Essay Qs

Question 1

‘In 1945 the USA, domestically, was stable and prosperous.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 2

To what extent was Truman’s foreign policy in the years 1945 to 1953 a disastrous failure? (25 marks)

Question 3

‘Truman’s victory in the 1948 presidential election was the result of Republican failings.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 4

‘Truman failed to address the domestic problems of the USA because he was preoccupied by foreign affairs.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 5

‘Truman’s failure to address African-American civil rights effectively was a result of political pressure.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 6

‘Harry Truman was motivated mostly by ideological concerns.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 7

To what extent do you agree that the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s was the invention of right wing politicians? (25 marks) `

Question 8

‘African Americans should have been optimistic about the future.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 9

‘Eisenhower’s dynamic conservatism had a positive impact on the USA.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 10

‘During Eisenhower’s presidency, American society was transformed.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 11

‘Eisenhower lived up to his 1952 promise to show no weakness in foreign policy.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 12

‘Eisenhower achieved far less for African-American civil rights in his presidency than Truman achieved before him.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 13

How far do you agree with the view that Eisenhower’s foreign policy increased, rather than decreased, the possibility of nuclear confrontation with the USSR? (25 marks)

Question 14

‘The greatest effect of the growing American economy of the 1950s was on American culture.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 15

‘Eisenhower’s success owed very little to the rest of the Republican Party.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 16

‘Eisenhower’s domestic policies were largely a response to the Cold War.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 17

‘The Kennedy Administration achieved more in domestic affairs in 1000 days than Eisenhower did between 1953 and 1960.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 18

‘Kennedy’s foreign policy promised far more than it delivered.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 19

‘Divisions between King and the SNCC were the main reason why the Albany Campaign failed.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 20

‘Kennedy failed to live up to his promises regarding civil rights.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 21

‘Kennedy’s achievements were outweighed by his mistakes.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 22

‘Apart from his solution to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Kennedy’s presidency was largely ineffective.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 23

To what extent do you agree that the pressures for change in American society had become very urgent by 1963? (25 marks)

Question 24

‘Kennedy’s importance in the development of the Cold War was not a product of his tough talk, but of his intelligent and calm responses under pressure.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 25

‘The “Great Society” failed.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 26

‘Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam War was disastrous.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 27

To what extent did Johnson’s civil rights legislation meet the demands of the Civil Rights Movement?
(25 marks)

Question 28

‘The media was responsible for the growth in protest movements in the 1960s.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 29

‘The protests of the 1960s did not cause very much to change.’ Assess the validity of this view.
(25 marks)

Question 30

How far do you agree that Johnson had no real choice other than to escalate American involvement in the war in Vietnam? (25 marks)

Question 31

‘Overall, Johnson wasted the economic prosperity which he inherited.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 32

‘The Democrats lost the 1968 presidential election more than Richard Nixon won it.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 33

How successful was Richard Nixon in tackling US domestic problems? (25 marks)

Question 34

How significant was the Vietnam War in eroding US power internationally? (25 marks)

Question 35

‘Watergate overshadowed all of Nixon’s other achievements in politics.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 36

‘Nixon’s foreign policy was intelligent and successful.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 37

‘Nixon was more interested in winning elections than in being a true conservative.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 38

How far do you agree with the idea that America’s decline in the early 1970s was entirely economic?

Question 39

‘Richard Nixon’s resignation was caused by the public perception of his character rather than the discovery of his crimes’. Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 40

To what extent was the American Dream over by 1980? (25 marks)

Question 41

‘Gerald Ford was an unremarkable American President.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 42

‘Carter’s foreign policy was ruined by his caution.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 43

‘The fracturing of the black Civil Rights Movement was due to the progress made between 1950 and 1965.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 44

‘Reagan’s electoral promises were far more closely aligned to the American Dream than those of any other previous president.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 45

‘The “New South” of the 1970s was very different from the South of the 1960s.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)

Question 46

How far do you agree that the United States was the dominant nation in the world during the 1970s? (25 marks)

Question 47

‘The major problem faced by presidents Ford and Carter was the damage done by Nixon to the presidency.’ Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)