How did the Political Environment Change (1945-1980)

Question 1

What did the USA do differently in the aftermath of WW2 compared to WW1

Answer 1

Became far more interventionist, becoming a founding member of the UN

Question 2

What started the Second Red Scare, and when was it most prominent

Answer 2

1947-54, the beginning of the Cold War

Question 3

Why were the fears in the Second Red Scare more valid

Answer 3

The USSR was actually spying on the USA by this point, and 2 government employees came out saying they had been part of a Moscow Spy Ring

Question 4

Who spearheaded the second Red Scare

Answer 4

Senator Joseph McCarthy

Question 5

Why did the second Red Scare die down in 1954

Answer 5

It was discovered McCarthys ‘list’ of suspected communists was waffle and his investigations were so unreasonable he lost support

Question 6

What started the Cold War

Answer 6

After winning WW2, the USA and USSR no longer had a common goal and both sought to be the dominant world power. Both Truman and Stalin hated the opposite ideology.

Question 7

What did Truman do to try and contain communism

Answer 7

Introduced the ‘Truman Doctrine’ advocating for a containment policy and the Marshall Plan, aiding war-torn European countries to prevent communism rising there.

Question 8

How much did the USA give to European countries in the Marshall Plan

Answer 8

£13.3 billion

Question 9

What 3 areas required large amounts of spending as a result of the Cold War

Answer 9

• Nuclear Defense
• Arms Race
• Large Permanent Military

Question 10

What 3 domestic changes did the USA make to defend against nuclear weapons

Answer 10

• Schools ran ‘duck and cover’ exercises
• 1956 Interstate Act was designed for rapid evacuation of cities if needed
• You could buy a fallout shelter

Question 11

From June 1947 to June 1948, the number of US atomic bombs rose from __ to __

Answer 11

Went from 13 to 50

Question 12

Name 4 reasons why the power of the President increased because of the Cold War

Answer 12

• As the USA got more involved with NATO and the UN to counteract USSR, the President got more involved in meetings and speeches etc
• The 1947 National Security Act reorganized the military, enlarging the size of the military and the President could move forces around without asking Congress
• The 1947 National Security Act created the CIA and National Security Council, both of which reported to the President and not Congress
• The President needed the power to be able to launch a nuclear bomb without Congress permission in case the decision had to be made quickly

Question 13

When did the Korean War start and what was it

Answer 13

On 25/6/1950, North Korea invaded South Korea using USSR supplies and advice. The UN (led by the USA) fought on South Korea’s side

Question 14

How many US troops fought in Korea

Answer 14

260,000

Question 15

What did the Korean war signify for the Presidency and the Congress

Answer 15

Presidential attention was focused far more on international policy than domestic policy, leaving Congress to have more control on domestic affairs

Question 16

What mistake did Truman make which led to a loss in public trust of the Presidency

Answer 16

Held back on communication with the media, and was a bad speaker - this meant the media got their news from other sources who were often against Truman like Republicans, making him look weak and untrustworthy

Question 17

What about the Korean War did the Republicans use to their advantage

Answer 17

They were very critical of the costs involved

Question 18

In 1950, what % of the US economy was defence spending

Answer 18

14%

Question 19

What years did the Vietnam War take place

Answer 19

1954 - 1975

Question 20

What years were the USA active in Vietnam

Answer 20

1961 - 1975

Question 21

What were the 2 major complaints about the Vietnam War?

Answer 21

• $111 billion cost
• The Draft

Question 22

Who campaigned against Vietnam War

Answer 22

People from all backgrounds, classes, races and genders

Question 23

Give an example of an anti-Vietnam War group

Answer 23

Vietnam Veterans Against War (VVAW) formed in 1967 and soon had 30,000 members - the veterans complained about the horrors of war and terrible treatment they received after getting back to America

Question 24

Why were so many Vietnam Veterans struggling after returning from war?

Answer 24

Many had PTSD or other similar conditions which made them unable to get on with their lives and work as before, leaving many unemployed and homeless

Question 25

What effect did the media have on public perception of the Vietnam War

Answer 25

At the start, the media used White House representatives to get news, painting a positive picture. However, as the war went on reporters captured and reported shocking stories of massacre, chemical attacks and a sense of dishonour, making the public turn against the War

Question 26

Who was an influential reporter who broadcast a scathing criticism of the War, and what did this do for war opinion

Answer 26

Walter Cronkite, a very respected man who the public trusted, making them turn further against war.

Question 27

How did the USA leave the Vietnam War

Answer 27

The withdrawal was hasty and rushed, leaving South Vietnam for dead and video footage of scuffed evacuations made America look foolish

Question 28

Why was the Vietnam War so bad for the USA

Answer 28

It was the first war that the USA had lost, and did so in the worst way - it used dirty tactics, lost, and left in a scramble. It humiliated the whole country

Question 29

How did Vietnam affect future public perception to war

Answer 29

Made Americans more skeptical and were lest trusting of the President in managing foreign wars

Question 30

5 reasons why confidence in government and the Presidency declined from 1968-80

Answer 30

• The media
• Scandals like Watergate
• Mishandling of Vietnam
• Social tensions regarding race and gay rights for example
• The individual Presidents were not good

Question 31

What was the Watergate scandal

Answer 31

Nixon got caught bugging Democrat meetings and stealing documents for the upcoming elections, forcing him to resign

Question 32

What did each President do wrong during this time period

Answer 32

Lyndon B Johnson - put US troops into Vietnam with Congress approval
Nixon - Watergate
Ford - Forgave Nixon
Carter - Was a very weak leader who made poor decisions and was too inflexible in decision making

Question 33

Which ideology rose from 1945-1980, especially under Kennedy, and what did it entail

Answer 33

Liberalism - Being happy with compromising certain liberties in exchange for welfare of those in need. They supported civil rights, equality and welfare

Question 34

Why were liberals endangered during the Red Scares

Answer 34

Some of their views could be seen as pushing socialism

Question 35

What was ‘positive discrimination’

Answer 35

A term used by Liberal Politicians, as they advocated for preferential treatment towards Native Americans, Asians, Black People, Hispanics and Women to make up for past mistreatment

Question 36

What are hippie beliefs

Answer 36

Advocated for peace and a simple life, rather than hard work. They were known for their huge consumption of drugs and their beliefs on complete sexual freedom

Question 37

What does SDS stand for and what did they believe

Answer 37

Students for a Democratic Society - A radical student group who believed in complete equality, and fought against racism and anti-communism, amongst others. They were often violent

Question 38

Name an example of a Radical student group protest

Answer 38

When a student was arrested for campaigning for a civil rights group called CORE in the University of California, protests escalated leading to over 700 arrests

Question 39

Name 2 examples of violence involving radical student groups

Answer 39

4/5/1970, Ohio National Guardsmen shot 13 people during a peaceful protest against invading Cambodia during the Vietnam War, killing 4

24/8/1970, student groups planted a bomb outside an army research base in Wisconsin, killing a researcher and causing $60 million of damages

Question 40

How did Conservative Americans react to the rise of Liberalism, Hippies and Radical Student Groups from 1945-1980

Answer 40

They were shocked and demanded a return to traditional family values, and away from modern concepts like contraception, abortion and homosexuality