Political change 1960-2000 Flashcards by Livia Buxton

Order of US Presidents

Kennedy
Johnson
Nixon
(Ford)
(Carter)
Reagan
Bush Snr
Clinton

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When did JFK serve?

1961-63

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Kennedy’s policy name

‘The new frontier’

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Kennedy’s new frontier aims

Achieve equality for black Americans
Keep US economy strongest in the world
Tackle social deprivation and poverty

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Successes of new frontier (civil rights wise) (JFK)

Sent troops to protect James Meredith
Appointed black politicians
Made racist southern governors defend freedom riders
Swore himself to movement in speech

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Failures of the new frontier (civil rights wise) (JFK)

Rate of black unemployment still 2x white unemployment
Poor black families had to live in ghettos when moved to north
Ideas too radical and so blocked by racist congressmen
Criticised by civil rights activists for moving too slowly

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Successes of the New Frontier (economy wise) (JFK)

Cut income taxes so people had more spending money
Created more jobs
Economy was boosted for secure jobs

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Failures of new frontier (economy wise) (JFK)

Technology advancement caused less traditional jobs = more unemployment
Big corporations made money but it didn’t trickle down to lower classes
Minimum wage only helped the employed
Economy dependent on government spending, if that is cut it would damage it

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Successes of new frontier (decreasing poverty) (JFK)

Benefits for elderly and unemployed
Loans to improve housing
Increased minimum wage
money for run down schools
Medicaid for the poor
Poor communities get advice or loans to start businesses or infrastructure

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Failures of new frontier (decreasing poverty) (JFK)

No medicare for elderly
Poor (black majority) families had to move from south to north to find work but trapped in ghettos
Housing loans didn’t help those who couldn’t take out loans
Clearing out slums caused housing shortage in inner cities

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When did LBJ serve?

1963-1968

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Name for LBJ’s domestic policy

The Great Society

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Aims of the great society (LBJ)

Same as JFK
Achieve civil rights for black people
Keep economy strongest in the world
Tackle poverty

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Successes of great society civil rights wise (LBJ)

Passed civil rights act and Voting rights act 1965
Appointed first African American to cabinet level position (Robert C Weaver)
Fully legalised interracial marriage
(All immigrants) immigration act - decisions not based on race

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Failures of great society civil rights wise (LBJ)

Racial tension and large number of riots causing deaths

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Successes of great society economy wise (LBJ)

Cut taxes for more spending
Increased minimum wage
Consumer laws so people could return faulty items
Transport links for middle classes

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Failures of great society economy wise (LBJ)

Rising unemployment and inflation because:
Us companies investing in foreign companies so unemployment didn’t lower
Vietnam war and increased military spending meant less domestic aid

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Successes of great society (tackling poverty) (LBJ)

Funding for Uni +education
Food stamps for groceries
Help school dropouts find work
Gave support for 745,000 low income families through AFDC scheme
Medicare = medical help for elderly
Cleaning slums

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Man power development and training act

Part of JFK’s new frontier to decrease unemployment and poverty
Retraining unemployed

When was Nixon president?

1968-1974

What made Nixon resign?

His involvement AND cover up in the Watergate scandal
In which he used illegal methods to be re elected

What was CREEP?

Committee for the re election of the president
For Nixon because he was worried he wouldn’t get elected a second time

Events of watergate

5 CREEP members arrested for breaking into Watergate building to plant listening devices
Journalists discovered white house connections
Nixon denied
All burglars arrested, one accusing the White House
Nixon shifted blame onto 2 advisors (Halderman and Ehrlichman)
Discovered Nixon taped his convos in white house but he handed in edited tapes
Forced to hand in 18 edited out mins revealing his involvement
He resigned to avoid impeachment

Consequences of the Watergate scandal

Nixon’s reputation destroyed, name ‘Tricky Dicky’
People began to distrust politicians
voted Carter in who swore honesty after Ford
Showed that the government system worked well:
Perfect balance between supreme court and government

What acts were passed as a result of Watergate?

1974 election campaign act = limits to campaign spending to prevent corruption Congressional budget = president can’t use gov money for own benefit

When was Reagan president?

1981-89

What problems did Reagan inherit?

Factory closures Rising inflation Unemployment Oil shortages Budget deficits high (spending more money than taking in)

Name for Reagan’s economic policy?

Reaganomics ‘Trickle down theory’

How do Reaganomics work?

⬇️Cut gov taxes and spending so less deficit ⬇️Thus businesses and wealthiest have more spending money and pay middle classes employees more ⬇️Increased wealth for middle class = employ lower classes ➡️Lower classes benefit with employment

Failures of Reaganomics

Big tax cut = no gov spending money Yet gov spending increased No money given to welfare or benefit schemes, including JFK and LBJ’s Medicare Huge national debt Increased unemployment Exported less than imported 1987 = big stock market crash Inflation soared

What else were Reagan’s failures?

Opposed abortion = lost a lot of support from women Neglected aids research until it became too bad in 1989 Star Wars programme not only costed a lot but failed Rockets and missiles exploded Didn’t care about environment Started massive war on drugs Didn’t care about racial equality and opposed MLK day

Operation head start

Part of Kennedy’s new frontier to tackle poverty Increased gov spending on elementary and secondary schools to improve education

LBJ’s corps

Job corps = training high school drop outs for employment Neighbourhood youth corps = encouraging teenagers to do community service

Housing act

Part of JFK’s new frontier Low income families can take loans to buy houses

Area redevelopment act

Part of Kennedy’s New frontier to decrease poverty Poor communities can get advice on starting businesses or infrastructure

Elementary and secondary education act

LBJ’s act to decrease poverty gov spending to improve poorer education

How did JFK create more jobs?

increase in defence, gave businesses $900 million, trained with high tech equipment, increased space tech

Bush snr term dates

1989-93

Bush Snr successes

Americans disabilities act = stopped discrimination based on disability Clean air act 1990 = reduce pollution

Bush Snr failures

War on drugs money not working Police brutality led to race riots Unemployment rose to 7.8% Deficit increased U turn policy on cutting taxes

DEA (war on drugs)

Employee drug testing and increased boarder controls Set up by Nixon but continued by Bush Snr

Clinton term dates

1992-2001

Clinton successes

Balanced budget deficit Unemployment rate lowest Value of stock market tripled 22 million jobs created Increased minimum wage

Clinton’s acts

1993 medical and family leave act Universal health insurance but rejected

Clinton failures

Mostly personal scandals 2 associates convicted of fraud (White water scandal) Affair with Monica Lewinsky