The Changing Political Environment, 1917 - 80 Flashcards
Which President promised a return to ‘normalcy’ and why?
Harding.
Many Americans wanted America to go back to the way it was before WW1.
What did the 1921 Emergency Quota Act do?
Restricted immigration to 357,000 a year
What did the 1924 Emergency Quota Act do?
Restricted immigration to 150,000 a year
What did the 1922 Fordney-McCumber Tariff act do?
Raised the average import tax to 40%.
Prompted retaliation from European governments
What is Hire Purchase?
Buying goods on credit.
Why was Woodrow Wilson an unpopular president?
People felt that he took a far too big a part in government decision making.
Took America into WW1 despite campaigning against it.
What was Harding’s slogan?
‘Less government in Business and more business in government.’
What is Laissez-faire?
minimal government intervention.
Why did Harding become unpopular?
Gave jobs to corrupt officials.
What were the 1920 Palmer Raids?
Organised attacks against left-wing organisations.
Spread rumours about the Red Scare.
As many as 6,000 were arrested and held in a prison without a hearing and hundreds were deported.
Which president introduced the idea of ‘Rugged Individualism’?
Herbert Hoover
What is ‘Rugged Individualism’?
The idea that people should look after themselves.
Weakened by Government support.
Isolate America from other countries.
Restrict Immigration
What was Hoover’s response to the Great Depression?
Leave the economy to sort itself out.
Later realised that this didn’t work and attempted government intervention; too little too late, many rejected by Congress.
Why did the Bonas Army go out on strike in 1932?
The veterans wanted their WW1 bonuses to be paid early.
What was Hoover’s response to the Bonas Army’s strike?
Sent troops with tear gas, bayonets, cavalry, tanks and machine guns.
(only tear gas and bayonets used)
Why was FDR a more attractive presidential candidate than Hoover?
‘New Deal’
excellent communicator
Successful Governor of New York
What did the National Recovery Administration (NRA) do ?
Enforced Codes of Practice for business
e.g. minimum wages
What did the Agriculture Adjustment Agency (AAA) do?
regulated major crops
bought surplus crops
subsidised farmers to grow less of an overproduced crop.
Who said ‘the only thing we have to fear is fear itself’?
Roosevelt
What form of communication did FDR use effectively?
Radio e.g. Fireside chats
How many terns was FDR in office
four terms (1933-45)
What effect did FDR have on the presidency?
The government and president were now seen as responsible for welfare and for telling the public about policy.
In the first year of WW2 how much in $ did the USA produce in war goods?
$47 billion
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
US senator
Anti-Communist
What impact did ‘McCarthyism’ have on government?
The Republicans could make the Democrats look bad with accusations of treason so they encouraged him
The Democrats responded by showing they were just as tough on Communism
