The Political Environment 1917-33

Question 1

Harding

Answer 1

1921-23

Republican

Question 2

Coolidge

Answer 2

1923-29 republican

Question 3

Hoover

Answer 3

1929-33 republican

Question 4

A return of ‘normalcy’

Answer 4

Promised by Harding
Understood as a return to how things were before war
Would be a stable way of life to counteract the social unrest

Question 5

What was isolationism?

Answer 5

Meant introducing trade tariffs that favoured US businesses; not joining the League of Nations and not establishing colonies
Cutting back the number of immigrants

Question 6

Was the USA entirely isolationist?

Answer 6

Helped Europe rebuild economically

Attended conferences

Question 7

How did the presidency change under Wilson?

Answer 7

Big part in govt decision making
Took US to war despite campaigns against
Didn’t consult congress in promoting the League of Nations
Presidents should be involved in law making

Question 8

What was the appeal of republicanism?

Answer 8

Reaction to Wilson’s behaviour and effects of WW2
Appeal of laissez faire
Big business

Question 9

Appeal of Coolidge

Answer 9

Combined laissez faire with dignity and morality

Coolidge boom and period of recovery and prosperity

Question 10

The first Red Scare

Answer 10

1919-20
As a result of the Russian Revolutions
Once wage hadn’t improved post war- series of workers strikes
Communist party of America and Communist Labour Party founded
In 1919, 1 in 4 workers went on strike
Rumours of communist revolution

Question 11

Rugged individualism

Answer 11

All people were weakened by govt support, so shouldn’t interfere
USA should isolate themselves
USA should restrict immigration

Question 12

The decline of republicanism

Answer 12

Hoover thought the answer was for private charities to offer help
Set up Presidents Emergency Committee for Employment- was overwhelmed
In 1930- 1932 elections moved to federal help from private
This failed, so had to ask congress to pass laws to give federal help

Question 13

The Bonus Army

Answer 13

1932 March to Washington
Demand bonus payment calculated by their years of service
Troops, tanks, cavalry, tear gas, machine guns sent
Hoover lost significant amount of popularity

Question 14

Roosevelt’s policies

Answer 14

Campaign offered people a ‘New Deal’
More vitality
Meant the Republican Party unravelled further
1936 presidential election- only won 2 states

Question 15

Woodrow Wilson

Answer 15

1913-21 democrat