4. Political Change 1960-2000- Main Political Developments

Question 1

When was JFK elected president, what was his programme of reform and what did it aim to do?

Answer 1

Nov 1960, New Frontier aimed to tackle issues in civil rights, the economy and social reform

Question 2

What did the new frontier do in terms of civil rights?

Answer 2

Kennedy appointed Thurgood Marshall as America’s first black federal judge,
He sent troops to ensure that James Meredith could be the 1st black student at Mississippi university,
Introduced a civil rights bill aiming for equality in housing and education (although it was defeated in congress).

Question 3

What did the new frontier do in terms of the economy

Answer 3

Kennedy introduced a $900 million public works programme to build roads and public buildings,
Increased spending on defence and space technology which created jobs,
Cut taxes to encourage people to buy goods

Question 4

What did the new frontier do in terms of social reform?

Answer 4

Kennedy proposed introduction of Medicare- a cheap system of state health insurance (although he didn’t carry it out),
Social security act 1962 gave financial help to elderly and unemployed + extended SS benefits to each child who’s father was unemployed,
Area redevelopment Act 1961 gave loans and grants to states with long-term unemployment,
Housing act 1961 gave cheap loans for redevelopment of inner cities.

Question 5

Reasons why jfk faced opposition in congress:

Answer 5

Won election by narrow margin,
Many older members felt he was too young & inexperienced,
Some saw his scheme as socialist,
Southern congressmen (including democrats, his own party) disliked his commitment to civil rights- cost him white votes in a racist south.

Therefore many of his bills were rejected, was unable to complete reform programme as assassinated nov 1963

Question 6

What did LBJ decide to do and what was its aims?

Answer 6

Continue with jfks reform programme and develop it further- his ‘great society’.
Declared war on poverty, aiming to make America a country with high living standards and a sense of community.

Same 3 main points as new frontier but much bigger focus on social reform.

Question 7

What did lbjs great society do in terms of civil rights

Answer 7

Civil rights act 1964 banned discrimination and set up the equal opportunities commission,
Voting rights act 1965 ensured fair voting procedures,
In 1967 the ban on mixed marriages was lifted.

Question 8

What did lbjs great society do in terms of the economy

Answer 8

Cut taxes to encourage people to spend, help businesses grow and create jobs,
Improved railways and highways,
Gave federal funds to help depressed areas.

Question 9

What did lbjs great society do in terms of social reform?

Answer 9

Medical care act 1965 provided Medicare (for the old) and medicaid(for the poor),
The elementary and secondary education act 1965 provided first ever federal funding for state education,
Model cities act 1966 targeted urban renewal and slum clearance,
Minimum wage increased.

Question 10

What opposition did LBJ face?

Answer 10

Faced powerful opposition in congress due to his reform measures but following jfks assassination the American people were more sympathetic to the reforms he had wanted for the us,
Accused of overspending and not helping inner cities enough. He also cut spending on great society to pay for Vietnam war- overshadowed his successes.

Question 11

Why was Nixon forced to resign

Answer 11

to avoid impeachment as a result of The watergate scandal

Question 12

What happened in the watergate scandal

Answer 12

1972 Nixon set up CREEP(Committee to Re-elect the president). In June 1972 5 members of CREEP were arrested for breaking into the watergate offices of the Democratic Party(nixons opposition). Nixon ordered a cover-up and denied any knowledge of the incident and went on to win a landslide reelection.
Nixon continued to deny allegations until in 1974 he was forced to give in tape recordings from the White House, revealing his involvement and lies.
Congress tried to impeach Nixon although he resigned in order to avoid it.

Question 13

What were the effects of the watergate scandal

Answer 13

Destroyed Nixon’s reputation- ‘tricky dicky’,
Damaged americas reputation abroad- USSR labelled it a corrupt capitalist system,
Undermined people’s confidence in politics and politicians,
Resulted in a reduction in powers of government- limits on electron contributions and curbing what the president cld and cldnt spend on.
Showed strength of US constitution- system checks and balances had brought down a corrupt president.

Question 14

What did Reagan become president?

Answer 14

1981

Question 15

What problems did Reagan inherit?

Answer 15

Severe economic problems- high inflation (15%), rising unemployment(7.5%), high budget deficit(overspending) , world recession (slow down in economic growth).

Question 16

What were Reagan economic reforms known as and what did they include?

Answer 16

Reaganomics- slashed income tax (cut by $33 billion, largest in US history) hoping to get people to spend more and thereby create jobs(wealthy spending would trickle down to middle and lower classes)
Slashed welfare programmes e.g Medicare by $20 billion a year for 3 years, returning to idea of rugged individualism.
Cut taxes at a time when government expenditure increased(especially on the space programme),

Question 17

What were the effects of reaganomics

Answer 17

Without tax revenues gov was unable to pay for services it provided.
National debt increased to 1 trillion as gov spending dramatically increased.
People lost jobs and inflation rose.
Severe stock market crash in 1987 due to reagans economic policies- worst since Wall Street crash, us had more imports than exports and so was slowly moving into recession.

Question 18

What were bushes successes

Answer 18

Americans with disabilities act 1990- forbade discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations and transportation, most important anti-discrimination legislation since civil rights act of 1960s.
Clean air act 1990- built on previous legislation and focused on reducing urban smog, curbing acid rain and eliminating industrial emissions of toxic chemicals.

Question 19

What were bushes policies/aims.

Answer 19

Promised to cut taxes(although had to go back on it).
Increased direct taxes and reduced number of wealthy exempt from tax.
Had to cut military spending.
Increased tax on luxury items
Americans w disabilities act
Clean air act
Drug enforcement agency- worked on employee drug testing and increased border controls.

Question 20

Bushes failures

Answer 20

Despite changes made, deficit rose to $300 billion and recession reduced gov income from taxes.
Unemployment at 7.8%(highest since 1984).
14.2% in poverty in 1992.
DEA proved to have little Impact.
Race riots in 1992 following arrest and beating of Rodney king (an AA who had been caught speeding by 4 white police).
Had to go back on election promises and increase taxes.

Question 21

What did Clinton aim to do

Answer 21

Reduce deficit & increase gov spending & investment in education & welfare

Question 22

What were Clinton’s successes

Answer 22

Reduced huge budget deficit left over by Reagan- in 1998 was balanced for 1st time since 1969.
Value of stock market tripled.
Unemployment at lowest rate in 30 years.
Low interest rates = highest level of home ownership (67.7%).
North American Free Trade Agreement- set up a free trade area between Canada, USA and Mexico.
More than 22 million jobs created in less than 8 years- most under single administration and in last 12 years.
Unemployment for AA and Hispanics at lowest rate on record, women’s was at its lowest in 40 years.

Question 23

What were Clinton’s failures

Answer 23

Failed to introduce universal health insurance as rejected by congress.
Clinton linked to white water scandal of 1996 where 2 former business associates were convicted of fraud but no evidence was found against him.
Proof was however found revealing Clinton had had an affair with a member of white house staff. Lied under oath and was impeached for obstruction of justice in 1998