How did the Political Environment Change (1945-1980) Flashcards
Korean War, Vietnam War, Trust in Presidency (40 cards)
What did the USA do differently in the aftermath of WW2 compared to WW1
Became far more interventionist, becoming a founding member of the UN
What started the Second Red Scare, and when was it most prominent
1947-54, the beginning of the Cold War
Why were the fears in the Second Red Scare more valid
The USSR was actually spying on the USA by this point, and 2 government employees came out saying they had been part of a Moscow Spy Ring
Who spearheaded the second Red Scare
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Why did the second Red Scare die down in 1954
It was discovered McCarthys ‘list’ of suspected communists was waffle and his investigations were so unreasonable he lost support
What started the Cold War
After winning WW2, the USA and USSR no longer had a common goal and both sought to be the dominant world power. Both Truman and Stalin hated the opposite ideology.
What did Truman do to try and contain communism
Introduced the ‘Truman Doctrine’ advocating for a containment policy and the Marshall Plan, aiding war-torn European countries to prevent communism rising there.
How much did the USA give to European countries in the Marshall Plan
£13.3 billion
What 3 areas required large amounts of spending as a result of the Cold War
- Nuclear Defense
- Arms Race
- Large Permanent Military
What 3 domestic changes did the USA make to defend against nuclear weapons
- Schools ran ‘duck and cover’ exercises
- 1956 Interstate Act was designed for rapid evacuation of cities if needed
- You could buy a fallout shelter
From June 1947 to June 1948, the number of US atomic bombs rose from __ to __
Went from 13 to 50
Name 4 reasons why the power of the President increased because of the Cold War
- As the USA got more involved with NATO and the UN to counteract USSR, the President got more involved in meetings and speeches etc
- The 1947 National Security Act reorganized the military, enlarging the size of the military and the President could move forces around without asking Congress
- The 1947 National Security Act created the CIA and National Security Council, both of which reported to the President and not Congress
- The President needed the power to be able to launch a nuclear bomb without Congress permission in case the decision had to be made quickly
When did the Korean War start and what was it
On 25/6/1950, North Korea invaded South Korea using USSR supplies and advice. The UN (led by the USA) fought on South Korea’s side
How many US troops fought in Korea
260,000
What did the Korean war signify for the Presidency and the Congress
Presidential attention was focused far more on international policy than domestic policy, leaving Congress to have more control on domestic affairs
What mistake did Truman make which led to a loss in public trust of the Presidency
Held back on communication with the media, and was a bad speaker - this meant the media got their news from other sources who were often against Truman like Republicans, making him look weak and untrustworthy
What about the Korean War did the Republicans use to their advantage
They were very critical of the costs involved
In 1950, what % of the US economy was defence spending
14%
What years did the Vietnam War take place
1954 - 1975
What years were the USA active in Vietnam
1961 - 1975
What were the 2 major complaints about the Vietnam War?
- $111 billion cost
- The Draft
Who campaigned against Vietnam War
People from all backgrounds, classes, races and genders
Give an example of an anti-Vietnam War group
Vietnam Veterans Against War (VVAW) formed in 1967 and soon had 30,000 members - the veterans complained about the horrors of war and terrible treatment they received after getting back to America
Why were so many Vietnam Veterans struggling after returning from war?
Many had PTSD or other similar conditions which made them unable to get on with their lives and work as before, leaving many unemployed and homeless
