Key terms section 1

American exceptionalism

The idea that America is unique or exceptional which has become a popular part of conservative American thinking

Impeach

To charge the holder of a public office e.g president, with misconduct

Political capital

The trust or influence a politician has with the public and other politicians which forms a kind of currency that politicians can ‘spend’ to get things done

Intransigence

Refusal to change one’s views about something

Convention

A formal meeting of a political party in the US for the purpose of choosing candidates and establishing policies

Dixiecrat

A southern democrat

Non-intervention

And ideology where the government tries to minimise its involvement in the everyday lives of the population

Small government

Non-intervention should lead to a small government, meaning a limited number of administrators and hence a lower cost in taxation

Executive order

An order issued by the president with the full force of law, even though congressional approval isn’t necessary

Social mobility

People’s ability to move between classes in society

Iron curtain

Churchill’s metaphor describing the border between the soviet controlled Eastern Europe states and the states of Western Europe

Ussr

Included Russia and several other large states inc. Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the west, and Kazakhstan in the south

Brinksmanship

Pushing an opponent to the edge, hoping they will concede first, especially in politics

Guerrilla

A form of warfare involving irregular fighting, especially against a larger force

Self-determination

The idea of letting the people of a nation decide on their own government

IMF and World Bank

Two organisations, headquartered in NY, set up after WWII to provide assistance to countries who faced an economic crisis

Capitalism

An economic and political system in which trade and industry are controlled by private organisations who aim to make a profit, rather than by the government

Demobilise

To take troops out of active service, usually after a war

Inflation

The rise in the price of goods or services from one year to the next

Baby boom

The rapid rise in the population that followed WWII in the US; there were nearly a million live births per year more in 1947 than in 1945

States rights

The rights granted to the governor and legislature of individual states to make decisions on matters like education, sales taxes or the death penalty

Campaign

The process of persuading people to vote for a party or individual

Political gridlock

When opposite parties control the white house & Congress, it often makes bills very difficult to pass because of the ‘checks and balances’ the constitution provides to prevent any government branch from becoming too strong

State of the union address

A speech presented annually in January by the president to a joint session of the us Congress. The speech outlines the challenges facing the US and the legislation the president wants to introduce

Lynching

IRS

The internal revenue service is the us government agency responsible for taxes collection and tax law enforcement

HUAC

The house un-american activities committee was formed in 1938 to monitor extremist groups

Appeasement

Giving in to the demands of others as a way of stopping them becoming more aggressive

‘Lame duck’ presidency

As a president approaches the end of their second term, or if they’ve announced they won’t seek re-election, their ability to carry out policy is often hampered