America Theme 1 Flashcards

Question

The impact of WW2 on America

Answer 1

Hailed the USA out of depression. FDR conscious of backlash so said in a fireside chat that he would have to remain neutral Goods supplied on a cash and carry basis War production boosted industry and arming Lend lease act 1941 allowed Britain to borrow supplied and pay back after a year. 51bn value. Unemployment fall sharply, men joined army Industry profits rose 17m in 1940 28m in 43

Answer 2

Post WW2 Many Eastern European countries emerged with soviet government USSR had been spying on USA 1949 china communist, USSR first nuclear weapons test Media began to question whether government was doing enough to protect civs

Answer 3

House of un-American activities 1938. Set up to investigate unAmerican activities, FBI investigations Suspects lost jobs, blacklisted, never worked Erwin 21march 1947 Truman exec order go set up loyalty boards to investigate loyalty of government employees

Answer 4

1950-54 senator joseph McCarthy headed 2nd red scare February 1950 made speech to republican women’s group that he had the names of 205 known communists working in state department Next day number was 57, then 81 He remained powerful until he interviewed the army where he treated them so badly they people lost support for him.

Answer 5

Truman very anti communist Stalin very anti capitalist Truman told Congress that they needed a policy of containment Truman doctrine, Marshall plan. Threat of nuclear attack in 50’s Therefore, set up interstate act road network for rapid evacuation of cities in 1956 June 47 to June 48 US atomic bombs went from 13 to 50.

Answer 6

1947 national security act reorganised US military forces under a new defence department. Also created the CIA and national security council. Increased possession of nuclear weapons. After world war 2, Truman without consulting Congress made treaties to place US bases abroad. Ordered Berlin airlift and Korea without congress consent.

Answer 7

1950-53 North Korea invaded south in 1950, supplies and advisors from the USSR helped them Taking place in the context of the red scare 260k US troops fighting, no more than 35k from elsewhere altogether. Defence spending hit a peak at 14% of American GNP.

Answer 8

Shift in the way the media dealt with the presidency Media began promising Truman support. Truman made the mistake of holding back with the media because he didn’t want to inflame anti communist feelings. Media then looked for support elsewhere August 1950, Truman began TV briefings. However, he found it hard to regain media support for ‘limited war’

Answer 9

In charge of Korean War from start, wanted very different war from Truman Criticised ‘limited war’ both publicly and privately. His views used to support republican backlash and he disobeyed orders Sacked in April 1951, many against his sacking, even though he openly disobeyed orders.

Answer 10

1954-1975 WAR ON TV colonial French driven out of the country by Vietnamese rebels UN intervened to create north and South Korea’s with communism and democracies USA spent 50’s giving south training supplies First troops sent in 61, JFK guerilla war where they could not tell allies and enemies apart. Final withdrawal in 75, having started in 69. First war loss

Answer 11

Similar budget measures as Korean War One of most unpopular policies, the draft, lottery like selection of men 18-26 to fight Lead to burning draft cards in anti-war protects ‘draft dodging’

Answer 12

Media coverage was intense At the start, media reported as White House press conferences As war went on they showed increasingly shocking stories Massacre of mai lai village, spraying toxic agent orange on villages.

Answer 13

Feb 1968, Walter Cronkite returned after the tet offensive and awarded scathing criticism to the war. Cronkite was highly influential and respected TV reporter. LJB support went down

Answer 14

Cost a shadow over 4 presidencies Increased pressure on foreign policy. For example, protests against war. Hey! Hey! LBJ, how many kids did you kill today. Final withdrawal did not reflect well on govt or president Shambolic evacuation or Saigon, killing US and Vietnamese citizens.

Answer 15

People had wider access to to media in the forms of radio TV and newspapers Media saw their job as explaining policies When Truman mishandelled media with Korea in 1950 criticism grew. From 1968, media saw their job as uncovering government deception and exposing lies. WATERGATE

Answer 16

Early in 1971, Nixon arranged for the White House to be bugged Later in the year he set up a team go find the source of leaks In 1972 , election year , 4 men arrested for breaking into the democrat HQ, one of burglars was Nixons staff, Nixon re-elected 3 of men arrested resigned, other sacked.

Answer 17

Many uneasy with the political climate that took off under JFK Liberals supported equality, civil rights and social welfare The civil rights act, voting reform act and LJB’s great society could only have been passed by a liberal government

Answer 18

By 1979, 4% of Americans believed they were in deep/serious trouble. Many planed carter but he inherited problems Ford lost popular support when he pardoned nixon

Answer 19

Presidency greatly weakened Vietnam and counterculture protests divided Americans Energy and economic crises Many Americans had lost faith in

Answer 20

Lowest turnout since 1948, 54% Close election Carter 49% Ford 47% Economy continued to suffer from inflation USSR seemed to be winning the Cold War Carter bad handing of Iran hostage crisis Carter administration involved in number of scandals

America Theme 1 Flashcards

(44 cards)