Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush period key themes

Question 1

When was the Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush period?

Answer 1

1974-1992

Question 2

What was a result of the fall of President Nixton?

Answer 2

-fell from power due to the Watergate scandal->created a period of uncertainty in America

Question 3

What were trade unions and the economy like under President Reagan?

Answer 3

-the economy was depressed and under President Reagan the position of labour unions declined even further

Question 4

What was life like for women, African Americans and Native Americans?

Answer 4

-ongoing inequality was still evident and many issues were unresolved by 1992

Question 5

What were the main political parties of this time?

Answer 5

-now dominated by 2 political parties->the Republicans and the Democrats
-the Populist Party emerged

Question 6

What were the problems for the presidents?

Answer 6

-when there is a majority from the opposing party in either of the houses in Congress
-they can find it hard to the laws they want
-Presidents can veto laws but if both houses agree with a 2/3rds majority the veto is overridden
-the Supreme Court can also block laws declaring that they are unconstitutional

Question 7

What were Republicans like at the time?

Answer 7

-at the start of the period they were the party of reform that freed the slaves and it’s radical members aimed at promoting the rights of African Americans

Question 8

What were Democrats like at the time?

Answer 8

-they were associated with progressive reform in the North->but segregation and restriction of African American rights in the South
-from the 1930 they won more support from African Americans and minorities
-the major Civil Rights Acts were passed by a Republican Congress in the 1860s but by Democrat presidents in the 1960s