Key topic 1: The changing political environment, 1917-80:
Significant influences on US politics 1917-80
Decline of Republicanism, 1917-1933 Rise of Republicanism, 1917-33
The Great Depression 1929 The Republican party dominated American politics throughout the 1920s. Republicans believed that government
Triggered by the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Caused by a drop in consumerism as people had bought everything that was intervention in the economy should be kept to a minimum.
being manufactured and suddenly no one could sell and stocks crashed. Woodrow Wilson 1921
People had been buying stocks on credit as well as other things and the economy suffered from bank’s lending too Progressive democrat.
much and people borrowing too much. Wilson took the US into WW1.
Mass unemployment (25% by 1932) meant that people viewed Republicanism as not working anymore. Led to unprecedented federal government intervention in the economy and society under Wilson.
Hoover 1933 The War left the US in a mood of disillusionment.
The Republican president failed to help people and when he did, it was too little too late. Harding and a Return to Normalcy 1923
The ‘Hooverville’ became a common thing - shanty towns where the poorest/homeless had to end up living. Proposed people return to pre-war conditions.
He set up the Emergency Committee for Employment in 1930 to try and find work projects for the unemployed but it People believed that returning to normalcy would remove problems such as economic conditions.
relied on businesses creating more jobs voluntarily and was overwhelmed. This did not work very well and Hoover Normalcy would mean a stable, steady way of life that would fix problems
realised eventually that federal help was needed because the money he put towards these businesses to help them ‘We want less government in business and more business in government’.
create new jobs was not enough. In the end he had to reluctantly ask Congress for proper federal help. Congress Introduced tariffs to protect US trade.
rejected many of his requests. TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL - bribery scandal involved in the administration of presidents. Extensive corruption in the
Those changes that did get through congress got the government into debt. administration.
In the last year of Hoover’s presidency, the government got $2000 million and spent $5000 million. Coolidge 1929
The Bonus March 1945 Laissez faire attitudes
WW1 veterans were promised bonuses in 1945 but they demanded them earlier due to the depression. ‘The business of America is business’
They were refused and with fears of riot, police went into crowds with tear gas and bayonets.
This treatment of the protestors lost Hoover a lot of support.
Commitment to Isolationism 1920s Anti-communism 1917 & 1954
To be supportive of other nations, but not becoming ‘entangled’ with them or any foreign issues. First Red Scare 1917-20
The US refused to sign the League of nations Communists believed that governments should organise the equal distribution of wealth, whereas many Americans
considered unregulated economic systems to be essential to the American Dream.
Rugged Individualism Communists argued that other political parties were unnecessary, Americans favoured a multi-party political system.
Herbert Hoover’s belief that people must be self-reliant/ take responsibility and not depend upon the government for 1919 =American Communist Party was formed - increased fears that there would be an communist revolution in
assistance. America.
All people were weakened by the gov’t as it stopped their self-reliance.
Businesses should run themselves even if they exploited the workforce. Red hunting -When people began to accuse each other of communism. Some businesses sacked employees with
supposed left-wing views and suspected their neighbours.
Neutrality Acts (1935-39) = Restricted help given to other countries at war; though still helped Europe rebuild
economically. Palmer Raids - An anarchist bomb destroyed part of the Attorney General’s house and spread leaflets and parts of the
GD (1929) forced them to focus on themselves instead of becoming more involved in international affairs. bomber’s body across Washington streets. Palmer claimed that America = about to see a revolution.
6000 supposed communists were arrested in 36 American cities . 556 Individuals were seen to deserve deportation
Fordney McCumber Tariff Act - encouraged to ‘buy American’ and only a minority of these were communist.
America remained militantly anti-communist and hostile towards political radicalism.
Economy prospered = communism prospered = more goods were made more cheaply. Hire purchases allowed people The Red Scare contributed to an increased anti-immigrant feeling.
to buy more goods over a period of time. Second Red Scare 1947-54
Contributed to the boom, showing Republicanism was working. Triggered by accusations of government workers being part of communist spy rings. McCarthy - led to McCarthyism
and increased red hunting.
1921 Emergency Quota Act - restricted immigration to 357,000 a year. Revised to 150,000 in 1924. Formed House un UnAmerican Activities committee (HUAC) - investigated those for Un-American activities.
Hollywood 10 = Hollywood accused of being infiltrated with communism. 10 actors could not return until they swore
an oath.
Alger Hiss - accused of being a part of a communist spy ring. Never proven but was proven to have lied in court.
Rosenbergs - named as soviet spies with flimsy evidence and were convicted of espionage 1951. Executed in 1953.
Impact
These scars changed the political landscape because they led to significant curbs on civil liberties e.g. the FBI being
given the power to investigate people and bring them to be questioned by HUAC or Loyalty Boards on little evidence.
It led to freedom and speech and expression being curtailed e.g. during the second scare a third of librarians removed
books such as ones by Karl Marx from their shelves in fear of being accused of being a communist.
, Decline in confidence Roosevelt’s New Deal
1960 - 70% of Americans said that they tested the government most of the time. Federal government would do all it could to save the country from disaster.
1974 - less than 40% said this. Asked Congress for special powers to deal with economic situations and they granted them to him
Several factors contributed to this decline, most being a lack of trust in the administration Insisted gov’t was responsible for the welfare of people.
Media Stressed importance of rapid, national action.
People had wider access to the media. Alphabet Agencies
Truman mishandled the media during the Korean War. National Recovery Administration (NRA) - enforced codes of practice for businesses;included setting
Media took to Kennedy but from 1968 the media saw their role as uncovering government deception. working hours and minimum wage.
Scandal Agricultural Adjustment Agency (AAA) - regulated major crops, subsidised farmers to grow less of
Confidence shaken by evidence that they couldn’t trust the government. crops that were being overproduced.
Watergate Scandal - 1972-74 showed that the White House and Nixon were happy to cover up a Increased power of presidency
government scandal. Media uncovered the crime and coverup. Created significant White house staff to increase federal intervention,
Mishandling of events Used presidential executive orders designed for emergency use to push laws through.
The President could not avoid responsibility for the conduct of the war. Created fireside chats to communicate with the public and media. Ensured the public knew what was
Media uncovered scandals such as the My Lai massacre. happening so they felt involved and on his side.
White house administration 1936 - Supreme Court began to rule some of his laws and agencies as unconstitutional. Some
Presidential staff continued to grow after Roosevelt. backlash from congress.
Staff members acted in president’s name after consulting him Tennessee Valley Authority 1933
Cost of staffing and campaigning rose. Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs.
Social factors Provided jobs and electricity to the rural Tennessee River Valley, an area that spans 7 states in the
Violent police reaction to protests in the South and racial injustice following MLK’s death. South.
The National Guard became increasingly violent with student protestors. The TVA was envisioned as a federally-owned electric utility and regional economic development
Kent State University Shooting - 4 killed. agency.
Presidential Personalities Nation’s largest public power provider.
Johnson put troops into Vietnam without Congress approval. Communicated poorly with the press and
public.
Nixon’s mismanagement of Watergate and forced communication and corrupt government.
Ford pardoned Nixon which was seen as unforgivable.
Carter was a moral man who said he would never lie to the people but he couldn't manage congress.
Scandal Media
Teapot Dome People had more access to media than ever. Reporters changed people’s perspectives on the
Bribery scandal under Harding.Involved in the administration of presidents. Extensive corruption in the president and government. From 1968, the media uncovered government deception.
administration. Led to distrust within the government. Uncovering government scandal
Watergate 1973 Washington Post - investigated the Watergate scandal and revealed it to the public. Increased criticism
Interlocking political scandals of the administration of US.Pres Nixon that were revealed following the of presidency
arrest of 5 burglars at the Democratic party's HQ in 1972. Nixon became the only president to ever Changing Wartime perceptions
resign. The coverage of the hearings in the senate was vital in the change of public opinion about the Vietnam war = first media war. Portrayed suffering and horror into living rooms of America. Reports of
presidency and government. Public television played all 250 hours of the hearings. It was important as it drug activities, MyLai massacre and America committing war crimes
showed gov’t officials testifying that Nixon knew about the robbery and there were tapes to prove it.
Iran-Hostage Affair 1979 Roosevelt’s fireside chats
In November, 52 US diplomats and citizens were held hostage in the US embassy in Tehran. Carter was Radio broadcasts that Roosevelt introduced. He understood the power of the media, making the press
unable to deal with the situation and this meant that he had no chance of winning the re-election. They feel involved and on his side. Radio helped to discuss different topics including the New Deal; in his
were held hostage for 444 days and were released minutes after the newly elected President Reagan first fireside chat, 60 million people listened. He informed people of ongoing issues, conflicts and
took his oath. struggles in America, and to help promote measures that Roosevelt wanted passed. It created
Media portrayed this poorly. awareness.
Made Roosevelt and the government look good because they were useful in informing the public and
were portrayed positively.
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