The changing political environment 1917-80 Flashcards

1
Q

What did Harding promise?

A

A return to normalcy and ‘less government in business and more business in government’

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2
Q

What is normalcy under Harding?

A

Steadiness, reducing tax, balancing the budget, tariffs and nationwide radio (laissez faire)

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3
Q

What did the 1921 and 1924 Emergency Quota Acts do?

A

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

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4
Q

What 3 major isolationist things did Congress do 17-40?

A

Reject League of Nations, pass the Fordney McCumber Tariff Act of 1922 and the Neutrality Acts (for foreign aid)

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5
Q

Example of interventionism in 20s?

A

Washington Conference 1921-22 which set a limit on navies

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6
Q

What was Wilsons style of Presidency?

A

Took a big part in government decision making, writing bill and introducing them to Congress personally, almost breaking separation of powers in House

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7
Q

What was Coolidge’s style of Presidency?

A

Let Congress do what it wants, be dignified and moral and do as little as possible

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8
Q

What occurred in 1919 by workers that started the Red Scare?

A

Strikes, first in Seattle dock workers and by the end of the year, 1 in 4 had been on strike

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9
Q

What direct action in 1919 caused the Red Scare?

A

Bombing threats and Palmer raids. Also anarchist and communist pamphlets moved around the country

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10
Q

What 6 things affected the US political landscape from 1917-1933?

A

First Red Scare, Rugged Individualism, Great Depression, Decline of Republicanism, Bonus Army and a changing mood

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11
Q

What was Hoover’s general philosophy surrounding the Great Depression?

A

The 1919 depression sorted itself out, so this one should as well

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12
Q

What did Hoover do about the Great Depression which was not enough?

A

President’s Emergency Committee for Unemployment in 1930 which was overwhelmed and Reconstruction Finance Cooperation in 1932 - $300 million only

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13
Q

What did Hoover do during the Depression which was bad?

A

1930 Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act and also tried to push through large spending programmes in Congress, unpopular as they lead to debt

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14
Q

How many Bonus Marchers were there, and how many died?

A

43,000 marchers and 2 deaths, including a baby due to the gas

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15
Q

What happened in 1931 showing a swing to Democrats?

A

They took control of the House and made gains in the Senate

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16
Q

How did Roosevelt change the role of the executive?

A

People’s welfare came under government jurisdiction. Also, states lost some power due to programmes like TVA, increased size of executive, more federal boards

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17
Q

What was the NRA?

A

National Recovery Administration enforced working hours and minimum wage, blue eagle scheme

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18
Q

How did Roosevelt expand the executive?

A

He set up the Executive Office of the White House and also used executive orders more

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19
Q

How did Roosevelt treat the media?

A

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

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20
Q

What did the SC do in 1935?

A

Rule NRA and AAA as unconstitutional in Sick Chickens Case 1935 and US v Butler 1936

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21
Q

What was Roosevelt do about the SC?

A

Said he’d add an extra judge for every over 70 on the bench (6/9) and pack it with Democrats

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22
Q

How did the presidency not change under Roosevelt?

A

Separation of powers still existed, SC held up states rights, Congress still passed most laws and media affected president’s effectiveness

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23
Q

How did Roosevelt change the role of the Presidency?

A

More relations with media, stronger connection with the people, more active President

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24
Q

What changes did Roosevelt make to the USA before entering WW2?

A

Started gearing up economy toward war, under the veil of helping the allies; cash and carry deals with UK

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25
Q

What was passed in March 1941?

A

Lead-Lease Act which allowed USA to lend UK supplies to return after war

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26
Q

What was the value of industry profits in 1940 and then in 1943?

A

$17 million to $28 million

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27
Q

Truman: Personality

A

Not charismatic or confident, mistakes under pressure, ‘to err is Truman’

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28
Q

Truman: Media

A

Worked with media well, flipcharts on economy but less well communicated with Korean War

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29
Q

Truman: Public

A

Worked poorly, little appeal, poor public speaker (either wooden or with mistakes)

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30
Q

Truman: Organisational ability

A

Worked well within administration, some poor choices

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31
Q

Truman:Congress

A

Worked poorly, little contact with Congress, Reps in control in 1946 made passing bills tricky

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32
Q

Ike: Personality

A

Optimism, friendly

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33
Q

Ike:Media

A

Worked with media but sometimes failed ie USSR first into space, missile gap issue

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34
Q

Ike: Public

A

Good speeches ie Domino effect

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35
Q

Ike:Organisation ability

A

Exceptional organisation, lots of briefing and good debate in meetings

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36
Q

Ike: Congress

A

Worked well with Congress, good persuasive skills even if only first quarter had Rep Congress

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37
Q

JFK: Personality

A

Worked hard on speeches, good presentation, saw importance of charm

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38
Q

JFK: Media

A

Worked very well, knew reporters names and also TV with ‘presidential family’ publicity

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39
Q

JFK: Public

A

Good manner, accessible, attractive

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40
Q

JFK: Organisational Ability

A

Poor, no regular briefings, advisors competed, Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen did much of work, failures due to this with Bay of Pigs

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41
Q

JFK: Congress

A

Good at bargaining, good family connections helped at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue

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42
Q

LBJ: Personality

A

Understood how to win people over, could change his style to get what he wanted

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43
Q

LBJ: Media

A

Awkward relationship, but kept them informed

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44
Q

LBJ: Public

A

Some good speeches (voting rights) while some were poor, didn’t like big groups like JFK did

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45
Q

LBJ: Organisational ability

A

Kept Kennedy’s system but better organisation with blocking bills before they reached Congress

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46
Q

LBJ: Congress

A

Master as he had been in both houses and been Senate Leader and Whip before

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47
Q

Nixon: Personality

A

Clever but suspicious, hated people disagreeing with him and could backtrack sometimes

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48
Q

Nixon: Media

A

Distrusted media, lead to Watergate issues

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49
Q

Nixon: Public

A

Not good with people but tried to improve it, awkward and insincere

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50
Q

Nixon: Organisational Ability

A

Reinstated regular meetings and briefings with staff, couldn’t take advice

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51
Q

Nixon: Congress

A

Suspicious of Congress and had little connections, worked poorly

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52
Q

What 3 general themes changed the US political landscape between 1945-1970?

A

Second Red Scare, Liberalism/Hippies and Conservative reactionaries

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53
Q

What was set up in 1938 and in 1947?

A

HUAC and then Loyalty Boards for new federal employees

54
Q

Which 2 things occurred in 1949 to stoke the Red Scare?

A

USSR held it’s first nuclear weapons test, and China turned communist

55
Q

What occurred because of China turning red?

A

China Lobby in Congress got annoyed with lack of support of Kai-Shek by Truman, fears justified by the Korean War

56
Q

How many Communists were on McCarthy’s list?

A

205 at first, then 67 then next day, then 81 in a Senate hearing

57
Q

What action was taken after McCarthy’s list was announced?

A

Setting up of Tydings Committee

58
Q

What caused the death of McCarthy?

A

Attacks on army in 1954 followed by Senate censure

59
Q

What caused a rebirth of liberalism?

A

The election of JFK

60
Q

Examples of Liberalism in politics?

A

Donald Peterson at DNC held a 2,000 person march against police brutality in 1968 in Chicago, also Civil/Voting Rights Act

61
Q

Example of Hippies?

A

1969 Woodstock Festival, dope, sex, peace and a simple life

62
Q

What did the SDS do in 1962?

A

Port Huron statement calling for equality and a denouncement of conventional politics

63
Q

What occurred in Berkeley in 1964?

A

The Free Speech Movement with protests and sit-ins for Civil Rights

64
Q

2 examples of violence in student protests

A

Shooting of 4 innocents in 1970 by Ohio National Guardsman at Kent State Uni and 1970 bombing of army research base in Madison Wisconsin killing 1

65
Q

What caused the conservative reaction?

A

Saw liberalism challenging family values and rejecting consumer culture, also people taking university for granted annoyed elders

66
Q

What was the effect of the conservative reaction?

A

Older people, and those who wished for more law and order and traditional values (even young ‘uns) voted for Nixon in ‘68 and ‘72

67
Q

What is an example of the New Right?

A

Bill Bright and his 1967 Campus Crusade for Christ and similar evangelical right wing movements

68
Q

What 2 effects did WWII have on domestic policy?

A

Nuclear defense programmes set up ie 1956 Interstate Act with provisions for evacuations, and hawks/doves divide on military spending (boosted economy)

69
Q

What occurred on the 12th of March 1947?

A

Truman announced his policy of containment within the Truman doctrine

70
Q

What was the Marshall Plan?

A

System of aid to war-torn nations so they do not fall to communism

71
Q

Hod did the size of presidency increase in it;s powers during the Cold War?

A

President has ability to move troops around, go to war, make treaties and deploy nuclear weapons without Congress support

72
Q

What was set up in 1947 to aid the President?

A

CIA and National Security Council

73
Q

What examples are there of Congress being sidelined by government due to Cold War?

A

Korea, treaties to place US airbases in other nations, Berlin Airlift, Bay of Pigs

74
Q

How did the President’s use of time change during the cold war?

A

Move from domestic policy, where they were hamstrung by government, to foreign policy

75
Q

How did the cold war under Truman effect domestic policy?

A

14% GNP spent on defence, highest ever due to Rep Congress

76
Q

What did Korea illuminate about the media and President relationship?

A

They needed to be treated well otherwise they’ll be negative, also could tell lies ie nuclear bomb in Korea

77
Q

What occurred in government during Korea and what was the result?

A

Bickering between President and Congress over involvement in Korea and China (while being reported in the media) increased disillusionment of government

78
Q

How was the military-size increased during Vietnam?

A

18-26 year olds were drafted first on 1st December 1969 into the army, game-show style

79
Q

How did people avoid the draft?

A

WASPs got sons exempted, sent them abroad or to university, also burning of draft cards occurred and raft-dodging

80
Q

Example of group rejection of Vietnam War?

A

Vietnam Veterans Against the War which had 30,000 members in the 60s

81
Q

Example of media fighting against Vietnam war

A

Walter Cronkite in 1968 reporting on the Tet Offensive

82
Q

How did Johnson see his popularity during Vietnam?

A

He lost ‘middle America’

83
Q

How did the role of the President in the eyes of the public change during Vietnam and example?

A

More importance on foreign policy rather than domestic, as well as rejection of this idea with anti-Vietnam backlash with LBJ How many kids did you kill today?

84
Q

Percentage of Americans who trusted their government in 1960 and 1974

A

70% down to less than 40%

85
Q

How did the role of the media change after Truman to Vietnam?

A

After Truman mishandling of media, they worked to uncover faults of government, in particular with Vietnam

86
Q

How did confidence in the presidency change due to political institutions after 1968?

A

Enlarged federal government sometimes took bribes, as did candidates looking for support in increasingly expensive election campaigns

87
Q

When was Kent State University Massacre and how many died?

A

1970, 4

88
Q

How did white society react sometimes 1968-80 and how did black activists react as well?

A

Desire for more government emphasis on middle class whites rather than poor of 60s, and black activists not seeing returns on civil rights with still discrimination and police violence

89
Q

What were the character issues of Carter?

A

Stubborn, did not consult enough, did not look at political realities

90
Q

Example showing 1920s US interest in isolationism

A

James Cox Democrat in 1920 ran on campaign of joining League of Nations - more interest in rising prices and industrial action

91
Q

Name of teapot dome scandal individuals

A

Ohio Gang of Harding and Albert Fall in particular in 1923 as Interior Minister

92
Q

Coolidge on government’s role

A

The business of America is business

93
Q

Number of unemployed in December 1932

A

12 million

94
Q

How much did Hoover increase spending by?

A

Nearly doubled federal expenditure

95
Q

Who worked with Roosevelt in policy-making?

A

Brain Trust

96
Q

How did the 1936 election play out?

A

Stirring up class hatred by Roosevelt gave him largest majority in EC in recent elections, shows desire for more reform

97
Q

What happened to the Democrats in 1937?

A

After the Court Packing ideas of Roosevelt, they saw him as dictatorial and lost unity

98
Q

What does the 1944 election show?

A

The fact he had a smaller majority shows the right was making gains

99
Q

2 policies of LBJ from 1965?

A

Great Society and Medicare

100
Q

What does the 1968 campaign show about the US?

A

The ‘silent majority’ and Middle America had moved to the right

101
Q

Successes and failures of Nixon

A

De-escalation of Vietnam War and better USSR and China relations, not so good on economy

102
Q

2 major impacts of Watergate

A

Loss of American respectability abroad, end of Imperial Presidency (within this course)

103
Q

Benefits and disadvantages of Ford

A

‘I guess we’ve healed America’ on July 4th 1976, but gaffes and falls and pardoning Nixon wasn’t great

104
Q

Percentage of people who thought Carter and Nixon lacked a presidential air, and turnout in 1976

A

75% and 54%

105
Q

4 issues for Carter which lost confidence

A

Poor economy with negative balance of trade, USSR success in Cold War, Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979 and brother Billy receiving a ‘loan’ from the Libyan government

106
Q

2 things Hoover did to help people

A

Federal Farm Board set up and $2.7bn deficit

107
Q

Number of major bills passed by Congress in FDR 100 days

A

15

108
Q

4 things created by FDR in more wide ranging Second New Deal

A

Works Progress Administration, Social Security Act, Wealth Tax and National Labour Relations Act

109
Q

4 reasons why the New Deal wasn’t revolutionary

A

Still capitalism, no wealth redistribution, FDR dislike of deficit, and similar policies to Hoover/Wilson

110
Q

Number killed in 1919 anarchist attack on Wall Street

A

38

111
Q

3 reactions to anarchists in 1919/20

A

Congress expelled socialist members, 32 states banned syndicalist movements, 9,000 arrests and 500 deported

112
Q

Nixon in 1952 election

A

Worked to gain McCarthy vote onside as Ike didn’t like him

113
Q

How was 1945-54 the age of fear?

A

Conservatives feared commies, liberals feared the government/loss of job

114
Q

Location of hippy town and number of Woodstock revelers

A

SF Haight-Ashbury and 400,000

115
Q

3 protests faced by Nixon

A

October-November 1969 huge anti-war protests, and in 1970 on university campus’s with Cambodia, as well as Black Panthers

116
Q

3 fix’s of Nixon

A

Withdraw Vietnam troops, FBI surveillance, threat to end scholarships and loans to protesting students

117
Q

2 examples of religious right

A

1967 National Right to Life Committee set up, and 5 million new evangelical voters in 1980

118
Q

What were Wilson’s 14 points?

A

A plan to make a ‘world safe for democracy’ after WWII

119
Q

Reason for isolationism in 1920s

A

Idea that arms manufacturers and bankers had persuaded US to join war

120
Q

Detail of Neutrality Acts

A

1935 - embargo on all belligerents, the in 1936 ban on loan, partly repealed in 1940 for cash and carry (40 old ships for naval bases)

121
Q

3 build-ups to war for US

A

December 1940 ‘arsenal of democracy,’ 1941 $7bn lend-lease deal to Britain and German U-Boat war in Atlantic in late 1940

122
Q

US economy after WWII facts

A

45% of world’s arms, 2/3rds of ships and 50% of world’s goods

123
Q

Action of Congress under Truman Doctrine

A

May 1947 $400m given to save Greece and Turkey from communism

124
Q

3 aims of 1947 Marshall Aid

A

Help Europeans, so they buy American goods, and so they don’t fall to communism

125
Q

1948 election shows views of electorate in what terms

A

Support for stopping USSR, not appeasement like in 30s

126
Q

Actions from September 1948

A

Berlin Airlift, 13,000 tons of goods a day until May 1949

127
Q

What was formed in April 1949?

A

NATO

128
Q

Number of dead in Korea and Vietnam

A

33,000 and 56,000 US dead

129
Q

Number of anti-war protests in early 1968

A

221

130
Q

1972 number of troops stationed in Vietnam

A

40,000, less than 10% from 4 years ago

131
Q

Nixon decision to take US out of Vietnam was when?

A

1973, only enacted in 1975

132
Q

Why did the Supreme Court stay at 9?

A

A switch in time saved nine, Owen Roberts on SC started to support government intervention in business with West Coast Hotel v Parrish 1937