changing political environment 1945-60

Question 1

what was trumans personality like

Answer 1

not charismatic, not very confident, could be overwhelmed by the importance of the job and make mistakes

Question 2

how did truman use the media

Answer 2

-saw working with the media as important, gave careful briefings
-sometimes didnt explain things enough like the Korean War

Question 3

what was trumans public image

Answer 3

-didnt instantly appeal as he didnt try to connect
-didnt explain his strategies
-speeches we wooden with mistakes and were often improvised

Question 4

hat was trumans ability to work with congress

Answer 4

-worked less well with congress (there was a republican majority)
-they blocked the forms he wanted (fair employment practices commission and national health insurance scheme)
-had fewer congress contacts making him have less network and charm

Question 5

what was trumans organisational ablity like?

Answer 5

worked well with white house administration, didnt always choose right people

Question 6

hat was Eisenhowers personality like

Answer 6

-deliberatly optimistic, friendly manner, calm, consensual leader, Passive and conservative approach

Question 7

eisenhowers use of media

Answer 7

understood the importance of working with the media, but often minimised problems (missile gap)

Question 8

eisenhowers public image

Answer 8

good public manner, accessible, clear imagrey in speeches (e.g explaing knock on effect of communist takeover)

Question 9

eisenhowers ability to work with congress

Answer 9

worked well with congress (good with political bargaining and persuasion)

-supported the 1956 interstate highways act

-supported the supreme court to the desegregation of schools

Question 10

eisenhower organisational ability

Answer 10

exceptional organisation, set up regular briefings and long term planning sessions

Question 11

Kennedy personality

Answer 11

came from a political family

understood the importance of. charm

worked hard on speech making

worked hard on the style of hs presidency and self presentation

Question 12

kennedy use of media

Answer 12

saw working with the media as important

learnt names and had personal chats

used tv well (‘presidential family publicity’)

Question 13

Kennedy public image

Answer 13

good public manner, accessible

Question 14

Kennedy ability to work with congress

Answer 14

worked well with congress, good at political bargaining and persuasion, family connections helped

Question 15

Kennedy organisational ability

Answer 15

-poor organisation

-advisors competed for attention

-abandoned eisenhowers regular meetings

-less long term planning

-didnt consult the right people as seen in Bay of Pigs

Question 16

Johnson Personality

Answer 16

been in politics for a while, understood importance of winning people over, could change his opinions to get what he wanted

Question 17

johnson use of media

Answer 17

not a natural but was careful to keep them informed

Question 18

Johnson public image

Answer 18

-patchy

-could give stiff and awkward speeches

-after public saw the reality of the vietnam war his image dropped

Question 19

Johnson ability to work with congress

Answer 19

worked well with congress and understood how to use connection and persuade because of his political experience

good at creative thinking to make things happens (e.h problems with school funding)

Question 20

johnson organisational ability

Answer 20

blocked legislation before taking it to congress, own organisation was good, kept kennedys organisatio but it wasnt suited to him

Question 21

Nixon personality

Answer 21

clever, capable

hated people disagreeeing with him

appeared suspicious

made spur of the moment decisions then backtracked

Question 22

Nixon use of media

Answer 22

distrusted the media, very bad at handling it (Watergate)

Question 23

Nixon ability to work with congress

Answer 23

Awkward due to suspicious nature, found it hard to make personal connections

Question 24

Nixon public image

Answer 24

not good with people, awkward and insincere

watergate scandal made him very unpopular

Question 25

Nixon organisational ability

Answer 25

Reinstated regular meetings, had breifings with white house staff, not good at taking advice

Question 26

what was the impact of ww2 on domestic policy

Answer 26

-more involvement abroad (unlike isolationism post ww1 -USA had rejected the league of nations in ww1 and instead founded the united nations after ww2 -when the Cold War started due to ideological differences between USSR and USA and the eruption of eastern european communist gov– the truman doctorine was introduced -marshall plan created

Question 27

what was the truman doctorine and why/when did it happen

Answer 27

-March 1947: truman told the American congress that It was Americas job to stop communism growing any stronger (became known as truman doctorine)

Question 28

what was the martial plan

Answer 28

June 1497 -a system of aid to war torn countries that would otherwise fall to communism (mainly economic aid to europe) -also aimed to promote europe globally

Question 29

what was the impact of the cold war

Answer 29

THE ARMS RACE June 47/46 -USSR holdings of atomic bombs rose 13-50 -USA also started making atomic weapons, starting the arms race -this achieed MAD (mutually assured destruction) THE ARMED SERVICES -creation of a large, permenant military force. -cost money to run nut provided jobs and was a major customer for many businesses -this and arms race and cold war created created a hawks/dives divide that crossed political boundries THE SPACE RACE -without the cold war it was unlikely money would have been invested into space exploration -USSR Launched first space craft ‘sputinik 1’ in 1967 BUT eisenhower set up NASA -July 1969- USA was first man on moon scoring huge propaganda victory (costing 25b) PRESIDENCY -power of presidency to go to war without congress grew with NATO and UN -1947 national security act: recognised military forces under a new Defence department. after 1950 was greatly enlarged (as commander in cheif president could move forced without congress) -National security act created CIA and National security council, both reported to the white house not congress -existence of nuclear weapons meant a nuclear war could begin without warning meaning president could react at once.

Question 30

what was the arms race and when

Answer 30

THE ARMS RACE June 47/46 -US holdings of atomic bombs rose 13-50 -USA also started making atomic weapons, starting the arms race -this achieed MAD (mutually assured destruction)

Question 31

how did power of presidency grow under Cold War

Answer 31

-power of presidency to go to war without congress grew with NATO and UN -1947 national security act: recognised military forces under a new Defence department. after 1950 was greatly enlarged (as commander in cheif president could move forced without congress) -National security act created CIA and National security council, both reported to the white house not congress -existence of nuclear weapons meant a nuclear war could begin without warning meaning president could react at once.

Question 32

what was the 1947 national security act

Answer 32

-1947 national security act: recognised military forces under a new Defence department. after 1950 was greatly enlarged (as commander in cheif president could move forced without congress)

Question 33

When was the second red scare and the context around it

Answer 33

-1947 to 1957 POST WW2 -USSR JOINED USA AND ITS ALLIES TOWARDS END OF WAR HAVING FIRST FOUGHT WITH GERMANY -once war ended many eastern european countries occupied by the USSR during the war emerged with soviet governments (increased fears of communist takeover: red scare took place within the context of the cold war and Korean War)

Question 34

at was the basis of the second red scare

Answer 34

-the basis of the second red scare was more valid than the first; the USSR had been spyimg on America -USSR keen to get hold of atomic weapons and secrets -Elizabeth Bentley, gov employee, admitted she was in the moscow spy ring and others followed

Question 35

who was elisabeth bentley and Whittaker Chambers

Answer 35

-Elizabeth Bentley, gov employee, admitted she was in the moscow spy ring and others followed -on 31st July 1948 she told HUAC that she had been part of a moscow led spy ring and named other gvt employees involved in it -3 days later whittaker chambers (also gov member) told HUAC of more employees involved with moscow (in important jobs)

Question 36

how was communism growing around the world during second red scare and how did it effect truman

Answer 36

1949 china became communist -USSR held first nuclear weapon -‘China Lobby; nlamed truman for loss of china even though it wasnt his fault -when communist china helped communist north korea in Korean war it was confirmed that the intent was to spread communism world wide (growing fear)

Question 37

what is an example of a govt employee trial during red scare

Answer 37

ALGER HISS (1949, RETRIALED 1950) -advisor to roosevelt -first trial resulted in mistrial as jury couldnt agree -found guilty at retrial -evidence conflicting

Question 38

what was joseph mccarthy’s role in kickstarting the second red scare and during the red scare

Answer 38

-between 1950-54 senator Joseph McCarthy headed the second red scare -on feb 9th 1950 he made a speech to the republican womens group claiming he had the named of 205 known communists working in the state department -when reporters asked to see list which he didn’t have he said he left it on the aeroplane -the next day, mccarthy revised the no. of communists to 57 and when he called the senate he changed the number to 81 -gained a lot of support due to his use of speeches, interviews and television appearances -TYDINGS COMMITTEE set up to investigate his charges -series of investigations carried out in the following months

Question 39

what were red baiters

Answer 39

during the second red scare in many parts of the country, ‘red baiters’ violently hounded people they thought were tied to communism at work and home

Question 40

what was the tydings committees evaluation

Answer 40

-on 14th July the tydings committe issued a majority report stating McCarthy’s accusations were a muddle of half truths and lies -republicans refused to sign report

Question 41

why did McCarthy’s fall happen in 1953

Answer 41

-despite tydings committee finding him untruthful he remained powerful until he turned to investigating the army in 1953 -army investigations were televised and 20 million people watched them -his treatment of the interviewees was so unreasonable that he lost support -senate passed a vote pf censure against him and the red scare died down

Question 42

what were the effects of the second red scare upon the political environment

Answer 42

CIVIL LIBERTIES -fbi was given the power to investigate people and bring them to be questioned by loyalty boards/huac on very little evidence -fbi was allowed to open letters, tap phones and bug offices and homes UNITY -anticommunism in a way united democrats and republicans - not one senattor between 1953 and 62 publically supported a softening attitude to the USSR or china COMMITTEE ON THE PRESENT DANGER -set up in 1950 and reformed in 1976 -set up to press the govt to take a hard line in relations with communist countries -when reformed in 1976 had may important gov administrators as members

Question 43

how many people lost their jobs because of McCarthy and how many people were effected overall

Answer 43

-1952-54, 500 state and local gov employees, 600 schoolteachers, 150 college professors -3 million investigations and 1000 dismissals.

Question 44

why was the second red scare irrational

Answer 44

-membership of the CPUSA (american communist party) stood at only 5,000 (not much of a threat, proves communism didnt actually have that much support) -only 10 percent of americans knew somebody they suspected of communism at height of red scare

Question 45

hat was the social impact of the second red scare

Answer 45

FREEDOM OF SPEECH -people had their freedom of speech limited due to fears of being persecuted JOBS -many lost jobs and people were publically shamed greatly effecting quality of life and income

Question 46

what was HUAC

Answer 46

-The House Un-American Activities Commission -set up in 1945 to investigate ‘un-american’ activities-focusing on communism (fbi carried out investigations and then suspects appeared before HUAC, suspision was enough for someone to lose their job) famous case in 1947: 10 directors, scriptwriters and hollywood workers took stand and they were blacklisted and never worked again

Question 47

what were loyalty boards

Answer 47

-truman set up these boards using an executive order to investigate the loyalty of government employees 9this ran alongside HUAC) -every employee investigated by the fbi if they were suspected, they were sacked or further investigated)

Question 48

what was the internal security act

Answer 48

1950- members of communist AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS HAD TO REGISTER WITH THE GOV. once registered they could be denied passports of be deported

Question 49

impact of korean war on domestic policy

Answer 49

truman wanted to fight a ‘limited war; not full scale and stressed it was the UN going to war not America -was during second red scare so wanted to stop hysteria over fears of communism -Korean war emphasised how the cold war shifted presidential attention awaye from domestioc policy an to INTERNATIONAL policy -cold war and korean war created the expectation that USA should be involved in world affairs (like the new deal with welfare) -DOMESTIC POLICY THUS SHIFTED BACK TO CONGRESS AS PRESIDENT WAS MORE INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Question 50

when was the koren war and who was involved

Answer 50

-June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea with the help of supplies and advisors from the USSR -was during second red scare -Korean War was a united nations operation (troops fighting back from S. Korea amd 16 other countries in the UN but troops were mostly american) -260,000 american soldier s. 35,000 others

Question 51

what was General MacArthur

Answer 51

-In charge of the war in korea from the start but wanted a different war to truman -he criticised ‘limited war’ and advocated for nuclear bombing of N.Korea and China -He disobeyed orders on several occassions (November 1950 bombed bridges over river yalu despite orders not to)

Question 52

what was the republican reaction to truman

Answer 52

-lost key republican allies in congress (second red scare and korean war made them become a strong force of oppossition again -one major criticism: defence spending hit 14 % of us GNP from borrowing and increased taxes causing problems in every us gov after

Question 53

what was the impact of the Korean War on presidency

Answer 53

-bad public/media/gov relationship arguable began disillusionment weith presidency that later deppened -marked a shift in the way media delt with presidency -media expected openess like roosevelt BUT truman made the mistake of holding back on media as he didnt want to inflame anti communist feeling -Desperate for news; the media went to other sources (ike republicans) who were critical and used pure speculation -AUGUST 1950- truman began televising briefings and set 200 reporters to korea -sached general McCarther in 1951 but had limited support because media didnt support a limited war

Question 54

how much did the Korean War cost the us

Answer 54

defence spending increased to 300percent war cost 67 billion plus billions needed to rebuild S korea

Question 55

hat were trumans domestic successes and failures

Answer 55

SUCCESS Economy boomed and nation prospered FAILURES -failed to achieve social reform legislation he wanted (like free universal healthcare) -couldnt control anti communist hysteria like mccarthyism

Question 56

how did truman present himself as a man of the people during his 1954 campaign

Answer 56

-33 day 30,000 mile tour -hundreds and thousands showed up -brought out family at rallies

Question 57

what were trumans most significant actions as president

Answer 57

atomic bomb drop on Hiroshima bringing us into korean way