Edexcel A-Level History: USA Theme 1 - The changing political environment

The return to normalcy

Harding's campaign slogan, wanting to go back to how things were before the war.

Isolationism

A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.

League of Nations

an international organisation formed at the end of WWI for international co-operation.

Emergency Quota Act

1921 Act that restricted immigration to 357,000. Revised to 150,000 in 1924.

Neutrality Acts

Originally designed to avoid American involvement in World War II by preventing loans to those countries taking part in the conflict; they were later modified in 1939 to allow aid to Great Britain and other Allied nations.

Great Depression

The economic collapse that hit the USA in 1929.

Tariffs

Taxes on imports or exports to encourage or discourage trading abroad.

Hire purchase

Buying goods on credit: taking them at once but paying for them in regular instalments over a set period of time.

Appeal of Republicanism

Notion of 'lassiez-faire': it was not the job of government to control the economy or to manage social problems.

President Harding

This president promised a "return to normalcy" when he was elected. His administration was full of scandal and corruption, including the Teapot Dome scandal.

President Coolidge

He fired those involved in the scandals; increased government support of business and the USA entered a period of recovery and prosperity .

First Red Scare

Widespread fear of Communism in the US during the 1920s after the revolution in Russia.

Rugged Individualism

Herbert Hoover's belief that people must be self-reliant and not depend upon the federal government for assistance.

Problems with the boom

Banks were lending too much money and a significant number of people were also buying shares on credit.

Decline of Republicanism

Hoover came to realise 'lassiez-faire' wasn't working. In the end, he understood federal intervention was needed.

New Deal

The name of President Roosevelt's program for getting the United States out of the depression

National Recovery Administration (NRA)

New Deal agency that promoted economic recovery by regulating production, prices, and wages.

Agricultural Adjustment Agency

Regulated major crops. Bought up surplus crops and subsidised farmers to grow less crops.

Second Red Scare

Caused by rise of "Red China" and the Shocks of 1949; Origins from formation of HUAC who made accusations about traitors/Communists in government. Escalated by Korean War

Joseph McCarthy

Wisconsin senator claimed to have list of communists in American gov't, but no credible evidence; took advantage of fears of communism post WWII to become incredibly influential.

Liberalism

A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.

Counter-culture

Younger people rejecting the values of their parents generation and distrusting the political machine.

Impact of WWII on domestic policy

Led to more US involvement abroad.

Impact of the Cold war on presidency

Power of president grew to make trearties without Congress; Increasing nuclear weapons arsenal made it a world power

Impact of Korean War on domestic policy

Emphasised the way presidential attention was more towards international policy; Led to an expectation the the USA should be involved in world affairs as its the only country powerful enough to balance the power of USSR.

Impact of the Korean War on presidency

Truman had limited support from the media and the public.

Impact of Vietnam War on domestic policy

Led to inflation due to defence budgets; draft cards; all types of people protested against the war

Impact of Vietnam War on presidency

Loss of credibility in government; responsible for deaths;

Why did confidence in the government decline 1968-80?

Many Americans lost faith in their presidents and governments. Most boiled down to a lack of trust in the administration.

Factors that resulted in a decline in confidence

The media; scandals; mishandling of events; social factors