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In-depth revision notes for the USA History A-level course, the American Dream: reality and Illusion
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The US in 1945The legacies of the second world war
The USA didn’t experience the same level of damage and destruction from
world war 2 as Europe did, thanks to their remoteness from the centre of the
war, not a single foreign soiler had set foot on American soil and this
increased American pride.
The USA had the lowest number of casualties and their economy was the
strongest in the world after the war since they didn’t have to overspend on
expensive defence budgets to protect their land and rather they gained money
by providing Europe with tools to help fuel their fighting.
By the end of 1945, America held 42% of the world's income, 62% of its
discovered oil, and 80% of the world's manufactured cars.
Truman became president after Roosevelt suffered a stroke in April 1945 and
he had a hard act to follow, since Roosevelt looked over ww2 and the great
depression, Roosevelt had high approval ratings and many Americans thought
that Truman wasn’t really up to the job.
Powers of the presidency:
● President prevented from having too much power if congress refuses to
co-operate or if the supreme court rules the president's actions to be
unconstitutional
● Presidents can veto a congress’ proposal for news laws
● Presidents can appoint new member to the supreme court
● Congress’ power came from being able to introduce new law proposals,
control the national budget, approve or disapprove presidential
nominations for the supreme court or impeach a president if they
commit a crime.
● Truman would face trouble in this form of government since it was
designed to not give either the supreme court, congress or president too
much power, he could face a congress which won’t cooperate with him
or an untrustworthy supreme court
,Congress and the individual states had thought that Roosevelt had increased
the presidential powers at their expense, creating more tension between the
three parties.
Truman had a lot more freedom to use his presidential powers in foreign
affairs.
Republicans Democrats
● Founded in 1845 by an anti- ● Founded in 1828
slavery activists ● Based in the south
● Strong in north, mid west, new ● Pursued segregationist
england policies
● Supported non-intervention ● Racially motivated
and small government ● In 1945 the party was split
between the new deal liberals
Non intervention= government and the dixiecrats
minimises its impact on people's ● the dixiecrats would often vote
everyday lives with republicans when it
Small government= limited number of concerned matters of race
administrators which leads to lower
tax rates
● Had a conservative attitude to
civil rights
● Largely despised by the
southern democrats
Post war prosperity
Many claimed that instead of the new deal bringing america out of the great
depression it was the war economy that had built up during the war which had
kickstarted the economy
The British Empire, Soviet Union, Germany, France, and Japan had taken
massive hits to their economy after the war due to massive destruction to their
countries, massive casualties and long periods of rebuilding.
This gave America a really good head start in the economies of the world
since they had the most stable and sufficient economy in the world during that
moment and since others countries needed raw materials and good they
looked towards America who were the most likely to have and did have them,
, which also helped boost the american economy since they were able to
charge the european countries for their help.
They also received back their interest ridden loans and reparations from post
war treaties.
Regional, ethnic and social divisions of the usa
Regional divisions:
● There were significant differences in climate, industries and population
densities across america due to its sheer size
● The traditional political, financial and educational powerhouse was the
north of america, the north saw itself as more sophisticated than the
rest of america
● 18 presidents came from northern states
● Midwest was sparsely populated, lack major cities but it had huge
agricultural capabilities, it produced significant amounts of wheat, corn
and even rice to feet the population and make profitable exportations
● The south still embraced traditional beliefs, segregational practices and
de jure, rural southern communities focussed on plantation crops like
cotton, sugar and tobacco.
● Border states like mexico, new mexico, texas, arizona and southern
california were rich in oil and experience a massive influx of immigrant
North Eastern coast Midwest
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