Eisenhower complete Flashcards
What was Eisenhower’s nickname
Ike
What did Truman try to persuade Eisenhower to do in ‘47 and ‘51?
Run for the Democrats
In what year was Eisenhower elected the first Republican President in 20 years?
1952
Name two key features of Eisenhower’s election campaign
- Criticising Truman
- Promising to end the Korean War
Who controlled Congress after the 1952 election?
The Democrats
What were Eisenhower’s domestic policies known as?
Dynamic Conservatism
What other well-known set of domestic policies were Eisenhower’s like?
The New Deal of the 30s
What did Eisenhower do in ‘57, ‘59 and ‘60?
Balanced the budget
Who did Eisenhower give more power to?
States and local governments
What new Department did Eisenhower set up that aimed to help American people?
a new Department of Health, Education and Welfare
Give two examples of successful domestic policies under Eisenhower.
Expanded social security to cover 10 million more Americans
Increasing minimum wage to $1 per hour
$500million for low-income public housing
Who was chosen to be Eisenhower’s running mate and vice-president?
Richard Nixon
Why was Eisenhower said to have been ‘balancing the ticket’ when he chose Nixon as Vice President?
Nixon was a talented political operator and could balance Eisenhower’s lack of experience
Who did Nixon have a tense relationship with? Why was this the case?
With the media because they suspected corruption
What nickname was given to Nixon from the media?
Tricky Dicky
When Eisenhower was unavailable, what did Nixon do?
He chaired the cabinet and National Security Council and stood in as President
Give an example of Eisenhower being unavailable.
When he was recovering from a heart attack in 1955
The increased demand for housing created by the Baby-boom in the 50s led to the building of which famous suburban developments?
Levittowns
What percentage of Americans supported McCarthyism at the start of Eisenhower’s presidency?
50%
Why was Eisenhower protected from McCarthy’s accusations?
He was a war hero
How did Eisenhower and the American people react to McCarthy’s accusations in 1954?
They were outraged ( These hearings were the first that got televised so Americans could see the Bullyish alcholic figure that was McCarthy instead of a newspaper article
Who did McCarthy accuse of having communist influences in 1954?
The US army
By 1954 what had the Senate voted to do to McCarthy that removed his influence? What happened to McCarthy in 1957?
They voted to censure him.
He died of alcoholism by 1957
What happened to the American economy in the 1950s?
the US economy grew dramatically
What were four key causes of the growth in the economy under Eisenhower?
- Damage to Germany in WW2
- Cheap oil aiding industry and transport
- Developments in technology
- The post-war baby boom increased housing demand
What other industries were stimulated by increased car sales?
Motels, fast-food outlets and shopping malls
Which new devices became popular in the 50s?
Washing machines and dish washers
What three criticisms did the 50s consumer society receive?
- It undermined US value of hard work (Reisman)
- Led to conformity (Mumford)
- Led to selfishness (Galbraith)
What happened to America’s GNP (Gross National Product) under Eisenhower?
It rose by 25%
How many cars were made in 1955?
7.9 million
What were America’s ‘Big Three’ car companies that all grew in the 50s?
General Motors, Ford and Chrysler
What kind of society was created as a result of economic developments in the 50s?
Consumer society
Define consumer society
A society where buying and selling goods, especially luxury goods, seems to dominate
What % of homes had a TV by 1960?
90%
What was Eisenhowers’ defence policy known as?
New Look
What policy did Eisenhower propose that was rejected by the USSR?
Open Skies - allowing each other to openly spy on one another to monitor military bases. (Eisenhower knew it would be rejected but wanted to look like the peacemaker)
What were many TV shows of the 50s criticised for? Give an example
Encouraging white class conformity (Father knows best) and endless adverts (I Remember Mama)
What did Eisenhower aim to do regarding spending on defence?
Reduce it, he feared overpsending would damage the dollar
Who became the leader of the USSR after the death of Stalin in 1953?
Khrushchev
What did Eisenhower’s defence policy rely on?
Nuclear weapons rather than soldiers
What did Eisenhower and Khrushchev agree on?
They both wanted to avoid war
What did the number of American nuclear weapons rise from and to under Eisenhower?
Rose from 1500 to 6000 under Eisenhower
After the USSR launched the Sputnik Satellite in 1957, what program did Eisenhower refuse to launch?
Nuclear shelter programme - Government funded nuclear shelters for the people of America in case of a nuclear attack
What governments did Eisenhower overthrow using the CIA?
Iran (overthrowing Mossadeq and placing an American-loyal Shah in power) in 1953
Guatemala (overthrowing Arbenz and his reforming policies) in 1954
What organisation did Eisenhower use to secretly implement his foreign policy?
CIA
Who did Eisenhower unsuccessfully support in Vietnam against Ho Chi Minh’s communist army?
France - he realised they would lose to Ho Chi Minh and stopped aid in 1954
What did was set up in 1958 to lead America’s space effort?
NASA
What did Krushchev demand as a result?
He demanded that Western troops leave West Berlin. (Berlin Ultimatum)
How did Eisenhower go against his election promise to ‘roll back communism’ in ’56?
He refused to send aid to Hungarian rebels against Communist rule
Why did tensions grow further between the USSR and USA under Eisenhower?
Eisenhower sent U2 spy planes to photograph enemy military bases
What did Krushchev complain was happening between East and West Germany in ’58?
A brain drain from East to West Germany.
Brain Drain = emigration of highly trained or qualified people from one country to another
How did Eisenhower strengthen NATO and Western Europe in 1954?
By allowing German rearmament
What military alliance was set up in South East Asia in 1954?
SEATO - South East Asia Treaty Organisation
What belief did Eisenhower have about the spread of Communism?
Domino Theory - Eisenhower’s theory that if one country fell to Communism, many others would follow
By 1961 Eisenhower had built up the anti-Communist state of South Vietnam. Who was it led by?
Ngo Dinh Diem
How were ensions about Berlin eased between Eisenhower and Khrushchev?
They met for negotiations in 1959
After the French lost, which conference was held to decide the future of Vietnam?
the Geneva Conference, 1955, it decided that Vietnam should be split at the 17th parallel
How did Eisenhower support the state of South Vietnam?
Giving them $7billion in aid, 1000 advisors
What crisis took place in Egypt in 1956?
Suez Crisis - The crisis created when Britain, France and Israel responded with military action to the seizing of the Suez Canal by the Colonel Nasser of Egypt
How did Eisenhower respond to the Suez Crisis winning him global praise?
Eisenhower spoke out against the British, French and Israeli military action
Who replaced the Prime Minister in Iran and why was this good for America?
The Emperor Shah replaced Mossadeq and he favoured US oil companies
In 1953, in which country did Eisenhower use the CIA to encourage a military coup?
Iran
What type of countries did the USA and USSR attempt to influence in the Middle East?
Third world countries
What success did the NAACP have following the arrest of Rosa Parks?
They won a Court cases of Browder vs Gayle in 1956 which desegregated buses
What 1956 event is seen by many as the start of the Civil Rights Movement?
Thee Motgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man
Who were the sit-ins in 1960 organised by?
SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee)
and 70,000 students themselves
What was the outcome of the sit-ins?
Led to desegregated lunch counters in North Carolina
What form of protest did black activists begin to favour over legal action?
Non violent action
Name the Supreme Court’s most significant ruling on race under Eisenhower, what did it declare?
1956 Brown v Board of Education which declared segregated schools were unequal and unconstitutional
What did both the Democrat and Republican party platforms both do in 1952?
Declared commitment to racial equality and Civil Rights
How did Eisenhower respond at Little Rock?
He sent federal forces to Little Rock and federalised the National Guard
What two key groups were the Republican party divided by regarding race? Name examples of each
Liberals on race (eg Nixon and Earl Warren) and conservatives (eg Eisenhower) meant they did not fully support equality
Why did Brown v Board inspire further activism?
All support for segregation in the US constitution was removed
Why was Brown v. Board not a total success?
the Supreme Court set no date for desgregation only requiring ‘all deliberate speed’
How did Eisenhower initially respond to the Brown v. Board ruling?
He initially disapproved of the ruling and ignored states that did not desegregate
Which group gained in popularity directly after Brown v. Board?
The KKK
What did the Governor of Arkansas do in 1957 that went against Brown v. Board?
Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus used the Natinoal Guard to ensure 9 black students could not attened Little Rock High School
What did Eisenhower encourage Congress to do in 1957 and 1960?
Sign two Civil Rights Acts showing that Congress was taking responsibility for Federal Civil Rights laws
How did Eisenhower try to end racial discrimination among federal employees?
the Committee on Government Contracts - A committee set up as a part of Eisenhower’s executive order 10479 to ensure that Federal organisations were complying with the equal opportunity in employment program
Give two reasons why Eisenhower approached desegregation with caution?
- He was sympathetic to states rights
- Feared rushing desegregation would cause social tension
How did Eisenhower respond to the murder of Emmett Till and the exclusion of Catherine Lucy from university?
He made no comment
