How did the Political Environment Change (1945-1980) Flashcards
Korean War, Vietnam War, Trust in Presidency
What did the USA do differently in the aftermath of WW2 compared to WW1
Became far more interventionist, becoming a founding member of the UN
What started the Second Red Scare, and when was it most prominent
1947-54, the beginning of the Cold War
Why were the fears in the Second Red Scare more valid
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
Who spearheaded the second Red Scare
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Why did the second Red Scare die down in 1954
It was discovered McCarthys ‘list’ of suspected communists was waffle and his investigations were so unreasonable he lost support
What started the Cold War
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.
What did Truman do to try and contain communism
Introduced the ‘Truman Doctrine’ advocating for a containment policy and the Marshall Plan, aiding war-torn European countries to prevent communism rising there.
How much did the USA give to European countries in the Marshall Plan
£13.3 billion
What 3 areas required large amounts of spending as a result of the Cold War
- Nuclear Defense
- Arms Race
- Large Permanent Military
What 3 domestic changes did the USA make to defend against nuclear weapons
- Schools ran ‘duck and cover’ exercises
- 1956 Interstate Act was designed for rapid evacuation of cities if needed
- You could buy a fallout shelter
From June 1947 to June 1948, the number of US atomic bombs rose from __ to __
Went from 13 to 50
Name 4 reasons why the power of the President increased because of the Cold War
- 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
When did the Korean War start and what was it
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
How many US troops fought in Korea
260,000
What did the Korean war signify for the Presidency and the Congress
Presidential attention was focused far more on international policy than domestic policy, leaving Congress to have more control on domestic affairs
What mistake did Truman make which led to a loss in public trust of the Presidency
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
What about the Korean War did the Republicans use to their advantage
They were very critical of the costs involved
In 1950, what % of the US economy was defence spending
14%
What years did the Vietnam War take place
1954 - 1975
What years were the USA active in Vietnam
1961 - 1975
What were the 2 major complaints about the Vietnam War?
- $111 billion cost
- The Draft
Who campaigned against Vietnam War
People from all backgrounds, classes, races and genders
Give an example of an anti-Vietnam War group
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
Why were so many Vietnam Veterans struggling after returning from war?
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
What effect did the media have on public perception of the Vietnam War
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
Who was an influential reporter who broadcast a scathing criticism of the War, and what did this do for war opinion
Walter Cronkite, a very respected man who the public trusted, making them turn further against war.
How did the USA leave the Vietnam War
The withdrawal was hasty and rushed, leaving South Vietnam for dead and video footage of scuffed evacuations made America look foolish
Why was the Vietnam War so bad for the USA
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
How did Vietnam affect future public perception to war
Made Americans more skeptical and were lest trusting of the President in managing foreign wars
5 reasons why confidence in government and the Presidency declined from 1968-80
- The media
- Scandals like Watergate
- Mishandling of Vietnam
- Social tensions regarding race and gay rights for example
- The individual Presidents were not good
What was the Watergate scandal
Nixon got caught bugging Democrat meetings and stealing documents for the upcoming elections, forcing him to resign
What did each President do wrong during this time period
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
Which ideology rose from 1945-1980, especially under Kennedy, and what did it entail
Liberalism - Being happy with compromising certain liberties in exchange for welfare of those in need. They supported civil rights, equality and welfare
Why were liberals endangered during the Red Scares
Some of their views could be seen as pushing socialism
What was ‘positive discrimination’
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
What are hippie beliefs
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
What does SDS stand for and what did they believe
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
Name an example of a Radical student group protest
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
Name 2 examples of violence involving radical student groups
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
How did Conservative Americans react to the rise of Liberalism, Hippies and Radical Student Groups from 1945-1980
They were shocked and demanded a return to traditional family values, and away from modern concepts like contraception, abortion and homosexuality
