explosion of advertisements led to a new found desire for glitz and glamour and led to the expansion of the consumer society

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25
Improved lives for workers?
Wages rose and hours fell | Virtually all workers enjoyed at least 2 weeks of paid holiday a year
26
How much did the Average income of Americans increase?
Twice the amount of those in the 1920s
27
How much did GNP increase by?
$355 billion in 1950 | $488 billion in 1960
28
How many homes built?
Between 1945 and 50 - five million By 1960 60% of Americans owned their homes Created a demand for furnishing, decorations etc and contributed to the development of a consumer society which generated social and cultural change
29
How many still lived in poverty?
1/4 Described as 'the other America' - was easily ignored by most Americans and Ike himself wasn't rediscovered until 1960s
30
When did the Eisenhower economy see recessions?
A minor recession in 1954 and a more serious one in 1958 which saw 5 million Americans unemployed and a production fall of 14%
31
Main problem with the economic boom
different groups, such as teenagers benefitted from the economic boom far more than others. For example, teens were gaining huge amounts of freedom and opportunities whereas the elderly were becoming increasingly isolated once families started to move out of towns and into nuclear family units such as Levittown
32
Problem with economic boom and employment
Industrialisation made manual jobs redundant and many lost their employment status - particularly evident in 1958 which saw 5 million Americans unemployed
33
Problems with the economic boom and impact on US society
Many intellectuals believed the consumer society led to the American people becoming increasingly materialistic and less considerate of the less fortunate Many also feared the consumer society was becoming far too central and was undermining traditional American values such as hard and careful money management
34
How much did inflation remain at?
below 2%
35
Most difficult domestic issue for Eisenhower
Mccarthy crisis - he was able to gain support through the media and through manipulating the US fear of communism Senator Joseph McCarthy had been making headlines since 1950 after his accusation that there was communist sympathisers working for the US government which eventually led to the launch of the witch hunting campaign against the Truman administration
36
Ike's opinion towards McCarthy
Ike also worried about communist spies or agents but disliked McCarthy's outrageous methods which included the tendency to consider someone guilty until proved innocent
37
Why did Ike never criticise McCarthy publicly?
Scared it could ruin his own career through being accused himself or work to McCarthy's advantage, increasing his own power
38
Actions of McCarthy in 1954
Held televised hearings on communist influence in the US army
39
Why did McCarthy's accusations against the army anger Ike so much?
He felt morally obliged to defend the army - he had spent most of his adult life serving in the army
40
How did Ike approach the situation to ensure McCarthy's removal from power?
He worked quietly behind the scenes to diminish the senator's power using the US media to present McCarthy in an extremely negative way to the US people. EXTREMELY CLEVER AND SIGNIFICANT - By 1954 9/10 US homes had a television, they could have an extremely powerful political effect
41
McCarthy's complete depletion of power
By the end of 1954 the Senate had voted to ensure McCarthy never had a major influence in US politics again
42
Growth of suburbia
Baby boom - Between 1945 and 1960 the population increased by 40 million which increased demand for new homes. Affordable housing - the building of reasonably priced homes became a priority and land was cheaper on the edges of cities. Increasing car ownership - no longer had to live close to place of work most families had at least one car. Living the American dream - Own their own home and bring up children away from pressures of city life. Increasing affluence - Economic growth led to people having more money to spend so new homes affordable and people could afford new appliances e.g. TVs and record players
43
The Affluent Society
By 1960, the standard of living of the average American was three times that of the average Briton. By 1960, 25% of Americans lived in suburbia. TV sets, record players, swimming pools and at least one car became status symbols, the 'must have' items
44
The 'Other' America
By 1959, 29% of the population (50 million) lived below the poverty line. Included among the poor were the 'hillbillies' of the Appalachian mountains; Hispanic workers in the West; black people in the city ghettos in the North. Poor Americans found it hard to afford the rising cost of healthcare (there was no NHS)
45
Growth of suburbia - Baby boom
Between 1945 and 1960 the population increased by 40 million which increased demand for new homes.
46
Growth of suburbia - Affordable housing
The building of reasonably priced homes became a priority and land was cheaper on the edges of cities.
47
Growth of suburbia - Increasing car ownership
No longer had to live close to place of work most families had at least one car
48
Growth of suburbia - Living the American dream
Own their own home and bring up children away from pressures of city life
49
Growth of suburbia - Increasing affluence
conomic growth led to people having more money to spend so new homes affordable and people could afford new appliances e.g. TVs and record players
50
Dynamic conservatism?
Policies focused on domestic issues rather than foreign
51
What did eisenhowers dynamic conservatism do?
Created department of health, education&welfare Expanded social security to cover 10million Aa Increased minimum wage by 25% £500m for Low income housing
52
Federal highway act
1956- | 42k miles of highway was built over 20 years
53
Civil rights act?
1957 | 1960
54
Evidence that Eisenhower faced little opposition
Only 10/83 bills were rejected in congress
55
Modern republicanism?
he occupied a middle ground between liberal Democrats and the conservative wing of the Republican Party Eisenhower continued New Deal programs, expanded Social Security, and prioritized a balanced budget over tax cuts
56
How many were still in poverty?
1/4 still in poverty
57
McCarthyism end?
Stopped in 1954 - accused the army Ruined and censured
58
McCarthyism popular?
1953 - 50% of the population was in favour
59
Rise of gdp?
1950- 355b | 1960- 488b
60
Per capita income change?
1940 : 1720 1960: 2699
61
How much did the economy grow by?
37%
62
How much more purchasing power did people have? Eg.
30% 90% owned TVs
63
Why did economy grow?
gi bill - returned 40billion into economy - Done by ROOSEVELT in 1944
64
Credit availability
Homes costed 8000
65
Car sales:
1949 : 5.1m 1955: 7.9m
66
When did Russia put the first object in space?
1957
67
The USA was keeping 1/3rd of nuclear bombers reading at 15 minutes notice.. When?
1955
68
When were hydrogen bombs developed by both?
1953
69
How many nuclear weapons did the USA have by 1957?
5543
70
How many nuclear weapons did the USSR have by 1957
650
71
Hungarian revolution
1956- 3k Hungarians killed 200k fled to Europe USA didn't get involved - both good and bad
72
Berlin crisis
1958 Khrushchev demanded the USA leave West Berlin in 6months 20% of east Germany fled to the west by 1961
73
U2 crisis:
1960 Spy plane shot down by ussr Krushhev postponed meeting by 6 months but- when Eisenhower would not longer be in power
74
How did the Korean War end?
1953 Armistice signed Refusal to us atomic weapons
75
What happened in Hungary Revolution?
1956 Khrushchev sent troops to Budapest. 3k were killed 200k fled across border. USA didn't come to their aid In 1956, this was an attempted revolt against Communist rule in an Eastern European nation. Khrushchev sent in Soviet tanks to crush this rebellion. Eisenhower did nothing for fear of staring another war
76
What happened in Taiwan?
Us wanted to defend Taiwan: is Eisenhower only had 6 vote against it out of 494. China stopped shelling of Taiwan after us threatened to use weapons.
77
what happened to Vietnam under Eisenhower?
July 1954 Vietnam split. Diem took south. Managed to avoid intervention The French loose control of this territory after Ho Chi Minh led a Communist force to overthrow French rule.
78
Middle East crises
1955 created cento | But in 1958 ussr developed friendly relationships with Iraq, Syria Egypt
79
Suez crisis
- 1956 sues canal was nationalised - Britain and France wished to attack Egypt - Eisenhower didn't get involved - In 1956, this crisis happened in Egypt where Britain, France, and Israel invaded. Eisenhower was furious and these countries withdrew from this region.
80
Post War
After world war two, people were worried about the economy. American industries had been untouched by the war and were converted to make daily objects.
81
Joesph McCarthy and communism
By 1950, 50000 out of 150000000 were said to be communists. McCarthy claimed to have a list of 200 people in the government who were communist
82
Levittown
The growth of suburbs. The GI Bill of 1944 provided money toward these new suburbs
83
Interstate Highway System
In 1956 it was created to construct 42,000 miles of roads across the country. In 1958 the Interstate Highway Act aimed at connecting all the major cities in the U.S
84
New Look
National Security policy created in 1953: 1. Maintain a good economy while still spending money on the cold war. 2. Rely on nuclear weapons in case of war. 3. Use the CIA to carry out secret missions. 4. Gain more allies.
85
Brinkmanship
The US was willing to push the cold war to the brink of war - In 1953, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles criticized Truman's containment policy and suggested to push the Soviets to the brink of war
86
Thaw
1970's the aggressive policy for the cold war was abandoned by the US and USSR. Nixon created Detente. Eisenhower and Khrushchev met to discuss
87
Geneva Summit
Cold war meeting with the US, Britain, France, and the USSR. They tried to create peace and security
88
Spirit of Geneva
This meeting eased cold war tensions but it failed to make any agreements
89
Open Skies Proposal
1955- Eisenhower wanted to have both sides use air surveillance on each other to get information on their militaries. Khrushchev refused but Eisenhower did it anyways and got caught
90
Hungarian Revolt
Hungry had been under USSR control since 1945. On October 23, 1956, Hungarians began to protest. On November 4th, Soviets invaded and killed and hurt people. America did nothing
91
Sputnik
1957 The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite. The US panicked and created the NASA This shocked the U.S. and surprised the world when the Soviets launched the first satellite
92
CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)
In 1953, this secretive government agency overthrew the leader of Iran and put in a new Shah (monarch) of Iran. The Shah would rule as a brutal autocrat. In 1954, this secretive government agency overthrew the government of Guatemala, because their leftist government threatened American business interests
93
SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)
In 1954, SEATO was created to prevent Southeast Asia from falling to Communism. What is SEATO?
94
Geneva Conference
In 1954, at this conference the French gave up Indochina, which became Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. Vietnam was also divided at the 17th parallel
95
Domino Theory (1957)
This is a theory that was developed during the 1950s, in that if South Vietnam falls to Communism, one nation after another in Southeast Asia would also fall to Communism
96
Warsaw Pact (1955)
In 1955, this was an military alliance between the USSR and Eastern European statellite nations to unite and counter NATO
97
Eisenhower Doctrine (1957)
In 1957, this doctrine extended the Truman Doctrine to the Middle East. Pledged economic and military aid to any Middle Eastern country threatened by Communism
98
In 1958, the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) did what?
Gave millions in federal money to schools for science, math, and foreign language.
99
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
In 1958, this government agency was created for the purpose to build missiles and explore outer space
100
U-2 Incident (Gary Powers - pilot)
In 1960, this incident led to increased tensions between the U.S. and USSR when an American spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union.

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