The Changing Political Environment Flashcards
1
Q
What are the main republican ideas?
A
Minimal govt intervention
Low taxes
Conservative social policies
2
Q
What are the main democrat ideas
A
Unions in work place
Progressive reform
Government intervention
3
Q
How is us government split nationally
A
Federal
State
Local
4
Q
What is the US constitution
A
What the federal govt. can pass laws on and what it can’t
Makes it clear to Supreme Court has final say in interpreting laws
5
Q
What is the legislatures role in federal government
A
Law making body I.e congress (senate , House of Representatives)
Agree on taxation , war
6
Q
Role of executive in federal government
A
Carries out laws I.e president (cabinet , armed forces , VP)
Leads foreign policy , can issue executive orders, can veto congress
7
Q
Role of the judiciary in federal government
A
Applies and interprets laws I.e Supreme Court , court of appeals , district court
(Can declare any laws illegal , judges appointed by president )
8
Q
Role of legislature in state govt
A
Law making body
Senate , House of Representatives
Can affect international policy and federal taxes
9
Q
Role of executive in state govt
A
Carries out laws
I.e governor , national guard
10
Q
Name the 4 presidents from 1913-33
A
Wilson
Harding
Coolidge
Hoover
11
Q
What are the 3 biggest impacts of ww1 on USA
A
100,000 us casualties
Less trust in Wilson (believed Wilson too closely involved in international affairs)
Cycle of prosperity (American factories ramped industrial mobilisation
12
Q
What was the return to ‘normalcy’
A
Policy adopted by Harding in 1921
—> defined it as a stable steady way of life
Balance government books , reduce taxation , introduce tariffs , study the “race question”
13
Q
What happened to unemployment after ww1
A
Rose from 950,000 1919 to 5,010,000 1921
(Had to be fixed)
14
Q
What is isolationism
For example ..
A
USA remaining apart from international affairs , especially with Europe
For example :
Not joining LON , no more colonies , cutting back on immigration
15
Q
What was the 1921 emergency quota act
A
Restricted immigration to 357,000 per year , 150,000 1924
16
Q
How was USA also not entirely “isolated”
For example
A
Helped Europe rebuild economically
For example brokered Washington conference 1921-22 setting limits in navies
17
Q
How did the economic boom come about // how did this help republicanism
A
Protectionism - Tariffs encouraged people to buy America (increased consumerism)
New tech produced consumer goods far more cheaply
Hire purchase
(All republican policies)
18
Q
How did Woodrow Wilson lose his trust with people
A
Took far too big a part in govt decision making
Took USA into ww1 despite long term policy of isolationism
Drafted bills and introduced them to congress himself
19
Q
How did republicanism appeal to the people
A
Laissez-faire policies left people in control
Governments job was to keep its own spending under control
The campaign aims was vague (didn’t draft laws, no international politics)
20
Q
Following Harding , Coolidge was elected, how did he appeal ?
A
Combined laissez faire with a dignity and morality after Harding (employed corrupt people) years
USA entered a period of recovery + prosperity eg economic boom
—> however this had serious flaws
21
Q
When hoover took over, how did he differ from the other 2?
A
He addressed economic and social problems
But despite this he said republicans eliminated poverty encouraged equality while democrats would ruin this
22
Q
What was the 1st red scare of 1919-20
A
Russian revolution 1917 inspired worldwide communist revolution which scared capitalist USA
Communist party of America founded 1919 —> anarchists urged revolution
23
Q
How many strikes was there in 1919 name one of them
A
3600
Eg 21 Jan 35,000 shipyard workers strikes in Seattle , escalated to 60,000 6 feb
24
Q
What disturbed the USA people during the red scare
A
28 April 1919 36 bombs found addresses to state officials
2 June 1919 Bombs explode in 8 cities
25
How did the USA people tackle communism
American legion carried out red hunting (1 million members Dec 1919)
Mitchell palmer sets up radical division to seek out communist conspiracies
FBI raids 33 cities - 5,000 - 10,000 communists arrested
26
What is rugged individualism, who adopted this , who adopted this and why
An idea where an individual is totally self reliant from state or govt
Hoover did as he wrote a pamphlet “American individualism” 1922 and in 1928 adopted the theory
27
Those who believed in rugged individualism felt that:
People were weakened by govt support (it shouldn’t regulate working hours , pay , conditions etc)
USA should isolate itself from other countries
USA should restrict immigration (to tackle rising unemployment)
28
What was the main problems with the economic boom
Relied on credit , so banks leaned too much money to people, businesses boosted too much , people bought shares in credit
However , prices of farm produce fell (farmers who borrowed now in bad situation)
Many purchases was of consumer goods (began to pile in warehouses , businesses cut down workforce = unemployment)
29
What caused the Great Depression , why did people believe republicans could solve
Oct 1929 Wall Street crash
—> led to worldwide unemployment , banks failed
Republicans solved 1st depression after ww1 , hoover begun his rugged Individualism policies
30
The 3 factors that caused republicanism to dominate in the 1920’s
Republican ideology (laissez faire , rugged indivualims )
Impact of ww1 (promise to normalcy , isolationism , against Wilson)
Economic prosperity (1924 GDP $85.2B , 1929 101.4B, exports of metals and automobiles rose by 300%
31
How did the WSC lead to the decline of republicanism
Market shrunk by 50% , 1930 16M families below poverty line
Leading to people losing faith with policies not working.
32
33
How did hoovers laiseez faire policies lead to republicanism decline
1929 set up federal farm board to help farmers sell abroad , also attempted voluntarism to support people
However all little too late to turn the tide for USA economy
34
How did the bonus army lead to republican decline
Bonus payment to ww1 veterans failed to be paid - marched in Washington jun 1932
200,000 marched - government claimed them to be communist , tension between people v govt.
35
How did changing mood amongst eloctorate lead to republcinan decline
1931 democrat won majority in congress , a contrast to the failing republican failure (replacement)
36
How did FDR and his new deal lead to republican decline
FDR was a good communicator to the people , claimed hoover campaign led to “destruction , despair , delay , doubt”
—> hoover only won 6 states
This was a new solution to failure of republicanism
37
When was Roosevelt elected in as president
1933
38
39
What was his new deal
Federal govt, president would save USA from WCA disaster
—> he asked congress for special powers with the economic situation , promised to provide govt help
40
How was this new deal different to republican
Insisted govt was responsible for the welfare of the people
New deal agencies set up to provide relief
Importance of rapid national action
41
Name 3 examples of agencies set up by FDR
CWA PWA NRA
42
what was the Civil wirks administration (CWA)
Helped unskilled unemployed people
i.e paid people to sweep leaves build roads (800,000km of roads) , 40,000 schools , 500 airports , 150,000 public toilets
This improved transportation, buildings and gave people a role in society
43
What was the PWA (public works administration)
Provided jobs for the skilled but unemployed
Built : 50 military airports , 2 aircraft carriers , new sewage system in Chicago
This financed 34,000 projects at $6B , gave 4 million a job
44
What was the national recovery administration (NRA)
Eliminated ‘cut throat competition’
Brought industry , labour and government to create codes of ‘fair practice’ I.e min wage , weekly hours etc (557 codes affecting 22 million workers)
However hastily drawn and overcomplicated and only reflected interest of bigger businesses but did improve labour conditions
45
What was Roosevelt’s ‘legacy’
He died in 1945 with Truman inheriting the presidency
FDR changed president expectations as seen before
However theory of separation of powers still held , SC still had upheld state rights against a great deal of federal legislation
46
47
48
How did Roosevelt ‘manage the people’
Series of radio broadcasts known as ‘fireside chats’ explaining policies in a personal way
Understood power of the media and need for their support
Held off the record press meetings 2/7 tellling reporters what was happening , why how etc
49
Why was the lend-lease act March 1941 passed
Britain could no longer pay for war supplies Dec 1940
—> gave Britain supplies for them to be returned after the year ($51B by end of war)
50
When did the USA enter ww2 and why
8 Dec 1941
After the Japanese invasion of pearl harbour
51
52
53
What happened to the industry after USA entered ww2
USA 1942 produced $47B goods
Industry profits rose from $17M 1940 to $28M 1943
Working week extended + wages rose
54
How many USA soldiers entered the war, how many died , how many injured / captured
16 million
400,000
600,000
55
Name all 7 presidents that went into office from 1945-80
1945-53 Truman
1953-61 Eisenhower
61-53 JFK
63-69 Johnson
69-74 Nixon
74-77 Ford
77-81 Jimmy carter
56
How successful was truman in terms of personality , media , public , organisational ability , congress (PMPOC)
Uncharismatic , overwhelmed under pressure
Media = important —> gave carful briefings with pointers eg economic policy
Couldn’t connect with people , didn’t explain strategy
Didn’t employ right people , worked well with White House
Didn’t work well with congress
57
Eisenhower PMPOC
Cultivated optimistic and friendly
Often minimised a problem eg USSR being first into space
Accessible and used clear imagery in his speeches eg knock on effect of communism
Set up regular briefings and long-term planning sessions
Good at political bargaining and persuasion , worked well with congress
58
JFK PMPOC
understood important of charm coming from a political family
Learned names of reporters , used TV well
Accessible + good public manner
Didn’t listen to his advisors , didn’t always consult right people eg Bay of pigs disaster
Worked well with congress through his political persuasion
59
Johnson PMPOC
Understood importance of winning people over
Careful to keep media informed
Shaky political speeches (could be good eg voting rights could be bad)
Kept Kennedy organisation despite it not suiting him
Worked well with congress through his ability to use connections and persuade
60
Nixon PMPOC
clever but suspicious , hated people
disagreeing with him
Distrusted media , bad at managing it eg watergate scandal
Not good at working with the people eg awkward + insincere
Reinstated system of regular meetings with White House staff but couldn’t take advice from
Suspicious with congress, could persuade
61
Why did the second red scare occur 1947-54
Due to the nature of the Cold War and the Korean War (fears of communist takeover)
62
What was the HUAC
house un-American activities commission (1938) to investigate un American activities eg communism
63
Who was Elizabeth Bentley
- govt employee
- part of a Moscow led spy ring , she named other govt. employees involved to HUAC 31 July 1948
64
Who was whittaker chambers , who did he named
Another govt. employee who told HUAC of more govt. employee spies
Eg Alger Hiss (trialed 1949-50) an advisor of Roosevelt , The Rosenbergs (1951)
65
Why were the Chinese a factor to “a climate of fear”
1949 became communist
—> members of china lobby accused Truman of being responsible to not giving enough support to leader of Chinese govt against communist rebels (he had been advised not to)
66
Why was Truman not becoming involved in Chinese communism significant?
- Advisors believed rebels only wanted nationwide communism
But when they helped NK in Korean War critics questioned whether govt. did enough to fight communism
Leading to 2nd red scare
67
What was joseph McCarthy significance to 2nd red scare
- senator
- 9 Feb 1950 claimed to know names of 205 communist working in state department (false)
- gathered support for assertion but revised number to 57 , then when called to the senate claimed it was 81
- the tydings committee was set up to investigate his charges , discovered he made investigations into suspects communist through speeches and tv appearances
- 14 July committee issued report saying this was all false
—> remained powerful until investigated army 1953 where the senate passed a vote of censure against him
68
Why did liberalism take off under JFK
- 2nd red scare
- Increasing violence against black peoples eg in Deep South
69
70
What was JFK’s idea of liberalism which he considered himself to be one
Forward thinking
Flexible
Concerned of the welfare of people
71
What were some of the main liberal ideas
Equality , civil rights and social welfare
Govt intervention
Idea of positive discrimination by defining the “5 minorities”
72
What were liberals particularly against during Kennedy tenure eg
War in Vietnam
1968 democratic national convention met in Chicago , undecided about war in Vietnam
—> anti war protests outside with police responding violently to break it uo
73
Young people wanted to change society though culture, what are 2 examples of groups that did this
Hippies —> believed in peace and a simple way of life , wider sexual freedom eg Woodstock festival 1968-69 500,000 attended the combination of alternative culture / music
Radical student groups —> produce a more equal world , end war in Vietnam eg SDS set up in 1960 , 1962 SDS port Huron statement urged a return to equality , rejecting all forms of racism and anti communism.
74
Who were the free speech movement
Radical group led a campaign at uni of California 1964
—> hard sit ins , pushed for free speech , 700 students arrested
Violence ensued in universities
75
Name an example of violence in universities
4 May 1970 Ohio national guardsmen shot 4 unarmed students and injured 9 at a student protest against invasion of Cambodia
76
How did conservative / older Americans react to the increase in liberalism / counter-culture
- shocked as it happened family values , rejected values of hardwork and tradition like Christianity
- as violence increased many believed that the liberal govt wasn’t working
77
How did republicans AND democrats combat liberalism
Campaigned as the ‘new right’ to restore law , order
Eg 3rd nov 1969 Nixon campaigned for president on this new right and even democrats voted this , and young people who didn’t want radical change
78
Ww2 led to USA being more involved abroad, for example in the Cold War:
12 march 1947 Truman’s policy of containment
Marshall plan April 1948
Berlin blockade 1949
79
What was the federal defence administration
Organised evacuations , gave out pamphlets for advice in case of a nuclear war
80
What did the 1956 interstate act r
Road network designed for rapid evacuation of cities
81
How did the Korean War affect Truman’s president
Aug 1950 Truman televised briefings then arranged for 200 reporters to go to Korea , however found it difficult to regain support of media
82
83
84
85
In 1958 how much could you buy a fallout shelter for
$1300
86
What was the US arms race
As USSR made more atomic bombs so did USA. , costing both huge amounts of money
June 47 - June 1948 us atomic bombs rose from 13-50
87
What happened to the armed forces as a result of Cold War
Creation of a large permanent military
Costs lots of money to run but also provided jobs
Existence of army + arms race + Cold War created a democratic and republican divide
88
How did the Cold War impact presidency?
Power of president to go to war / make treaties without congress grew
1947 national security act recognised USA militarily under new defence department based at pentagon
Creation of CIA and national security council that only reported to the White House
89
When did Korean War begin
25 June 1950 NK invaded SK with help from USSR
90
Why was Truman fearful of the Korean War
- didn’t want another full scale war
- took place during 2nd red scare so Truman wanted to ease the people
91
92
How did Korean War affect domestic policy
All domestic policy went through congress
President had more freedom to act alone in foreign affairs
Led to republicans wanting to become a real opposition force again as they became tired with co operating with congress
93
What was impact of Vietnam war on domestic policy
Defence budget concerns , contributing to inflation
Unpopular policies eg draft made presidents unpopular
—> 1 Dec 1969 lottery held to select men aged 18-26 to fight in Vietnam in form of ‘draft cards’ and it was televised as a game show with those refusing fined $10,000 or 5 years imprisonment
94
95
Mass protests occurred as a result of the Vietnam war , for example :
Distrust between officials and groups in society
Vietnam veterans against war (VVAW) set up with 30,000 members by end of 1967
96
The media played a huge role in domestic affairs in Vietnam war , for example
Reported events such as press conferences , but as the war went on released shocking stories such as massacres
Eg 27 February 1968 reporter ‘Cronkite’ returned from Vietnam after documenting ‘Tet offensive’ which shocked American public
97
98
How did communism unite politicians , for example
One of few policies that republics and democrats could agree on
Eg 1953-62 not one senator publicly support a sympathetic view to USSR or china
98
How did Vietnam war affect presidents?
Presidents drove policies that brought USA into war so more responsible for domestic policy
—> Johnson protests 1968 asking ‘how many kids did you kill today?’
- us presidents more involved in a war that citizens opposed , final withdrawal didn’t reflect well as USA lost a ‘dirty war’ and south Vietnam in danger
100
What was the percentage of those who trusted the government in 1960 compared to 1974
70%
—> less than 40%
101
102
What were the main factors in this
The media
Scandals
Mishandling events
White House administration
Social factors
The presidents
103
One of the most important factors in less govt trust was the media, how was this so?
Wider access to radio , tv etc meant people looked to media and changed view of relations with govt
—> 1968 media became increasingly to see job as uncovering government deception
104
Another crucial factor in less government trust is the presidents, for example:
Johnson put us troops in Vietnam without congress approval + bad communication with public
Nixon communication forced , mismanagement of watergate scandal
Fords reaction to scandal I.e chose to pardon Nixon made no one trust
Carters lack of experience and the fact that he couldn’t manage congress
105
Another important factor in less govt trust is social factors, for example
Level of violence and its spread escalated eg riots in cities after death of MLK, racial injustice from police + police brutality (killing 5 students + injuring 9 at university)
106
