Unit 1: Change in political environment 1917-80

Question 1

What is the American Dream?

Answer 1

• defined 1931
• James Truslow Adams
• ’ a dream of a better , richer and happier life for all our citizens of every rank’

Question 2

What was the political system of the USA and when was it set up?

Answer 2

• system set up 1789 ( few years after winning independence against British)
• consists of federal level ( whole country) and the state and local level which often clash
• main parties emerged in 1900s: Democrats and Republicans

Question 3

Explain how the federal government is set up?

Answer 3

• legislature = congress made up of 2 houses : House of Representatives and the senate , laws must be passed through both houses
• executive = led by president( leads on foreign policy and can issue executive orders) with support of vice president
• judiciary = Supreme Court can declare any laws illegal , judges appointed by president and congressman override executive order

Question 4

Explain how the state government is set up?

Answer 4

• legislature = house of representatives , the senate
• executive = the governor is equivalent to president on state level
• judiciary = state Supreme Court, able to override governor

Question 5

Woodrow Wilson

Answer 5

• 1913-1921
• agreed to join WW1 eventually 1917
• Democrat

Question 6

Warren Harding

Answer 6

• 1921- 1923
• died suddenly only 2 years into his presidency so replaced by vice president Coolidge
• after his death,

Question 7

What were the consequences of WW1?

Answer 7

• return to normalcy
• isolationism
• rise of republicanism

Question 8

What was the return to normalcy?

Answer 8

• Harding took over from Wilson 192, elected on a promise to return to normalcy
• end of WW1- 1921 = short economic depression, unemployment rising from 950,000- 5,010,000 in 1921
• protests, strikes and riots broke out due to this
• Harding believed USA had to focus on itself again, reducing taxation, introducing tariffs ( import and export taxation)
• Harding also believed intro of countrywide radio would boost US industry
• committee set up to deal with ‘ the race question’

Question 9

What was Isolationism?

Answer 9

• Harding believed USA should be supportive of other countries but not entangle with them
• USA didn’t entirely cut itself from the world as it helped Europe rebuild economically and brokered Washington conference 1921-22 which set limit on national navies
• without Great Depression 1929, USA might’ve become more open to the world

Question 10

How did Isolationism manifest?

Answer 10

• introduction of tariffs = discourage international trade . Fordney -Mcumber Trio Act encouraged people to ‘buy American’
• rejecting League of Nations = ( organisation after WW1 to prevent future wars)
• reducing number of immigrants = 1921 Emergency Quota Actrestrciting immigration to 357,000 a year revised to 151,000 in 1924

Question 11

What was The Rise of republicanism?

Answer 11

• Woodrow Wilson who took USA into war was only 2nd democrat president since American Civil War
• actions during the war + enthusiasm to control congress = lost popularity as many saw him as potentially breaking the separation of powers principle
• due to this, people turned to more Republican ideals , Hardings slogan of ‘ less government in business and more business in government, encapsulating Republicans laissez faire attitude