Topic 1 - Eisenhower onwards Flashcards
(90 cards)
1
Q
when was Eisenhower president and under what party (IKE)
A
1953-61
Republican
- he served two terms
2
Q
sum up Eisenhower
A
- ex military man so who better to deal with overseas military affairs
- he ends Korean War (draw)
- he kept South Korea democratic which is what Truman tried to do but was called weak and communist
- sacks Jo McCarthy - red scares disappear
3
Q
why was Eisenhower elected and re-elected
A
- supreme commander of the allied forces in SWW - highly regarded and ace military strategy
- military background
- democratic failures like Wilson and Truman - went to war and red scares
- ends the Korean war in 3 months
- deals with communism and fear dies down
- sacks Mc Carthy
4
Q
what was the impact of Eisenhower’s military background
A
- highly regarded
- a strong military strategy was essential at this time
- calm tensions
- trusted
- the above meant no issues with Congress and media
- communist fears at this time settled by the fact he was a war general
5
Q
what was the domestic policy of Eisenhower
A
- low taxes
- laissez faire
- golden 50s
- 1957 Federal Highways Agency Act
- Little Rock, Arkansas - got army to walk 9 AA to school - direct intervention in CR - sends in 10,000 paratroopers
6
Q
what was the impact of Eisenhower’s 1957 Federal Highways Agency Act
A
- allows the American Dream
- join states together to connect the nation
- $50 billion
- travel easier - more in country trade and commerce which benefits the economy
- more ways of travel
- car manufacturing increase
- tourism - spend money - Disney world opened in Cali in 1955
- suburbia - American dream - improve social standing
- Levitt brothers built suburbia (AA banned)
- it was also a precaution in case America was attacked by nuclear bombs - escape quicker as less backlog of cars and traffic jams - increase national security
7
Q
what was the foreign policy of Eisenhower
A
- ends the Korean war
- starts US involvement in the Vietnam war - in 1954 he sent financial aid - but when you first get involved its hard to not get further involved
- met with Soviet Pres Khrushchev in USA - seen as a landmark meeting when tensions high - Khrushchev wasn’t met nicely - re-sparked tensions and people chanted at him - mistake by Ike
- he loses the space race which scared the Americans
8
Q
discuss the style/personality of Eisenhower
A
- sympathies for CR
- overly nice
- clear with what he was doing
- worked well with congress
- invisible hand presidency - got things done behind the scenes without people knowing - he didn’t let issues build up or get in the media - quick
- big deal with media relations
- he hired a media appearance manager - realised he needed them on side so they don’t attack him
- also war hero so good with them anyway
- media minimised problems due to this
- he was a good orator - confident - smiley
9
Q
why was Eisenhower the ‘perfect’ candidate for the 1950s
A
- war general so perfect person to end the Korean war and Red Scares
- Republicans thrive in periods of economic success - golden 50s
10
Q
how did Eisenhower conduct his Presidential affairs
A
- invisible hand - quickly behind the scenes and away from the media
- organised - worked well with congress
11
Q
why was Eisenhower so popular
A
- war general
- understood the requirement to work with the media and have a media façade - hired a media manager
- overly nice
- he was clear with what he was doing
- ended the Korean war after three months
- worked well with congress
- people trusted him
12
Q
why did the economy thrive during the 1950s
A
- still thriving from the SWW
- no more red scares - no more workers protesting
- 1957 Federal Highways Agency Act - increase travel and tourism - in country spending - boost economy
- republican ideologies are effective post war
13
Q
when was the presidency of JFK and what party was he
A
- 1961-63
- Democrat
14
Q
why was JFK elected
A
- popular/confident/harnessed the media
- poised/charming performance during the four debates
- telegenic appearance
- no real reason why Republicans lost in terms of their ability as Ike was a good president, but is VP Nixon lacked style
- said he would get the USA moving again and it would have strength/will to resit communism world wide
- Area Redevelopment Act - help AA get better living conditions - wins minority vote - champions the CR Acts
- New Frontier - poor vote
- lower taxes so gets rich vote as well as poor
15
Q
what was JFK’s New Frontier
A
- helped with welfare changes for the poor like higher minimum wage - large wealth gap in the 50s
- he pushed through the Equal Pay Act 1963 - ground breaking but it was only in certain industries - not service industry like waitressing as get tips - but most women wok in the service industry and couldn’t get other jobs
- £435 mil for jobs and training
- lower taxes
16
Q
what was the domestic policy of JFK
A
- 1961 oversaw launch of peace corps which sent young volunteers to underdeveloped countries all over the world
- was slow to commit himself to the CR cause but was eventually forced into action sending federal troops to support the desegregation of Mississippi Uni after riots left 2 dead
- announced intention to propose comprehensive CR bill and endorsed the march on Washington 1963
- championed CR acts
- Equal Pay Act
- New Frontier
- $435 mil for jobs and training
- Area Redevelopment Act
17
Q
what was the foreign policy of JFK
A
- promised to reinvigorate it relying on a flexible response to change situations and exploring options ignored by the staid and conservative Ike
- April 1961 - approved the plan to send 1400 CIA trained Cuban exiles on an amphibious landing in Bay of Pigs, Cuba - failure - tried to make it look like the USA weren’t involved and did get the media on side - escalates tensions - could have ended in nuclear attack
- June 1961 met with Khrushchev
- Cuban Missile Crisis - USSR put nuclear missiles in Cuba and USA retaliated and put them in Turkey
- sends assistance to Vietnam
18
Q
what was the style/personality of JFK
A
- before the first debate Kenney met with producer to discuss set design/camera placement - wore a blue suit/shirt to cut down glare - appeared sharply focused on grey background
- Nixon wore a grey suit and blended in
- JFK spoke directly to cameras and national audience - Nixon addressed JFK
- charm offensive
- master of buzz phrases
- youngest pres
- Telegenic
- represented the American Dream
- good a talking his way out of things and getting the media on side
19
Q
discuss the media debate of 1960 between JFK and Nixon
A
- those watching (TV) preferred JFK, those who listened on radio preferred Nixon - without his image Kennedy wasn’t as powerful
- JFK dressed more appropriately - fitted suit
- he spoke at every possible time for as long as possible
- Nixon spoke for short amounts of time, just agreed with Kennedy
- Nixon visibly awkward - ill/sweaty
- 3 TV debates but only 1 mattered - after the first one everyone already made up their mind - their vote had gone to Kennedy
- Kennedy spoke to the people
- Nixon spoke as if to Congress but the public didn’t understand the stats and words
20
Q
what was the impact of the cold war upon the presidency (more korea)
A
- American Dream demanded cooperative, fair, self-regulating Gov, behaviour in the Korean war contributed to start of disillusionment with presidency
- deepened under later presidents
- 1960s seen as decades when Americans came to lose faith in their pres, gov and themselves
- 1960 some 70% trusted gov most of time
- 1974 dropped to 40%
- hostile media, and scandals added to this mistrust
21
Q
when was the Vietnam War
A
- 1955-75
22
Q
sum up the Vietnam War
A
- the US entered Vietnam as the great capitalist super power but left with a humiliating defeat and high casualty rate
- US public divided over it
- proved to be the longest most debilitating war for the USA
- only war USA ever lost
- had far reaching consequences some of which even persist today
- Americans lost confidence and faith in their government - no one wanted another war
- shattered SWW success
23
Q
what is confidence :)
A
confidence is KEY :)
24
Q
impact of the cold war on the presidency (Vietnam)
A
- cast shadow over 4 respective presidencies
- forced each of the pres to make unpopular domestic policies
- due to power of pres in foreign affairs they were seen to be wholly responsible for unsavoury acts of war
- e.g. LBJ faced chants of Hey Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today? as he sent more troops to Vietnam without Congress approval
- American citizens humiliated by such a ‘dirty war’
- following Vietnam, wars enacted by presidents were scrutinized more thoroughly
25
define liberalism
an attitude of mind and heart, pursuit of freedom and justice that all men desire
to protect and enhance the freedom and rights of the individual
26
why was JFK elected in relation to liberalism (counter-culture)
- in the 1906 election people voted for change by voting for the young, fresh thinking, vibrant, progressive Kennedy
- championed CR/welfare/new foreign policy
- inaugural speech was defined as world changing
- he took a risk with championing welfare as it wasn't a priority and in 60s America not even close to racial equality
27
why did liberalism (counter-culture) take place - social aims
- following a decade of nervous uncertainty due to red scares/violence/nuclear attack fears many people became disillusioned with the political scene
- 50s good economically but not socially
- liberals believed government intervention could improve society
- suburbia living - poor wanted it, too much pressure to conform, rebellious youth against their parents
- music
- carry on JFK legacy
- end materialism
- female rights
- believed if they behaved different so would society
28
what were the political aims of liberalism
- equality - end to V war and draft
- positive discrimination - giving minorities jobs whether they deserved them or not - address inequality but creates resentment as people who worked hard to reach the top screwed over
29
what impact did Liberalism have on domestic policy
- positive discrimination
- 1964 CR act
- 1965 VR act
- LBJ's Great Society Welfare Scheme
30
when was the presidency of Lyndon B Johnson and what party
1963-69
| democrat
31
why was LBJ elected and re-elected
- succeeded JFK's last year
- them re-elected for his own term
- Great Society - an extension of the New Frontier - war on poverty
- sympathy to democrat party as JFK killed
- good record from last year of Kennedy so elected for his own term e.g. 1964 CR act
- he could have stood for another term and been pres for 10 years but chose not to
32
what was the domestic policy of LBJ
- VR act 1965 - not just for AA but openly gays can't vote
- CR act 1964 - can't discriminate against gender/religion etc... didn't apply to gay rights though
- Great society
33
what was the foreign policy of LBJ
- 1965 sends army to Vietnam
- Vietnam went from bad to worse under Johnson - agent orange/massacre
- he chose guns over butter - GS had to be scrapped to pay for war which made him very unpopular
34
what was the style/personality of LBJ
- poor media appearance
- lacked it
- overshadowed by Kennedy who was so good and set a precedent LBJ couldn't follow
- avoided the media towards the end of his presidency - cowardly image
- confidence was key at this time and he didn't have it
35
discuss confidence as key :)
- if confidence falls the economy will struggle - huge economic crisis in 70s e.g.
- got to be confident in all areas - war, economy, welfare
- presidents need to instil confidence
36
what four key issues did LBJ face
- vietnam war
- civil rights
- inflation
- counter culture (liberalism)
37
discuss Vietnam and its impact of GS cuts under LBJ
- introduced GS at a time when US involvement in Vietnam escalating
- Eventually LBJ had to cut $6b from GS spending
- as national debt increased an international economic crisis followed
- clearly the USA could no longer afford the war
- GS eventually cancelled due to sheer volume of government expenditure
38
which six presidents were affected by the Vietnam war and how
Truman - sent $150mil and military advisers to the French in their fight against the native Indo-Chinese
Eisenhower - deployed the military assistance advisory group to train the South Vietnamese
JFK - sent some 16,000 US personnel to fight against communism
LBJ - signif escalated US involvement to some 500,000 men by end of 1960s
Nixon struggled to end the war and Ford did but then lost the peace
39
what was the SDS
Students for a Democratic Society
- founded by students Hayden and Haber
- initially stated corporation had taken over America
- SDS represented the 'New Left'
- it argued conventional politics had forgotten the very ideals of democracy, all men created equal so equality should prevail
- rejected bigotry, racism and anti-communism
- at forefront of anti-Vietnam protests using violent and non-violent means
- socialist borderline communist
- manifestation of the liberalist movement
40
what did the SDS achieve
- organised the first mass rally against the Vietnam war in 1965
41
what was Hippie culture
- wanted to loosen tight family structure and live in communal societies
- believed in peace/simple life rather than working hard within the system to earn money to buy more and more goods
- wanted to change society but were prepared to live according to their beliefs separate from others
- most famous gathering was Woodstock in 1969
- rejected establishment like the New Left did
42
what was Woodstock Festival in 1969
- 200,000 tickets sold
- between 400-500,000 people came
- roads leading to the site were closed due to traffic going there been so heavy
- loud music, freely available drugs and sexual freedom
- summed up everything opponents of the movement feared
43
how did Hippie Culture impact US society
- many young white students dropped out of school to become involved
- rejected the establishment
- advocated sexual freedom and drug use
- San Francisco became known as a liberal state with a large LGBTQ+ community but as more people moved there crime increased
44
explain how counter culture impacted the politics of the USA
- helped encourage government intervention - led to 1964 CR act and 1965 VR acts and LBJ's GS
- as protests grew more violent, New Left was challenged as New Right politicians campaigned for the restoration of traditional values
- Nixon was at the forefront of the New Right movement and promised to unite society again
- without a shift to liberalism the USA may have remained stagnant and deeply prejudice
45
what was ironic about liberalism
- some of the people who had such ideals may well have been involved in Red scares and race discrimination etc...
- 10 years ago liberals would have been red hunted
- liberals wanted to help fund the betterment of all which was not American
- it was not universally popular and the advancement of civil liberties faces violent opposition from large sections of the USA
46
what experiences galvanised the younger generation into counter culture and why was there so many of them
- post war baby boom dramatically increased number of teens and ya in 60s
- they grew up living in turbulent times - threat of nuclear war - racial discrimination - segregation V war and environmental pollution
- these experiences unified the younger generation
- rebellion against dominant culture not new tho
- the Beat generation of 50s questioned traditional values, challenged authority and experimented with non-conformist lifestyles
47
what was the student activism movement
- students on college campuses rebelled against school policies they considered restrictive, unjust or irrelevant
- at Cali uni Berkeley students protested when school officials banned political speeches and rallies at campus entrances - speech freedom in constitution
- events at Berkeley marked start of Free Speech movement which swept campuses across the nation
- used civil disobedience to protest
- mainstream Americans shocked - not used to young people questioning authority - worked hard for their kids who just rebelled
48
why had the old left been cast away
- under the anti-communism attitudes of the 1940s and 50s as it had championed unions and Marxist organisations
49
discuss a white student been arrested at Berkeley
- arrest of students only increased membership and solidarity
- a white student at Berkley was arrested supporting a CORE CR rally
- sparked a two month stand off locking down the uni
- students peacefully occupied the campus main square resulting in over 700 arrests and much publicity for the cause
50
how did the students New Left liberalist movement turn violent
- peaceful nature tended to have a muted impact leading many to shift to violence
- at Colombia Uni in 1968 students took over most campus buildings and held three uni officials hostage
- 900 arrests +
- police became violent to deal with it
51
what must you put in a Vietnam Answer
the Kent State shootings and the Madison bombing
52
what was the Kent State Shooting
- anti-Vietnam protest
- May 4th 1970
- draft in place now and had Cronkite's documentary
- Ohio Governor sent in the National Guard which fired 67 rounds into the protestors killing 4 and wounding 9
- huge reaction
- 4mil + students went on strike
- public outraged
- further hysteria surrounding the V war
- 2 killed just passers by
- huge resentment to V war
- galvanised the movement
- also part of reason for the War Powers Act 1973 which curbed Presidential control over the military
53
what was the Maddison bombing
- following the Kent State shooting
- some went further - radical student group detonated a bomb at an army base in Wisconsin killing 1 and causing $60m damage
54
what was the impact of the New Left
- impact of societal and political affairs
- incessant anti-war protesting led to abolition of the military draft and contributed to War Powers Act 1973
- despite occasional radicalism/failure of New Left's pres candidate Humphrey, it left its mark
- public awareness for New Left causes changed mindset of public and aroused suspicion towards Gov
- dissipated in 75 - shift to environmental affairs
55
what was the summer of love
- pinnacle of Hippie movement
- 1967
- up to 100,000 moved to San Francisco but meant crime increased - decline in Hippie image - (-) persona
- to escape (-) many movement members staged fake funerals to symbolically kill off their Hippie past
56
what areas did women campaign for during counter culture
advancement in
- patriarchy
- marriage and oppression
- challenged domestic violence
- equal pay
- education
- college admissions
- the glass ceiling
- reproductive rights and control over the female body
57
what were the scandals of JFK
- despite his seemingly glowing reputation the subsequent loss of sparkle regarding his reputation and the catalogue of errors made by himself and hs successors during the Vietnam war cast a shadow over the presidency which culminated in widespread disillusionment
- bay of pigs
- cuban missile crisis
- after his death rumours of him been a womaniser
58
what was Lyndon B Johnson's Great Society and why was it cancelled
- welfare policies
- 1965
- war on poverty to eradicate it
- but he promised it as he sent troops to V war and he would come to choose guns over butter
- $10b for GS - $50b on V war
- he starts to use GS budget - 1969 over half ($36m) taken away
- people became reliant on GS and wanted money - you can't build a school and then not continue the funding
- CAPS
59
what was CAPs in LBJ's Great Society
- Community Action Programme
- essentially dragons den
- get tailored money for stuff that areas need
- fund sports teams to reduce gangs and crime etc...
- but eventually got cut due to war
60
how did counter culture affect LBJ's presidency
- 1963-69
- Berkley 2 month stand off
- so many arrests
- Columbia Uni in 1968 turned violent holding 3 uni officials hostage
- increased crime in San Francisco
- contributed to disillusionment with the presidency
61
why did the USA become involved
- North attacking South - proxy war against Soviet Union
| - domino theory of communism
62
how did Kennedy, Ike and LBJ all escalate involvement in the Vietnam war
JFK - didn't want domino effect, first person to put some military personnel in Vietnam - you can't then not put more
Ike - initiates financial involvement
LBJ - 1965 sends all of the US army - protect investment lose lives or not
63
what caused the public to lose faith in the Vietnam war
- wave of liberalism/Hippie culture
- more brutal than Korea
- Vietnam has no connection with America/far away so people questioned why American lives where being lost
- media turn on the war - Cronkite 1969 documentary
- it was so long - 20 years
- America would never fall to communism - no direct interference - senseless and no red scars
- it was expensive so recession - high tax - cut funding and welfare
64
what was the Selective Service System
- after 1969 Cronkite documentary
- like the draft (pick solider by birthday) - if you had a certain job, money, status, went to uni, or were black you could escape it
- unpopular - wasn't even fair
65
what were the economic impacts of the Vietnam war
- spent $168b
- destroyed US economy
- 30 years after SWW ended no more money
- becomes a borrowing nation
- inflation on the rise
66
what were the political impacts of the Vietnam war
- news of the atrocities such as the My Lai massacre lost the US it's claim to moral superiority and its status as defender of rights and freedom
- confidence in presidency down
67
what were the social impacts of the Vietnam war
- young men sent by draft under 18 could fight but not vote put pressures on voting legislators to lower voting age
- 26th amendment in March 1971 under Nixon changed the law - ratified it July
- Jan 1973 draft abolished - peace treaty also done
- (-) news of atrocities like the My Lai massacre lost the US its claim to moral superiority and its status as defender of rights and freedoms
- 58,000 Americans died
- 700,000 suffered psychological damage
68
when was Richard Nixon president and under what party
1969-74
| Republican
69
why was Nixon elected
- lack of a strong opposition
- democrats cancelled due to GS stopped/escalated the war and favoured it over domestic affairs - not very democratic
- low tax
- laissez faire
- promised to de-escalate the war by Vietnamisation - taking the USA out and putting Vietnamese troops in
- promised significant social change
70
what was the Domestic Policy of Nixon
- welfare to work-fare
- tries to maintain the economy but its out of control
- another VR act to give Hispanics more vote/rights
- watergate
- the New Right - return to traditional values
71
what was Nixon's workfare
- working tax credit - reward for working
- benefits for those in employment to encourage more people to work
- not everyone able to work though
72
what was the foreign policy of Nixon
- secures a peace treaty and a cease fire with Vietnam made with Henry Kissinger his foreign advisor in 1973
- messed it up by dropping more bombs than any other president on Vietnam
- air raids expensive although strategic
- there isn't enough funds
- spends more than Johnson
73
what was the style/personality of Nixon
- awkward and shy
- not passionate or authoritarian
- not good on camera/TV
- his disliked the media because it cost him the election against JFK and made him look stupid
- DISTRUSTS the media
- he is PARANOID by the media believing everyone was out to get him so he broke the law to keep tabs on everything
- internal mindset that ruins him because he was an experienced politician
74
what is Nixon the only president to do
- resign
75
what was the economic cost of the Vietnam war
- spending $168 b on it damaged the US economy
| - ending GS left many in trouble
76
discuss the impact of Nixons watergate scandal
- cast a long shadow over the political scene
- many people felt they could no longer trust politicians especially since Nixon made it worse by trying to deny it
- Nixons VP Ford took over
77
what was Vietnam Syndrome
- US had failed to contain communism
- 1973 Nixon announced USA abandoning Truman Doctrine
- V failure caused US leaders to become wary of intruding in global conflicts
- became paranoid of another vietnam which would cost American lives and destroy US prestige
- America and public terrified to go to war again
- America were the global policemen and now that was gone
78
discuss how Jimmy Carter was affected by Vietnam Syndrome
- Carter took office in 1977 and was first pres affected by it
- America's reluctance to commit troops overseas unless absolutely necessary to protect national security or when there is strong public support with a high probability of a quick and inexpensive victory
- Carter's failure to stop the Russians from invading Afghanistan in 1979 and his clumsy attempt at handling the Iranian hostage crisis which resulted in the death of 8 American servicemen exemplified how reluctant the USA was after Vietnam
79
what is ford the only president to do
- be president without winning an election
80
what was the personality of Ford
- uninspiring, slow speaking, inarticulate
- but he was 'safe' (not corrupt)
- his 895 day presidency shortest of all who did not die in office
- watergate meant no one trusted him
- Spiro Agnew was Nixon's first VP but he was sacked in 1971 for tax evasion and other dodgy money things
81
what did Ford do for Nixon that was so controversial
- Sep 1974 he issued a presidential pardon to Nixon ending all investigations into his conduct whilst president
- this sent a message to the American public that republicans stuck together and 'looked after their own'
- doesn't matter if you break the law
- the public hated Nixon so thought Ford was just as corrupt
- but it was good to get rid of watergate so he could move onto other things
82
discuss Ford and the problems he faced and caused
- his association with previous Republican leaders and the scandals that surrounded them would not go away
- pardoned Nixon
- economy in crisis - inflation at a 20 year high due to oil and unemployment at its highest levels since the GD of 1930s
- his inadequacies highlighted in a TV debate when he said there was no soviet domination of Eastern Europe showing he didn't understand the Cold War
- when former pres LBJ described him in a speech as being so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time
- lack of confidence in the executive
83
discuss Ford and Congress
- half way through his presidency there were Senatorial elections
- US voters showed what they thought of scandals following the Republicans, elected Democrat senate
- senate vetoed 50+ of Ford's proposed legislations
- became impossible for him to continue
- he wanted to lower tax and pass emergency legislation
- democrats worsened economy and gave themselves more to do when in power after election
- even so in 1976 Repub presidential primary campaign he defeated Reagan for the Repub nomination
- tho he then lost general election to Carter in 1976
84
what was the term and party of ford
- 1974-77
| - Republican
85
what was the term and party of carter
- 1977-81
| - democrat
86
discuss the election of Jimmy Carter
- won 1976 election by over 2 mil votes
- in his pres campaign he made unemployment a central issue, announced plans to create jobs by increased federal spending and promised to pardon Vietnam draft evaders
87
was Carter a good president
- right pres just at the wrong time - environment
- does right thing in focusing on economy
- might have pledged good things but he messed up and made things worse
- affected by V syndrome
- 1st term was an unmitigated disaster
88
discuss the successes of the Carter Presidency
- as governor of Georgia, Carter announced that 'the time for racial discrimination was over'
- first pres from the Deep South since 1844
- his record of CR resulted in him being supported by 4/5 of every AA who voted
- also did well with white voters in South and those on low incomes
- during his four years in office he increased number of AA employed by state from less than 3% to 40%
- tried his best to restore faith in government but these efforts did not have much effect
- had good ideas just not backing of congress or money
89
failures of the carter presidency
- unable to end economic issues of 70s which had become global since the 1974 Arab-Israeli war had raised oil prices
- did introduce economic policies to ease crisis but too little too late for many Americans
- by end of first term inflation at 15%
- yo-yo with taxes
- iranian hostage scandal
- his approval rating in 1980 summer was 21% - lowest ever recorded for a US pres
90
discuss the Iranian hostage scandal
- 1979 US embassy in Tehran (capital of Iran) was seized and 52 Americans taken hostage
- Iranians demanded release of their former leader the Shah of Iran
- instead Carter authorised a secret armed rescue which went wrong killing 8 US soldiers
- operation eagle claws
- navy seals rescue - helicopter crashes and 8 of America's best die
