The changing political environment Flashcards
When did Wilson enter the USA into WW1?
1917
When did Wilson first seek support for the league of nations?
1919
When did the scares begin?
1919
When did Women get the vote?
1920
When was the first radio station established?
1920
When did Harding become president?
1921
When was the Emmergency Immigration Act past?
1921
When was the Fordney-McCumber Act passed?
1922
When did Coolidge become president?
1923
When was the Johnson-Reed Imigration Act past?
1924
When did Hoover become president?
1929
When was the Wall Street Crash?
1929
When was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff past?
1930
When was the National Credit Corporation established?
1931
When was the Reconstruction Finance Corporation established?
1932
When did Roosevelt become president?
1932
Describe the Democrats
Members of one of the main two political parties. From the Roosevelt era, they were more supportive of governent intervention and more on the left side of the political spectrum.
Describe the Republicans
Members of the mre conservative political party. Generally opposed to federal governemnt intervention on behalf of the less privledged, but often interventionist if business can be assisted.
Describe the American Dream
The belief that the nature of US society enables an individual to fulfil his or her own potential, especially through wealth.
Define Rugged Individualism
Belief that individuals can and should succeed by their own effort rather than through governement aid.
Define Capitalism
Economic system under which, theroetically, there should be no government intervention with the free market
Who defined the American dream and when?
Historian James Truslow Adam in 1931
Define Laissez-Faire
Influencial ideology in 19th century America, characterised by opposition to government intervetion in economy and society.
Define Federal Government
The natoinal government of the US, based in Washington DC and consisting pf the preident, congress and supreme court.
Who were the progressives?
American reformers in the 19th and 20th century who sought government action to deal with political corruption and economic and social problems. There were progressives in both the Republican and Democratic party and a short-lived progressive party (1912-18).
Describe the role of the President
- Can recommend legislation to congress and veto their bills
- Appoints to the cabinet and bureaucracy.
- Head of State
- Commander-in-Cheif of the armed forces.
- Voted for by American people.
Describe the role of Congress
- Two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives
- Each state elects two senators.
- Congressmen who sit in the House of Representatives represent congressional districts. The number of Representatives per state depends on the population of the state.
- Congress pass bills which then become laws (acts)
Describe the role of the Supreme Court
- Judges are appointed by the president but their nominees need the Senate’s approval.
- Approves laws and practices and states if they are constitutional.
- Supreme Court decisions are known as rulings.
When was prohibition?
1920-33
What was prohibition?
A period of time when it was illegal to manufacture and sell alcohol in the USA.
What were Red Scares?
Period of hysteria of anti-communism which first happened after the Russian Revolution.
Define Voluntarism
An idea favoured by Hoover, that individuals, business and state government should handle problems such as the Great Depression through voluntary co-operation and efforts.
What was the League of Nations?
An international organisation established in 1919 in order to maintain world peace through collective security and disarmament.
Define Communism
Political ideology based on the belief that economic equality should be brought about by the revolutionary redistribution of wealth, following the takeover of society by the working class.
What is an amendment?
A system where, under the constitution , congress can make additions to the constitution. These need ratification of 75% of states.
What is the constitution?
The rules and system by which a country’s government work. The USA has a written constitution.
What was Comintern?
An abbreviation for the Communist International, founded by Lenin. It contained representatives form the worlds Communist Parties, but was dominated by the Soviets. It advocated the use of revolutions to spread communism throughout the world.
What was Hoover’s role in WW1?
Head of Food Administration
Transported food to Europe to feed both the troops and also the people of starving nations as Hoover beloved that innocent people shouldn’t be punished for the actions of their government.
What was Harding’s government role in 1919?
Senate Foreign Relationships Committee
When was the Boston police strike?
1919
What were the aims of the Boston police strikes?
The attempt of 80% of Boston’s police force to protest the opposition of their attempt to organise a union.
What were the arguments in favour of prohibition?
Belief that alcohol led to urban crime, insanity, poor health, communism, overcrowded prisons, inefficiency at work, poverty and family problems.
The biggest American brewing companies were setup by German’s such as Pabst so beer was sen as unpatriotic .
Many people believed that food staples such as grain shouldn’t be wasted on making beer.
How many workers strikes were there in 1919 and what percentage of Americans participated in these?
3600 strikes with 20% of the US population.
What were tariffs?
Taxes placed on goods going into or out of a country to encourage or discourage trading abroad.
What were hire purchases?
Buying goods on credit. Taking them at once but paying for them in regular instalments over a period of time.
Which president focused on ‘a return to normalcy’?
Harding
What was the vision of ‘a return to normalcy’?
The idea that America should return to pre-war life when there were fewer riots and protests and the economy was relatively stable.
Which president focused on ‘isolationism’?
Harding
What was the vision of ‘isolationism’?
The idea that the USA should become less focused on foreign affairs and focus on itself by supporting Americans and their businesses.
What was the Emergency Quota Act and when was it passed?
1921, limited immigration to 357,000 (then limited to 150,000 in 1924)
What was the Fordney McCumber Tariff?
Increased import tax on foreign goods which was met with retaliation tariffs by other countries and led to a loss of $300 million dollars for American farmers.
When was the American Civil War?
1861-65
What was the purpose of the American Civil War/
For the northern states (Yankees) and southern states (Rebs) to find a solution to slavery and whether to become one nation or continue as separate states.
What was the teapot dome scandal?
A bribery scandal between Albert Fall, secretary of the interior, and private oil companies in 1921 where United States Navy oil reserves were being leased. Fall was fined $10,000 and given a year in jail. Harding was not involved in corrupt practices but they had taken place within his government.
Define Anarchist
A person who believes in overthrowing established governments and letting people run their own lives without a formal government.
When was the Communist Party of America founded?
1919
Who were the Klu Klux Klan?
A white supremacist organisation, suppressed in 1870 and refounded in 1915, that was racist, anti-communist and anti-immigrant.
When was the Wall Street Crash?
1929
What was the Wall Street Crash?
When the US stock market collapsed, sending the USA and then many other countries into the great depression.
Which president focused on ‘rugged individualism’?
Hoover
Define Drafted
Compulsorily placed in the armed forces.
When were the Palmer Raids?
November 1919-February 1920
What were the Palmer Raids?
When a anarchist bomb destroyed the house of Attorney General Mitchell Palmer’s house and spread anarchist leaflets and party of the bombers body across Washington Streets.
How many people were arrested in the Palmer Raids?
6000 arrests
How many people were deported after the Palmer Raids?
556
What is an Attorney General?
Head of the Justice Department in the federal government.
How many Americans were drafted into the army in WW1?
5 million
What was the Sedition Act and when was it passed?
1918, an act which gave the federal government more power to silence those who opposed the war.
How many were killed in the flu pandemic from 1918-20?
600,000
What is a ‘ticket’ in the context of elections?
A party’s candidate for the presidency and his running mate, who will be vice-president if candidate is elected.
Define the Old World
Europe as opposed to America which was part of the New World
Define Coattails
When an individual wins the presidential elections by a big margin and their success carries his party to great gains in the congressional elections.
How did Harding use the media to his advantage during his election campaign?
- Had a professional, photogenic and presidential appearance.
- His publicist Albert Lasker introduced many new advertising and public relationship techniques.
- Lasker used as many media outlets as possible including radio, magazines, movie clips, billboards, sound clips and newspapers.
- Tried to receive as much media support as possible which he achieved as many newspapers were Republican owned.
Define Lynchings
Unlawful killing, usually by hanging. Many Black Americans were victims of lynching in the 19th and 20th century.
Define Protectionist
The favouring of economic policies such as Tariffs.
Who was Andrew Mellon?
A banker, businessman and industrialist who made large fortune (becoming 2nd richest person in USA) and was influential Secretary of the Treasury from 1921-32. He was enable to cut federal taxes by significant amounts.
How much did government spending increase form 1913-20-22?
$500 million to $5000 million to $3373 million
What was the Sheppard-Towner Maternity Act?
States received federal aid for infant and maternity health programmes.
Why did Harding veto the bonus for veterans?
He believed that it would be financially damaging as he was trying to reduce government expenditure.
What was Harding’s election slogan?
‘Less government in business and more business in government’
How much was the national debt in 1917, 1919, 1923 and 1929?
1917 = $1.3 billion 1919 = $26.6 billion 1923 = $22.3 billion 1929 = $16.9 billion
Define Admen
Term used for those employed in the advertising industry.
Define Middle America
Term invented by the media to describe ordinary, patriotic, middle income Americans.
What was annual government expenditure during Coolidge’s presidency?
$3 billion
What was Hoovers book titled and when was it published?
American individualism (1922)
Define Old Guard
Term frequently used to describe older and more conservative members of the Republican Party
Define Socialists
Believers in a political philosophy that favours more equal distribution of wealth than is attained under pure capitalism.
When were the Mississippi floods and what were the effects?
- 1000 mile inland sea that caused thousand to be left without homes or food.
Who were the hobos?
The unemployed who travelled around seeking work.
What was the Agricultural marketing act and when was it passed?
1927, Encouraged cooperatives, facilitated loans to farmers and a established a Federal Farm Board which purchased crops to stabilise prices.
What was the NCC?
The National Credit Corporation which was supposed to help small, struggling banks but the solvent banks thought that it was foolish to send good money after bad.
What was the Glass-Steagall Act?
Introduced greater stability in the banking system and pressured congress to establish the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
What as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation?
A scheme set up with $2 billion to lend to businesses such as banks and railroads, however failed to stop more banks from collapsing.
What was the Revenue Act and when was it passed?
1932, Raised taxes which worsened the Great Depression by reducing purchasing power of the unemployed.
What was the Emergency Relief and Construction Act?
The government provided $300 million for the ‘needy and distressed’ and empowered the RFC to finance $1.5 billion for revenue-raising public works such as toll roads.
What was the Bonus March?
In 1924, Congress had voted to pay WW1 veterans a bonus in 1945. In 1932, around 40,000 veterans and their families arrived in Washington to support immediate payment of the bonus.
What is National Convention
The Democrats and Republicans held a convention in which they nominate their candidate for presidency.
How did Hoover immediately respond to the Bonus Army?
He sent in the army and defended the decision by General Douglas MacArthur to burn the veterans encampment.
What was the 20th Amendment?
Reduced the time between the presidential election (November) and the inauguration from March to January. Passed by Roosevelt after he became President in response to the 4 months that Hoover spent in power with little support from the American population.
What was the Collective Security?
System whereby nations agree to aid nations that are victims of aggression.
Define Isolationism
The term used to describe US foreign policy during the 1920s and 30s, where there was frequently hostile reactions to suggestions of interactions with other countries which would places some limitation or obligation on the USA.
Why was there a strong commitment to isolationism?
- Many Americans were suspicious of ‘entangling alliances’ and believed that WW1 had dragged an innocent USA into a futile war.
- Many Americans agreed with Coolidge that ‘ our main problems are domestic’ and emphasised cutting the military budget to balance domestic problems.
- Americans were becoming increasingly irritated by European reluctance to repay wartime debts owed to the USA.
What was the Washington Treaty and when was it signed?
1922, USA, GB , France, Italy and Japan all agreed to limit the naval arms race.
In what ways did the USA go against the idea of isolationism?
- The Washington Treaty
- Giving financial aid to Germany to increase their financial stability.
- Wilson had made repeated military intervention in Latin America which the 1920s presidents sought to end. However, Coolidge sent marines to Nicaragua in 1926, telling congress that American’s’ investments and interests’ were at stake.
- Retained imperial possessions such as the Philippines which was considered a useful market for American manufactured goods and an example of how the USA could civilise other peoples.
- Three Republican administrations worked with business interests to promote American commerce overseas e.g. Stat and Commercial Departments helped US companies to gain access to Middle eastern Oil.
What did WASP stand for?
White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant
