Weeks 14 &15 - 1960s, 70s, 80s and the Fall of the Soviet Union; the West Today. Flashcards
Why are the 1970s considered the United States’s Decade of Woes?
1) The Disappointing Vietnam War Effort
2) A Poor Economic Performance With 20% Interest Rates
3) Watergate Scandal Shook the Faith of the American People in Government
4) The Iranian Hostage Crisis and Islamic Revolution Sweeping Iran and Overthrowing the Shah
Why did the U.S. Economy Perform Poorly?
1) Guns and Butter - High Social Welfare and Military Spending by LBJ
2) Arab Oil Embargo drove gas prices incredibly high.
3) The restoration of Global Economic Competition not Present in the 1940s.
Who controlled Eastern Germany?
The Communist-doinated Socialist Unity Party.
What was the Nation of Western Germany called?
The Federal Republic of Germany
What was the Nation of Eastern Germany Called?
The German Democratic Republic.
Who dominated Western German Politics Following World War II?
Konrad Adenauer.
In what ways did Adenauer achieve his goal of regaining West Germany’s sovereignty?
1) Economic Cooperation under the Ruhr Statute.
2) Cooperation with the Occupation Statute.
3) Restitution to Victims of the NAzis
What was the European Coal and Steel Community?
An independent authority that controlled steel and coal industries that increased economic cooperation.
What did the European Coal and Steel Community lay the groundwork for?
The European Community.
What was the Bonn Convention?
Granted West Germany most of the attributes of National Sovereignty
Who was the main opponent of socialists in Germany after Adenauer?
Future Chancellor Ludwig Erhard.
What idea was the foundation of the German Economic Miracle?
A market economy based on free trade and private enterprise.
Who adopted the Constitution establishing East Germany?
A Congress organized by the Socialist Unity Party (SED)
What factors caused workers to start an uprising in East Berlin?
1) Food Shortages
2) Economic Hardships
3) Forced Changes
Who emerged as the leader of East Germany in the 1950s?
Walter Ulbricht.
Who replaced Churchill as the Prime Minister of Great Britain?
Clement Attlee.
What organization did he create that still exists in Britain today?
The NHS, Nation Health Service.
What was the policy trend of the 1960s Labor government?
1) Legalized Homosexuality
2) Legalized Abortion
3) Made it Easier to Get Divorces
What happened to Britain’s economy?
Its position relative to other economies declined.
Who regained power for the Conservatives in 1979?
Margaret Thatcher.
What is Thatcherism?
A series of social and economic changes that dismantled Britain’s postwar welfare state.
What happened during Thatcher’s time as PM in Britain and after she left in regards to the economy?
The economy grew during her time as PM
However, it declined as soon as she left office in the early 90s.
What is Margaret Thatcher’s nickname?
The Iron Lady.
What nation invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982?
Argentina.
Who is the most important figure in recent French Politics?
Francois Mitterrand.
What party did Mitterrand Unite?
The French Socialist Party.
What happened to the French economy as. a result of high taxes and high welfare spending?
A 12% Unemployment rate and economic stagnation.
What was the “Mitterrand Revolution”?
A nationalizing of banks, shortening of the work week, increased taxes on the upper class, better workers benefits, and lower retirement age.
What two choices did Mitterrand face when the French economy was near collapse in the 1980s?
1) Pull the Franc out of the European Monetary System and implement high tariffs.
2) Abandon Socialism and Embrace Free-Market Principles.
Which Option did Mitterrand Choose?
The Second.
Who controlled Italy after World War II?
The Christian Democrats in coalition governments with the Social Democrats and other centrist parities.
What was the theme of Italian government?
Constant instability. 36 governments 29 years.
Who emerged out of the chaos of Italian government to lead?
Silvio Berlusconi.
