USA Statistics, History

Question 1

When and why Great Depression?

Answer 1

October 1929 due to panic selling of shares

Question 2

Effects of the Wall Street Crash

Answer 2

-13 million unemployed by 1932
-one third of city workforce unemployed by 1933
-bankrupt farmers from being unable to sell produce

Question 3

Hoover’s problems:

Answer 3

-Believed in “balancing the budget” (not spending more than gained in taxes) - refuses to borrow money to create jobs
-Rugged individualism
-May-June 1932 Bonus Army (WW1 Veterans) demanded war bonuses, set up hooverville outside WHITE HOUSE

Question 4

How Hoover helped

Answer 4

-Reconstruction Finance Corporation in 1932 gave two billion dollars to ailing banks, insurance companies and railways
-Emergency Relief Act gave $300 million to help unemployed ppl
-Home Loan Bank Act - 12 regional banks to stimulate housing industry

Question 5

What made Roosevelt a better choice

Answer 5

-More caring image
-Roosevelt portrayed as a fighter due to overcoming polio
-Simple Message
-‘New Deal’ new approach

Question 6

Name three alphabet agencies

Answer 6

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC/Relief) - Provided six months of work for men between 18 and 25 in conservation projects e.g tree planting
Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA/Recovery) - Raised farm prices by paying farmers to destroy crops and slaughter animals
Emergency Banking Act (EBA/Reform) - Closed all banks for ten days and officially backed 5,000

Question 7

Three successes of New Deal

Answer 7

AAA doubled farmer profits
EBA restored confidence
CCC employed 2.5 million ppl

Question 8

Criticisms of New Deal

Answer 8

-Huey Long, Gov of Louisiana said Roosevelt didn’t share nation wealth fairly
-Alphabet agencies discriminated black people
-Father Charles Coughlin criticised New Deal for not helping people in need and broadcasted on the radio weekly attracting over 40 million

Question 9

Ways America benefitted economically from WW2

Answer 9

-By 1945 industrial production doubled
-By 1944 USA was producing half of the weapons in the world
-Conscription ended the effects of Great Depression unemployment
-millions of war bonds cashed in

Question 10

What was the Fair Deal?

Answer 10

Truman’s policies

Question 11

Reasons for suburban growth

Answer 11

-Rising affluence due to hire purchase, war bonds and consumerism from saved money
-Affordable housing
-Demand for new homes with baby boom

Question 12

Suburbia vs Poverty

Answer 12

-By 1960, 25% Americans lived in suburbs
-Consumerism - luxury goods became necessities
-By 1959, 29% Americans below poverty line
-Poor Americans couldn’t afford rising cost of healthcare

Question 13

Black soldiers in WW2

Answer 13

-“Jim Crow Army” : Fought in segregated black-only units
-Navy and Marines only accepted black people as cooks and supply transports

Question 14

Fair Deal on black Amercians

Answer 14

Proposed anti-lynching bill and less requirements for black voters but was rejected by opposition. Encouraged growing NAACP.

Question 15

Brown vs Topeka 1954

Answer 15

In 1952, 20 US states had segregated schools. Linda Brown had to walk 20 blocks to her black-only school when there was a white school nearby so Oliver Brown and NAACP took the Board of Education to court and then Supreme Court which ruled that segregation in public schools was against constitution

Question 16

Little Rock 1957

Answer 16

Little Rock 9 tried to go to school but Orval Faubus (Gov of Arkansas) prevented them with National Guard. President Eisenhower responded by sending 101st Airborne to protect them for the rest of the year. The racist mob publicized the level of discrimination in USA.

Question 17

James Meredith v Mississippi 1962

Answer 17

Supreme Court upheld federal court decision to allow Meredith into Mississippi University but was prevent from registering by the Governor. Riots broke out so President Kennedy sent troops to protect his entire 3 years.

Question 18

Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955-56

Answer 18

In December 1955 Rosa Parks an NAACP member refused to give up her seat and was arrested. Martin Luther King made Montgomery Improvement Association to organise a bus boycott. Civil Rights Lawyers defended Parks and Supreme Court made Montgomery Bus Laws ILLEGAL.

Question 19

Freedom Rides 1961

Answer 19

Segregation remained on interstate buses so CORE rode on buses in the southern states in direct protest, especially companies ignoring bus laws. Received hostile reception in south. In Anniston Alabama a bus was attacked and burnt. Attorney General Robert Kennedy managed to get the Interstate Commerce Committee to end segregation on all public transport.

Question 20

Martin Luther King’s forms of protest

Answer 20

Non-violent civil disobedience favouring boycotts, sit-ins and marches

Question 21

Examples of MLK marches

Answer 21

Birmingham March 1963: SCLC organised sit-ins and marches to challenge Birmingham’s close of public recreation facilities to stop de-segregation. Faced violent opposition. King was arrested and President Kennedy had to send troops and forced it to desegregate.

March on Washington 1963: Crowd of 250,000 to put pressure on Kennedy for Civil Rights Act 1964

Selma to Birmingham 1964: March for voting rights, King arrested, hostile opposition and resulted in Voting Rights Act 1965

Question 22

Malcom X’s significance

Answer 22

Originally believed in black separatism and violent methods. Attracted support from younger black Americans with speeches. Left Nation of Islam to form Muslim Mosque Inc and encouraged self-esteem of black Americans to inspire more radical movements.

Question 23

Stokely Carmichael and Black Power

Answer 23

Emerged from black American frustration over unemployment + poverty. Carmichael joined SNCC but wanted black Americans to have more self-esteem with the message “Black is beautiful” so he joined Black Panthers in 1966. Spread Black Power movement internationally.

Question 24

Civil Rights Act 1964

Answer 24

Banned racial discrimination in employment, set up investigation commissions for discrimination and de-segregated public areas

Question 25

Voting Rights Act 1965

Answer 25

Banned racial discrimination in voting and ended literacy tests

Question 26

President Kennedy Policy 1960-63

Answer 26

New Frontier - focus on uniting nation with opportunities for ALL. Introduced the Civil Rights Bill, supported James Meredith and appointed first black federal judge. Cut taxes to encourage spending and increased spending in space tech. Also planned medicare but assassination limited successes.

Question 27

President Johnson Policy 1963-68

Answer 27

Great Society - focused on poverty and racism. Passed Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. Gave everyone healthcare access with medicare and mediaid. Improved education and city living conditions. Blamed for Vietnam and accused of overspending.

Question 28

President Nixon Policy (1968-74)

Answer 28

Made CREEP to get re-elected which broke into Watergate offices. Washington Post discovered CREEP’s connection to government. Nixon denied involvement but was forced to give White House tapes. Resigned before impeachment and pardoned.

Question 29

President Reagan Policy (1981-89)

Answer 29

Inherited economic debt from Jimmy Carter so used Reaganomics (cutting business taxes so they spend more which trickles down to lower classes). Cut Medicare and welfare benefits. Overspending on space tech.

Question 30

President Bush Policy (1989-93)

Answer 30

Increased direct taxes but decreased wealthy people exempt. Deficit rose to $300 billion. Unemployment reached 7.8%. Signed American with Disabilities Act and Clear Air Act.

Question 31

President Clinton Policy (1992-2001)

Answer 31

Balanced the budget for the first time since 1969. Stock market value tripled. Highest home ownership levels. Whitewater Scandal - lied under oath.

Question 32

What was the Marshall Plan in 1947

Answer 32

Economic aid sent to European countries to contain communism. Sent over $13 billion. Stalin refused to allow satellite states to accept.

Question 33

What is Brinkmanship

Answer 33

the policy of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster

Question 34

US methods of warfare in Vietnam

Answer 34

-Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign in North Vietnam from 65 to 68 to destroy Vietcong supply routes
-Chemical Warfare e.g Agent Orange to destroy jungle and Napalm
-High tech war
-Large troop numbers
-SEARCH AND DESTROY - dropping troops near villages suspected of holding vietcong to search and set alight

Question 35

Reasons for US defeat in Vietnam

Answer 35

-Inexperienced soldiers
-Growing opposition at home e.g coverage on Mai Lai Massacre
-Vietcong tactics
-USSR AND CHINESE SUPPORT
-Tet Offensive of 1968 attacked 100 cities and towns, turning point

Question 36

SALT I (1972)

Answer 36

Improve détente. Limited number of intercontinental missiles and anti-ballistic missiles and both powers agreed not to test ICBMS and submarine missiles. First agreement to successfully limit nuclear weapons.

Question 37

Helsinki Agreements (1975)

Answer 37

USA and USSR + 33 other nations declared to recognise borders, respect basic human rights and work together economically, scientifically and culturally

Question 38

USA relationship with China

Answer 38

-To negotiate end to Vietnam
-‘Ping-pong diplomacy’ led to end of trade embargo
-In 1972 Nixon became the first US president to visit China
-China joined UN in 1971

Question 39

How Soviet Invasion of 1979 affected détente

Answer 39

US Senate refused to sign SALT II following Soviet invasion and diplomatic links were cut. President Carter threatened military force to defend Persian gulf interests. US Olympic team and 61 other nations boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics

Question 40

What was the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty

Answer 40

Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to destroy all medium and short-range weapons in Europe within three years. Brought back détente following SDI