The changing political environment 1917-80 Flashcards
What did Harding promise?
A return to normalcy and ‘less government in business and more business in government’
What is normalcy under Harding?
Steadiness, reducing tax, balancing the budget, tariffs and nationwide radio (laissez faire)
What did the 1921 and 1924 Emergency Quota Acts do?
Reduce immigration to 357,000 a year, then 150,000 in 1924 with quotas from different countries base on their percentage population in the USA
What 3 major isolationist things did Congress do 17-40?
Reject League of Nations, pass the Fordney McCumber Tariff Act of 1922 and the Neutrality Acts (for foreign aid)
Example of interventionism in 20s?
Washington Conference 1921-22 which set a limit on navies
What was Wilsons style of Presidency?
Took a big part in government decision making, writing bill and introducing them to Congress personally, almost breaking separation of powers in House
What was Coolidge’s style of Presidency?
Let Congress do what it wants, be dignified and moral and do as little as possible
What occurred in 1919 by workers that started the Red Scare?
Strikes, first in Seattle dock workers and by the end of the year, 1 in 4 had been on strike
What direct action in 1919 caused the Red Scare?
Bombing threats and Palmer raids. Also anarchist and communist pamphlets moved around the country
What 6 things affected the US political landscape from 1917-1933?
First Red Scare, Rugged Individualism, Great Depression, Decline of Republicanism, Bonus Army and a changing mood
What was Hoover’s general philosophy surrounding the Great Depression?
The 1919 depression sorted itself out, so this one should as well
What did Hoover do about the Great Depression which was not enough?
President’s Emergency Committee for Unemployment in 1930 which was overwhelmed and Reconstruction Finance Cooperation in 1932 - $300 million only
What did Hoover do during the Depression which was bad?
1930 Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act and also tried to push through large spending programmes in Congress, unpopular as they lead to debt
How many Bonus Marchers were there, and how many died?
43,000 marchers and 2 deaths, including a baby due to the gas
What happened in 1931 showing a swing to Democrats?
They took control of the House and made gains in the Senate
How did Roosevelt change the role of the executive?
People’s welfare came under government jurisdiction. Also, states lost some power due to programmes like TVA, increased size of executive, more federal boards
What was the NRA?
National Recovery Administration enforced working hours and minimum wage, blue eagle scheme
How did Roosevelt expand the executive?
He set up the Executive Office of the White House and also used executive orders more
How did Roosevelt treat the media?
He held off the record chats with certain reporters, giving them so on the record info and making them feel listened to and in the swing of things
What did the SC do in 1935?
Rule NRA and AAA as unconstitutional in Sick Chickens Case 1935 and US v Butler 1936
What was Roosevelt do about the SC?
Said he’d add an extra judge for every over 70 on the bench (6/9) and pack it with Democrats
How did the presidency not change under Roosevelt?
Separation of powers still existed, SC held up states rights, Congress still passed most laws and media affected president’s effectiveness
How did Roosevelt change the role of the Presidency?
More relations with media, stronger connection with the people, more active President
What changes did Roosevelt make to the USA before entering WW2?
Started gearing up economy toward war, under the veil of helping the allies; cash and carry deals with UK
What was passed in March 1941?
Lead-Lease Act which allowed USA to lend UK supplies to return after war
What was the value of industry profits in 1940 and then in 1943?
$17 million to $28 million
Truman: Personality
Not charismatic or confident, mistakes under pressure, ‘to err is Truman’
Truman: Media
Worked with media well, flipcharts on economy but less well communicated with Korean War
Truman: Public
Worked poorly, little appeal, poor public speaker (either wooden or with mistakes)
Truman: Organisational ability
Worked well within administration, some poor choices
Truman:Congress
Worked poorly, little contact with Congress, Reps in control in 1946 made passing bills tricky
Ike: Personality
Optimism, friendly
Ike:Media
Worked with media but sometimes failed ie USSR first into space, missile gap issue
Ike: Public
Good speeches ie Domino effect
Ike:Organisation ability
Exceptional organisation, lots of briefing and good debate in meetings
Ike: Congress
Worked well with Congress, good persuasive skills even if only first quarter had Rep Congress
JFK: Personality
Worked hard on speeches, good presentation, saw importance of charm
JFK: Media
Worked very well, knew reporters names and also TV with ‘presidential family’ publicity
JFK: Public
Good manner, accessible, attractive
JFK: Organisational Ability
Poor, no regular briefings, advisors competed, Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen did much of work, failures due to this with Bay of Pigs
JFK: Congress
Good at bargaining, good family connections helped at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue
LBJ: Personality
Understood how to win people over, could change his style to get what he wanted
LBJ: Media
Awkward relationship, but kept them informed
LBJ: Public
Some good speeches (voting rights) while some were poor, didn’t like big groups like JFK did
LBJ: Organisational ability
Kept Kennedy’s system but better organisation with blocking bills before they reached Congress
LBJ: Congress
Master as he had been in both houses and been Senate Leader and Whip before
Nixon: Personality
Clever but suspicious, hated people disagreeing with him and could backtrack sometimes
Nixon: Media
Distrusted media, lead to Watergate issues
Nixon: Public
Not good with people but tried to improve it, awkward and insincere
Nixon: Organisational Ability
Reinstated regular meetings and briefings with staff, couldn’t take advice
Nixon: Congress
Suspicious of Congress and had little connections, worked poorly
What 3 general themes changed the US political landscape between 1945-1970?
Second Red Scare, Liberalism/Hippies and Conservative reactionaries