USA unit 1(0.3) Flashcards
When did Truman become president? What limited Truman when he first took the role as president? How did he respond to the issue?
-Truman became president after Roosevelt’s death(1945).
-He was limited to begin with having little governmental experience. He quickly learnt and grew confident taking strong action.
How did Truman act abroad? Give examples.
With strong action;
-WWII he took the decision to drop atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagaski(1945).
-Post WWII he committed the USA to stand against the USSR.
-(1950) he went to war to save South Korea from Communist aggression.
What social issue was Truman passionate about in the US? How successful was his efforts?
Racism. But his efforts to end discrimination had limited success.
What won Truman the 1948 election?
His branstorming election.
What Career did Eisenhower have before politics? What skills did he acquire from this?
-Eisenhower had a successful career in the US army, commanding the victorious Allied armies in Europe.
-He had the ability to foster teamwork and confidence was particularly impressive.
Who did Eisenhower defeat in the 1952 election? How did the Korean war help his campaign?
-1952 he won the Republican nomination and defeated Democrat Stevenson with 55% of the vote.
-Given that the USA was still at war with Korea, he seemed a safe (conservative) pair of hands.
What limited Eisenhower in his second term? How was he successful?
-His ill health was a problem.
-Most Americans trusted and liked him, he exuded calmness and strength(little Rock).
Who did Kennedy defeat in the 1960 election? How Kennedy perceived?
-Nixon, Eisenhower’s vice president, in a closely fought election.
-Handsome and charismatic, in many ways the first television generated president.
In a fight against the USSR what was Kennedy prepared to do 1962? Was Kennedy as progressive as people thought?
-He took the world to brink of nuclear war with the Cuban Missile Crisis.
-No. He was less liberal on domestic matters.
What was Kennedy committed to in 1963 despite his less liberal stance? What happened to Kennedy in 1963? How did this help his legacy?
-1963 he was committed to the cause of civil rights.
-President for only a thousand days Kennedy was assassinated.
-His untimely death gave him something of a heroic status, may be underserved.
-With Kennedy style often outweighed substance.
Who became President after Kennedy? Who was he ?
Johnson. He was a tough, experineced liberal politician.
What did Johnson use Kennedy’s death to do? Who did Johnson defeat in 1964?
-He use Kennedy’s death to push a wide ranging Civil Rights Bill through Congress.
-1964 he decisively defeated Republican Goldwater, polling 61% of the total votes.
1965 who did Johnson support? What protests was Johnsons presidency accompanied by?
-The Great Society programme, committing his administration to war on poverty, racial equality, educational reform and total improvement in the Vietnam War(Despite promises in the 1964 election he would not do so.)
-Anti war protests. Many Americans blamed Johnson for the tumult on the streets, Johnson was so unpopular he chose not stand for re-election in 1968.
Which Republican candidate defeated Democrat Humphrey in 1968 to become president? What approach did he take to politics.
Nixon, he was a pragmatic politician.
Although being previously associated with the right wing how did Nixon view himself by 1968?
By 1968 Nixon and others recognised him as a moderate.
