Truman Complete Flashcards
What did America emerge from WWII as?
The strongest world power
By 1945 America had 7% of the world’s population but what % of global income?
42%
Who died in 1945 that meant Truman took over as President?
FDR (Roosevelt)
What did those who thought Truman wouldn’t do a good job call him?
a ‘compromise candidate’
Who are the two main political parties in America?
Democrat and Republicans
What are the three branches of the American Government known as?
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
The systems that stop these branches becoming too powerful is known as…?
Checks and Balances
What does Congress have the power to do?
To propose new laws, controls the budget and can impeach the president
What does the President have the power to do?
Can veto laws put forward by Congress and appoint new Supreme Court justices
What does the Supreme Court have the power to do?
Can rule president actions as unconstitutional
What did WWII help America to fully recover from?
The Great Depression
How did America use WWII to its advantage?
They made money by selling arms/raw materials to European allies for rebuilding. Money America loaned to allies in the Lend Lease Programme were repaid post war
What percentage of the world’s manufactured goods did the US produce?
50% (80% of cars)
What happened to American Trade Unions during WWII?
They grew in strength
Why was it easy to believe in the American Dream in the 1940s?
Unemployment never rose above 4 per cent and the average American had a greater disposable income that led to a boom in consumer goods, such as cars, vacuum cleaners and refridgerators
What were the key regional differences?
North was the centre of politics/finance/education. The Northern states had the most developed industries especially Detroit anc Chicago. The Modwest was less populated but America relied on its agriculture. The South was more traditional and segregated and predominantly agricultural
How had the war decreased regionalism?
- Over 10 per cent had left their homes for training camps
- 13% had changed their county of residence
- 8 million had permanently located to a different state
Many people moved between classes after WWII. What is this known as?
Social mobility
Which Americans did not experience social mobility?
African Americans and Asian immigrants
Many women filled jobs left by men during WWII. By ’44 what % of the workforce were women?
36%
What was Truman’s political relationship with FDR?
Vice President - President (?)
How many days was Truman vice president before becoming president?
82
Which of FDR’s main policies was Truman keen to continue?
New Deal successes
Who did Truman seek regular advice from?
Secretary of State Dean Acheson
Which conference was held between America, Britain, France, and the USSR in February ’45?
Yalta Conference
What was agreed at the Yalta conference?
Agreements were made to split Germany into 4, hold free elections in liberated Eastern Europe and USSR agreed to help the USA against Japan
What was the name of the conference that took place in August 1945?
Potsdam
What was agreed at Potsdam?
Free elections in Poland and German reparations were agreed.
What did Truman keep secret from Stalin over Potsdam?
The atomic bomb which was then dropped on Japan whilst conference was on
Why did tension between the USSR and USA develop after WWII?
Stalin expanded the USSR into Eastern Europe and Truman responded by announcing the Truman Doctrine
What was the Truman Doctrine
A commitment to support any country under the threat of Communist takeover