The Impact Of War On Domestic Politics Flashcards
What was the return to normalcy after WW1
Harding defined it as: stable, steady way of life
Wanted to:
-balance the government’s books
-reduce taxation (taxes set higher due to the war)
-introduce tariffs to protect US trade and industry
-provide countrywide radio (to boost industry and communication)
-set up committee to study ‘the race question’
-look after least well off (maybe through department of public welfare to direct state efforts)
Why did there need to be a return to normalcy after WW1
By the end of the war, there had been a short, sharp economic depression partly caused by end of the war
Unemployment: 950,000 in 1919 to 5,010,000 in 1921
Social discontent: protests, strikes, riots
What was the policy of isolationism following WW1
‘Buy American’
introducing trade tariffs that favoured US business
Not joining the League of Nations
Not setting up colonies
Cutting back on numbers of immigrants
Legislation associated with isolationism
Neutrality acts between 1935-9: restricted help the USA could give to countries in war
Immigration legislation: emergency quota act 1921
Fordney McCumber Tariff Act: tariffs on imports
Effect of isolationism following WW1
Parts of the economy prospered and so did consumerism
New technology produced consumer products more quickly
Hire purchase allowed people to buy goods
Contributed to a ‘boom’ that suggested republican policies were working
Roosevelts reaction to WW2
Supporter of the Allies
Held a ‘fireside’ chat after the outbreak: assured people that the USA would remain neutral but said he couldn’t ask every American to remain neutral (fighting could cause someone to lose their citizenship under neutrality acts
Geared USA up for war production, to supply the Allies
How did the USA supply the Allies in WW2
Goods supplied on ‘cash and carry’ basis, no credit (forbidden under neutrality acts), most supplies to Britain
After December 1940: British could no longer pay, ‘lend-lease’ act passed in march 1941, end of war the value was $51 billion
Destroyers-for-bases deal which allowed Roosevelt to give 50 naval destroyers to Britain in return for the use of bases in British-held countries
Effect of war production
Boosted industry and farming
Significant rise in employment which grew as the war went on
Farmers grew more food, factories churned out more weapons and ammunition
$47 billion worth of war goods produced a year after outbreak
Industry profits $17 million in 1940 to $28 million 1943
Loss of life due to WW2
16 million went to fight
Over 400,000 died and nearly 600,000 wounded or captured
Effect of WW2 on domestic policy
Led to more US involvement abroad
Clear that world events had an impact on the USA, important for it to become a leading world power in order to affect these events
Founding member of the UN in 1945
Why did the Cold War start
Difference in ideologies between USSR and USA
Truman: anti-communist, Stalin: anti-capitalist
March 1947: Truman told congress that USA represented one way of life, USSR another, in competition
USA needed policy of ‘containment’, stopping communist influence spreading by helping countries that may turn: Truman doctrine
Followed by Marshall plan: system of aid to war-torn countries, prevent takeover by communist regimes
USA broke Berlin blockade by airlifting food into the city in 1948
In 1949: USA part of NATO, all members agreed to respond to attack on any of them
Effect of the Cold War on nuclear defence
US government had to be seen preparing for nuclear attack
Early 1950s: Federal Defence Administration set up to organise evacuations and give out pamphlets with advice (hats to protect from light of nuclear explosion)
Schools ran regular ‘duck and cover’ exercises
1956 interstate act road network designed for rapid evacuation of cities, federally/state divide made national system of defence difficult
1958: could buy a fallout shelter for $1300, average family income was $5,100 a year
The Cold War: arms race
June 1947-48: US holding of atomic bombs 13-50
Cost lots of money, both sides had enough nuclear weapons to cause devastation (MAD)
Effect of the cold war on the armed services
Creation of large, permanent military force affected the domestic economy
Cost money to run, provided jobs and customer for many businesses
Created democrat/ republican divide and a hawks/doves divide which crossed political boundaries
When was the Korean War
1950-53
Effect of the Korean War on domestic policy
Shifted attention to international policy: all domestic policy went through congress, presidents had freedom to act alone in foreign affairs
Due to Cold War, expectation that USA should be involved in world affairs, only country that could maintain balance of power with USSR
Effect of the Korean War on republicans
Republicans tired of cooperative congress, especially when they lost seats in 1949 elections
Handling of second red scare/ Korean War gave republicans a chance:
- critical of government policy and Truman, gained 5 seats in Senate and 28 in House of Representatives in 1951 elections
- criticised cost of Korean War and Cold War
Cost of Cold War and Korean War
Defence spending hit peak of 14% of US GNP
From government borrowing and rising taxes
Effect of Vietnam war spending
Contributed to rising inflation in the period
Loss of credibility for government and president
Policies implemented in Vietnam war
The draft, 1 December 1969: lottery held to select men 18-26 to fight in Vietnam
- sent ‘draft cards’, expected to report for duty on the day on the card
- radio, film and TV coverage for the draw, ‘game-show’ element to make selection fair
- WASPs made their sons exempted/sent them abroad
- burning the cards became part of protests (could be fined $10,000/ 5 years in prison)
Protests against the Vietnam war
Vietnam Veterans against the war (VVAW) began when 6 marched together in peace demonstration in NYC in 1967, membership grow to over 30,000
- showed mistreatment of veterans and horror of the war
- veterans expected to return to normal life, some returned with disabilities and stress-related illnesses so couldn’t keep a job
Role of the media in the Vietnam war
Initially: reported according to WH conferences and military press officers
As the war went on: reports of shocking stories spread
27 February 1968: reporter Walter Conkrite returned after Tet offensive and broadcast criticism of how the war was run
- Conkrite was a very influential and respected reporter, increased public reaction against the war
Examples of the reports published by the media during the Vietnam war
- massacre of entire village of civilians at Mai Lai
- soldiers going into battle high on drugs
- toxic defoliant Agent Orange sprayed on villages, not empty fields
- soldiers rewarded with ice cream and beer if missions had a high kill count
