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America (BACKUP - NO REDUCTION) > Unit 1.1 - The Changing Political Environment > Flashcards

Unit 1.1 - The Changing Political Environment Flashcards

1
Q

What was the impact of the First World War?

A
  • Germany was sounding out Mexico as an ally against the USA.
  • Woodrow Wilson brought America into the war in 1917 after campaigning against it.
  • When the war ended many Americans felt involvement was a mistake despite the boost in economy.
  • Americans also disliked Wilson’s attempts to involve the USA even more closely in international affairs post war.
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2
Q

What did WASPs understand ‘normalcy’ to be?

A
  • A return to things as they had been before the war.

- This would remove all the social problems that arose post war.

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3
Q

What economic and social discontent arose post WW1?

A
  • When Harding took power there was a short sharp economic Depression.
  • Unemployment rose from 950,000 in 1919 to 5,010,000 in 1921.
  • There were protests, strikes and riots.
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4
Q

How did Harding define ‘normalcy’?

A
  • Normalcy was a stable, steady way of life.
  • Harding didn’t want to turn the clock back.
  • Harding wanted to shift the focus back to the USA again.
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5
Q

What did Harding say the government had to do in order to spark the return to ‘normalcy’?

A
  • Balance the governments books.
  • reduce taxation on American people.
  • Introduce tariffs to protect US trade and industry.
  • Provide countrywide radio.
  • He also said there should be a committee established to study ‘the race question.’
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6
Q

What was the appeal of Republicanism?

A
  • Reaction to Wilson’s behaviour as president & to WW1 led people to turn to Republican ideals.
  • Republicans encapsulated the policy of Laissez faire.
  • Harding looked to be a president who wouldn’t interfere.
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7
Q

What corruption happened in Harding’s government?

A
  • Harding himself wasn’t corrupt.
  • He gave jobs to friends who were corrupt.
  • Many abused their positions to make money.
  • resulted in the administration as a whole looking corrupt.
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8
Q

What image did Calvin Coolidge perpetuate?

A
  • He combined Laissez-faire with dignity and morality.

- Republicans hoped this would restore their name after the corruption within Harding’s government.

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9
Q

What occurred in America during Coolidge’s presidency?

A
  • America entered a period of recovery and prosperity.

- The public began to feel that Republicanism was working.

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10
Q

What was the issue with the 1920’s economic boom?

A
  • The ‘boom’ had serious flaws.
  • These flaws were unclear at the time.
  • Only in hindsight can these flaws truly be appreciated and acknowledged.
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11
Q

Why did the economic boom cause problems for Hoover?

A
  • The USA had growing social and economic problems.
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12
Q

What did Hoover’s 1920s presidency campaign claim?

A

Claimed that the Republicans had:

  • Eliminated poverty.
  • Encouraged Equality.
  • Restored the economy.
  • And that the Democrats would ruin all this progress.
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13
Q

What was ‘Rugged Individualism’?

A
  • Where people who could look after themselves would make their own way in the world and prosper.
  • Realising the American Dream.
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14
Q

What did those who believed in the policy of Rugged Individualism feel the USA should react in domestic and foreign affairs?

A
  • USA should isolate itself from other countries.
  • People, even the poor and homeless were weakened by government support as it sapped their self-reliance.
  • USA should restrict immigration.
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15
Q

What were the consequences of the Wall Street Crash in 1929?

A
  • Unemployment soared.
  • people lost their homes.
  • Banks and businesses failed.
  • Hoover chose not to intervene as he believed the economy would right itself, like it did before.
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16
Q

What were the problems with the Economic Boom in the 20s?

A
  • Boom based on credit.
  • Banks lending too much money.
  • Businesses and people borrowing too much.
  • Farm produce prices were falling.
  • Most of the buying in the boom was based off consumer goods and eventually everyone owned them.
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17
Q

What did Hoover believe the answer was to save the economy following the Wall Street Crash?

A
  • Private Charities set up by businesses and the wealthy.
  • They would be able to offer help on a local, personal level.
  • Felt the most the government could do would be to encourage this type of support.
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18
Q

What did Hoover set up in 1930?

A
  • The President’s Emergency Committee for Employment.
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19
Q

What was The President’s Emergency Committee for Employment?

A
  • A temporary organisation.
  • Dedicated to finding work projects for the unemployed.
  • Tried to persuade businesses to create more jobs.
  • It was overwhelmed.
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20
Q

How did Hoover encourage business men to invest in the economy?

A
  • By setting up similar organisation to that of the President’s Emergency Committee for Employment.
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21
Q

What did Hoover do between 1930-1932?

A

FEDERAL INTERVENTION
- Moved from encouraging private help to giving federal help to states. (Advised states on projects and giving the funding.)

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22
Q

What did Hoover do when he realised his federal help was falling short?

A
  • Asked congress for help.
  • Unwelcome change in direction for many people.
  • Many measures Hoover tried to put into place were rejected by congress.
  • Those that were passed put the government into debt.
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23
Q

What was the significance of the Bonus Army?

A
  • As the Depression hit many war veterans asked for their money early which the government refused.
  • Bonus Army marched to Washington to make their demands in person in 1932 but were met with federal violence.
  • Reports tried to cover up the mistreatment of Troops by labelling them Communist Agitators.
  • Hoover lost a significant amount of popularity due to the way the Bonus Army was treated.
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24
Q

What helped Roosevelt win the 1932 election?

A
  • Offered a ‘New Deal’.
  • Excellent Communicator.
  • Effective Governor of New York.
  • The instability of the Republican Party.
  • The Landslide Election and Hoover’s loss.
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25
Q

What did Roosevelt ask for in order to implement his New Deal thinking?

A
  • FDR asked congress for special powers to deal with the economic situation.
  • He saw providing government aid as more important than balancing the budgets.
  • Insisted that Government was responsible for the welfare of the people.
  • Stressed the importance of rapid, national action.
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26
Q

How did Roosevelt change the presidency?

A
  • Confident, charming, pragmatic and persuasive.
  • Determined to restore confidence into the American People.
  • Introduced Fireside Chats.
  • Held ‘Off the record’ press meetings twice a week which ensured the press had the same understanding of what was going on.
  • Elected for 4 terms.
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27
Q

What was the impact of the Second World War?

A
  • Roosevelt was a wholehearted supporter of the allies and consequently employed schemes to help. (1941 Lend-Lease Act and the Destroyers-for-bases deal.)
  • Due to the peoples negative reaction to WW1 he promised the USA to remain neutral, however if young men wanted to fight they wouldn’t face consequences.
  • FDR geared USA up for war-time production boosting industry and farming.
  • The USA joined the war in 1941 after Pearl Harbour leading to a steep drop in unemployment.
  • Working week extended and wages rose.
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28
Q

What was the personality of Truman?

A
  • Not charismatic.
  • Not confident.
  • Overwhelmed by job.
  • Made mistakes under pressure. ‘To err is Truman’
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29
Q

What was Truman’s relationship with the media like?

A
  • Saw working with media as important.
  • Gave careful briefings on economic policy.
  • Sometimes didn’t explain well enough (Korean War)
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30
Q

What was Truman’s relationship with the public like?

A
  • Didn’t instantly appeal.
  • Didn’t try to connect.
  • Didn’t try to explain strategy.
  • Sometimes made serious mistakes in ad-lib speeches.
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31
Q

What was Truman’s organisational ability like?

A
  • Worked well with Whitehouse Administration; didn’t always choose the right people.
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32
Q

What was Truman’s relationship with Congress like?

A
  • Worked less well with congress (Despite Republican majority after 1946)
  • Blocked many reforms he wanted to make.
  • Had fewer contacts and less able to network and charm.
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33
Q

What was the personality of Eisenhower?

A
  • Deliberately cultivated friendly manner.

- Optimistic.

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34
Q

What was Eisenhower’s relationship with the media like?

A
  • Saw working with media as important.

- Often minimised or obscured issues. (USSR being first into space; missile gap issue.)

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35
Q

What was Eisenhower’s relationship with the public like?

A
  • Good public manner.

- Used clear imagery within speeches.

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36
Q

What was Eisenhower’s organisational ability like?

A
  • Exceptional organisation.
  • Set up regular briefings and long-term planning sessions.
  • Had everyone concerned into debate a discussion.
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37
Q

What was Eisenhower’s relationship with Congress like?

A
  • Worked well with congress.

- Good at political bargaining and persuasion.

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38
Q

What was the personality of JFK?

A
  • From a political family.
  • Understood importance of charm.
  • Worked hard on speech-making and self-presentation.
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39
Q

What was JFK’s relationship with the media like?

A
  • Saw working with media as important.
  • learnt names.
  • had personal chats.
  • used television really well.
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40
Q

What was JFK’s relationship with the public like?

A
  • Good public manner.
  • Accessible.
  • Attractive.
41
Q

What was JFK’s organisational ability like?

A
  • Poor.
  • Advisors competed for attention.
  • Didn’t work together.
  • Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen did most of the work.
  • Abandoned Eisenhower’s regular meetings.
  • Didn’t always consult the right people.
  • Less long-term planning.
42
Q

What was the personality of Johnson?

A
  • Experienced in politics.
  • Understood importance of winning people over.
  • Could change his style and opinions to get what he wanted.
43
Q

What was Johnson’s relationship with the media like?

A
  • Not a natural with the media.

- Careful to keep them informed.

44
Q

What was Johnson’s relationship with the public like?

A
  • Patchy.
  • Speeches varied from being good and stiff.
  • Better in small groups.
45
Q

What was Johnson’s organisational ability like?

A
  • Kennedy’s organisation didn’t suit him but kept it.

- His own organisation was good.

46
Q

What was Johnson’s relationship with Congress like?

A
  • Worked well with congress.
  • Understood how to use connections and persuade.
  • Good at thinking creatively.
47
Q

What was the personality of Nixon?

A
  • Clever.
  • Capable.
  • Suspicious.
  • Hated people disagreeing with him.
  • Could make spur-of-the-moment decisions then backtrack.
48
Q

What was Nixon’s relationship with the media like?

A
  • Distrusted the media.

- Very bad at managing the media (Watergate)

49
Q

What was Nixon’s relationship with the public like?

A
  • Not good with people.

- Often seemed awkward and insincere.

50
Q

What was Nixon’s organisational ability like?

A
  • Reinstated regular meetings and briefings with Whitehouse staff.
  • Not good at taking advice.
51
Q

What was Nixon’s relationship with Congress like?

A
  • Awkward with congress due to suspicious nature.
  • Found congress easy to manage.
  • Found making personal connection and persuasion hard.
52
Q

How did the media lead to a decline in confidence during 1968-1980?

A
  • People had wider access to media than they had in previous years.
  • Under FDR Media saw their role as explaining policies.
  • However the mishandling of Media under Truman led to criticism.
  • The media responded well under Kennedy.
  • From 1968 the media saw their role as uncovering government deception.
53
Q

How did scandal lead to a decline in confidence during 1968-1980?

A
  • The Watergate Scandal (1972-74)
    Showed the Whitehouse and Nixon were guilty of burglary and surveillance of political opponents.
    Tapes showed Nixon in a terrible light (swearing, suspicious of everyone & happy to lie to American people.)
  • Confidence hit rock bottom as the media exposed both the crime and the coverup.
54
Q

How did the mishandling of events lead to a decline in confidence during 1968-1980?

A
  • After FDR, Presidents were more involved in decision making and therefore could not avoid taking responsibility in conduct of Vietnam War.
  • as the media exposed army scandals and government mishandling of the Vietnam War opposition grew.
  • Issues of trust.
55
Q

How did the Whitehouse Administration lead to a decline in confidence during 1968-1980?

A
  • FDR enlarged the Whitehouse Staff and created bureaus that reported to the president, not congress.
  • Staff members began acting in the presidents name without consultation first: taking bribes and made deals.
  • The costs of staffing and campaigning rose so presidents needed more money, becoming dependent on those who donated funds.
56
Q

How did social factors lead to a decline in confidence during 1968-1980?

A
  • Violent police reaction to protestors only escalated after 1968.
  • Chicago became notorious for police violence against demonstrators.
  • 1970, National Guard killed 4 students and seriously wounded 9 at Kent State University during a protest against the Vietnam War.
  • Between 1968-80 many white middle-class became disillusioned with ‘liberal’ thinking. Believed that gov was doing too much to help the poor and not them.
  • The 1965 Voting Rights Act caused many white democrats to vote republican.
  • Some civil rights activists became increasingly violent when the gap between laws underlining their rights and the enforcement of them showed no sign of closing.
57
Q

How did the presidents lead to a decline in confidence during 1968-1980?
(4 Presidents)

A
  • Johnson put US troops in Vietnam without congress’ approval and communicated poorly with press & public.
  • Nixon’s public communication style was forced and few warmed to him as a person. Mismanagement of Watergate and later revealed corruption shocked many.
  • Negative Public reaction to Nixon’s corruption meant they could not forgive Gerald Ford for his pardoning.
  • Ford’s poor public relations caused them to vote for Carter instead who was politically inexperienced.
  • Carter was poor at managing congress and his presidency was marked by poor decisions and inflexibility.
58
Q

Why was there a First Red Scare?

A
  • Inspired by Russian Revolution of 1917
  • During WW1 workers hadn’t gone on strike over wages, hours or working conditions.
  • Striked when conditions didn’t improve post war.
  • Communist Party of America (CPUSA) and Communist Labour Party (CLP) were gaining popularity.
  • Anarchists distributed pamphlets in many cities urging revolution.
  • More than 3600 strikes in 1919.
59
Q

What was the impact of the First Red Scare on America?

A
  • Anti-Communist feeling escalated.
  • Businesses sacked employees.
  • People began to suspect their neighbours.
  • People no longer felt free to express their opinions.
  • KKK targeted ‘un-American’ groups.
  • 556 deported after cases were properly considered.
  • Attorney General Palmer Predicition of ‘Red Revolution’ failed to occur.
  • Anti-Communist feeling never went away.
60
Q

Why was there a second Red Scare in 1947-1954?

A
  • Second Red Scare had more basis than the first.
  • Elizabeth Bentley and Whitaker Chambers told HUAC they had been a part of a Moscow Spy Ring & named other government employees.
  • China became Communist in 1949 & USSR held first Nuclear War test.
61
Q

What factors led to a climate of fear during 1947-1954?

A
  • China becoming communist.
  • Civil rights of suspected communists were being ignored.
  • Investigation of HUAC in 1947.
  • Thousands of influential people in Hollywood blacklisted.
  • Hollywood 10 refused to answer questions and were eventually imprisoned.
  • Eastern Europeans were gradually falling under Communist control.
62
Q

What was the significance of Joseph McCarthy?

A
  • 1950, gave a speech claiming he had the names of 205 Communists working in the State Department. When asked for this list he claimed to have left it on a plane and revised the number to 56.
  • Started a trend of ‘Red Baiting’
  • Despite having ill-substantiated facts he had a lot of supporters.
  • Accusations were a mix of half-truths and lies.
  • Lost his influence when he turned this attention towards the army in 1953 where he was accused of ‘hurling accusations’ at people.
63
Q

What was the result of an Anti-Communist feeling during 1954-80?

A
  • Curb on civil liberties.
  • FBI given powers to investigate people and bring them to be questioned by loyalty boards or HUAC on little evidence.
  • FBI opened letters, tapped phones, bugged offices and homes.
  • Behaviour was moving towards those of repressive communist regimes.
64
Q

What was Liberalism?

A
  • It meant forward-thinking, flexible, concerned with welfare and willingness to be less suspicious abroad.
  • All were values of the American Dream and gained support from both Republicans and Democrats.
65
Q

What socio-economic group were Liberals mainly apart of?

A
  • Usually educated.
  • Middle-class.
  • Sometimes even wealthy.
66
Q

What did Liberals support?

A
  • Equality.
  • Civil rights.
  • Social welfare.
  • Believed government intervention could improve things and were prepared to limit individual liberties to help those in need.
67
Q

What idea did Liberal politicians put forward?

A
  • Positive Discrimination.

- Gave preferential treatment in employment, education, social welfare or other areas of life to the ‘Five Minorities’.

68
Q

Who fell under the ‘Five Minorities’?

A
  • American Indians.
  • Asians.
  • Black.
  • Hispanics.
  • Women.
69
Q

What did Donald Peterson (Liberal Delegate) do in 1968?

A
  • Held a 2000 strong march against police brutality following a violent anti-war protest where the police used tear gas and batons.
70
Q

What was counter-culture and what were the 2 main movements?

A
  • Young people rejecting the values set by previous generations.
  • Distrusting the political machine.
  • Wanted to change society by changing culture.
  • Hippies ands Radical Student Groups.
71
Q

What did Hippies want?

A
  • Loosen tight family system.
  • Live in communal societies.
  • Believed ing peace and a simple way of life.
  • Some took drugs and believed in a wider sexual freedom than marriage gave.
72
Q

What was the most famous Hippie gathering?

A
  • Woodstock Festival.
  • Just under 200,000 tickets sold.
  • 400-500 thousand people came.
  • roads closures, loud music, drugs available and sexual freedom.
  • embodiment of the hippie values.
73
Q

What did Radical Student Groups want?

A
  • Wanted to change society to produce more equality.

- Wanted to change everything from the way their courses were formed to ending the Vietnam War.

74
Q

What was the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)?

A
  • Student group that rejected all forms of bigotry including racism and anti-communism.
  • Protested, often violently, against Vietnam War.
75
Q

What was the 1962 SDS’ Port Huron Statement?

A
  • Denounced conventional politics as having forgotten the principle that all men are equal.
  • Urged a return to equity.
76
Q

What was the Free Speech Movement?

A
  • Radical group.
  • Led a campaign on the University of California Campus at Berkley in 1964.
  • Used sit-ins and peaceful protests to advocate for free speech on campus.
77
Q

What happened when a student was arrested for campaigning for CORE?

A
  • Students took over the main square and the protest escalated.
  • During the 2 months it ran over 700 students were arrested.
78
Q

What happened on the 4th of May 1970?

A
  • Ohio national Guard shot 4 unarmed students and injured 9 during a protest against the invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
79
Q

What happened on the 24th of August 1970 outside an army research base in Madison?

A
  • A bomb was detonated outside an army research base in Madison.
  • Killed one researcher and injured 4.
  • $60 million dollars worth of damage.
80
Q

What was the Conservative reaction to counter-culture?

A
  • Older Americans were bewildered.
  • Counter-culture:
    challenged family values,
    rejected consumer culture
    rejected the idea of hard work & striving for success.
    rejected traditional Christian values and patriotism.
81
Q

What was the ‘New Right’ Campaign?

A
  • Campaign to restore law and order and traditional values.

- Nixon campaigned for presidency using New Right policies.

82
Q

What movement emerged during the 1970s?

A
  • Religious Right Movement.
  • Campaigned for a return to traditional family values.
  • Moved away from liberal policies such as contraception and abortion.
  • Many groups also campaigned to keep laws against homosexuality.
83
Q

What were the problems regarding a ‘return to normalcy’?

A
  • Normalcy wasn’t linear for all Americans. (Black soldiers wanted more equality, but WASP’s understood a ‘return to normalcy’ to be a return to life pre-ww1.)
  • In 1921 there was a short, sharp economic depression.
  • 950,000-5,010,000 unemployed.
  • Social discontent: Strikes, protests & riots.
84
Q

What were the solutions regarding a ‘return to normalcy’?

A
  • Balance Government books: reduce taxation, introduce tariffs to protect trade and industry.
  • Provided national radio.
  • Committee set up to study the ‘race question’ & how best to solve it. As well as looking after the least well off possibly through a Department of Welfare.
85
Q

Why was there more US involvement after WW2?

A
  • WW2 got USA more involved abroad.
  • It became apparent that world events impacted America so it became important that they became a leading power in order to influence such events.
  • USA was founding member of the UN in 1945.
86
Q

What was the impact of Nuclear Defence on Domestic Policy?

A
  • Once it became clear that the USSR had nuclear capabilities the US had to be seen to be preparing for Nuclear Attack.
  • 1951: Nuclear Defence Administration set up.
  • Schools ran regular ‘duck and cover’ exercises.
  • 1956: Interstate Act Road Network was designed for rapid evacuation of cities.
  • 1958; Fallout shelter could be bought for $1300.
87
Q

What was the impact of The Arms Race on Domestic Policy?

A
  • Between June 1947-1948 the USA’s holdings of atomic bombs rose form 13-50.
  • The Arms Race resulted in both sides stock piling enough nuclear weapons to cause massive devastation.
  • Funding of Arms Race became a political bone of contention in debates.
88
Q

What was the impact of The Armed Services on Domestic Policy?

A
  • The creation of a large permanent military force affected domestic policy.
  • Military cost money to run, but also provided jobs and was a major customer to many businesses.
  • The existence of the army, the Cold War and the Arms Race caused a Republican/Democrat and a Hawkes/Doves divide that crossed political boundaries.
89
Q

What was the impact of the Cold War on the Presidency?

A
  • Power of president to go to war/make treaties without congress grew with the USA’s involvement with the UN & NATO.
  • The presence of nuclear weapons meant warfare could happen at anytime so the president had the power to react at once without approval from congress.
  • The National Security Act created both the CIA and the National Security Council which reported to the president not congress.
  • 1947 National Security Act reorganised US military forces under a new Defence Department and as commander-in-chief the president could move forces without permission from congress.
90
Q

What was the impact of the Korean War on domestic policy?

A
  • Korean War emphasised how the Cold War shifted presidential attention away from domestic policy and towards international policy.
  • Presidents had more freedom to act alone in foreign policy but all domestic policy had to go through congress.
  • The Cold War led to an expectation that the US had to be involved in global affairs as they were the only country with the capabilities to match the USSR.
  • The reigns of domestic policy began to shift back to congress.
91
Q

What was the impact of the Korean War on the presidency?

MEDIA INFLUENCE

A
  • Marked a shift in the way the media dealt with the president.
  • Initially promised Truman support under the condition that he gave them the same kind of access to information that they had under FDR and during WW2.
  • Truman held back from the media as the didn’t want to inflame the anti-Communist feeling.
  • Desperate for news the media began looking for information from other sources; becoming more critical and even indulging in pure speculation.
  • 1951 Truman sacked General MacArthur after he openly criticised and disobeyed direct orders but was met with little support.
  • When issues with the USSR required peaceful resolution his opponents stated it didn’t sound like the Truman Doctrine (lack of understanding as TD stressed financial & economic aid not fighting.)
  • Part of the American Dream required a fair, co-operative and self-regulating government. However behaviour of various parts of government over Korean War contributed to the beginnings of disillusionment with the presidency and government in general which only worsened.
92
Q

What was the impact of the Vietnam War on Domestic Policy?

A
  • Vietnam War created similar budget concerns as the Korean War and spending on the war was said to have contributed to rising inflation.
  • President & Government lost credibility due to unpopular policies and the escalation of the war out of their control.
  • 1961 ‘Lottery Draft’ selected men aged 18-26 to fight in Vietnam War.
  • Some men were too young to drink/vote but were still expected to fight in war.
  • The draw had radio, film and TV coverage
  • The ‘gameshow’ element made it easy for WASP’s to get their sons out of the draw through exemption/sending them abroad.
  • Became symbolic for young men to burn their draft cards despite being illegal and draft-dodging became common.
93
Q

Who protested against the Vietnam War?

A
  • All parts of society protested against the war.
  • 1967 the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) marched in a peace demonstration in New York and quickly gained a membership of over 30,000.
  • VVAW campaigned to show the atrocities of war and the poor way soldiers were treated upon return.
  • Lack of PTSD understanding so man were told to get on with it despite struggling to settle back in to normal life and keep jobs.
94
Q

What role did the media play during the Vietnam War?

A
  • Media coverage was intensive.
  • As the war progressed the coverage became more and more up close.
  • the media exposed:
    Soldiers going to war high on drugs and being rewarded with beer and ice cream for having a high kill count.
    Massacre of entire village of civilians.
    Spraying Agent Orange on villages not empty fields.
  • Media shocked by ethos prevailing in Vietnam.
  • Not a war to be fought honourably as their opponents were ‘just gooks’.
  • Walter Cronkite retuned from Vietnam and reported scathingly. His programme increased public reaction against the war.
  • Johnson was heard saying he had lost the support of ‘middle America’.
95
Q

What was the impact of the Vietnam War on the presidency?

A
  • Vietnam war cast a shadow over 4 presidencies and drove successive unpopular domestic policies.
  • Extent of presidential powers in foreign affairs meant responsibility was firmly placed on their shoulders.
  • Presidents found themselves more and more involved in a war the people despised.
  • Became increasingly difficult to leave the war without putting many South Vietnamese at risk.
  • The final withdrawal from the War reflected poorly upon the presidency and government.
  • American people witnessed a helicopter evacuation of Saigon taking out US citizens and some South Vietnamese. Leaving the rest for North reprisals.
  • People were relieved US was out of war but were humiliated to have fought a ‘dirty war’.
  • Vietnam was the first war the US had lost and the first which was seen by so many.
  • Many people now looked more critically at the role and the behaviour of the future presidents.
96
Q

What was the 1947 National Security Act?

A
  • Reorganised US military forces under a new defence department.
  • As Commander-in-Chief the president could move forces without permission from Congress.
97
Q

Who did Truman sack in 1951 and why?

A
  • Sacked General MacArthur after he:
    Openly criticised Truman.
    Disobeyed direct orders.
  • Despite this Truman’s decision was met with little support.
98
Q

What did the Veterans Against the War (VVAW) organise in 1967?

A
  • Marched in a peace demonstration in New York.

- Quickly gained a membership of 30,000.

America (BACKUP - NO REDUCTION) (7 decks)

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