USA 1.1:
- Return to ‘normalcy’
o 1917, Wilson took USA into WW1
o 1921, Harding became president, promised return to ‘normalcy’
o Many wanted this (1919-21 unemployment rose 950,000-5,010,000, protests, riots & strikes)
o Introduced ‘laissez-faire republicanism, Hoover later introduced rugged individualism
- Isolationism
o 1921 Emergency Quota Act restricted immigration to 357,000/year, then to 150,000 in 1924
o ‘buy American’ – Fodney McCumber Tariff
o 1935-39, Congress passed series of neutrality acts
o USA didn’t join League of nations, didn’t set up colonies
- First Red Scare, 1919-20
o 1917, USSR established
o 1919, over 3,600 strikes – 1 in 4 workers on strike
o After WW1, CPUSA & CLP established
o ‘Red-Hunting’ – of thousands arrested, only 556 deported
- The Great Depression
o Realised ‘laissez-faire’ wasn’t working
o 1929, Hoover persuaded congress to set up Federal Farm Board
o 1930, Hoover set up President’s Emergency Committee for Employment
o Last year of presidency, gov. spent over $5bil – too little, too late
o ‘Hoovervilles’ – Hoover blamed
o June 1932, Bonus Army march to Washington – 28 th July, dispersed with gas/tanks/etc.
- The New Deal
o 1932 campaign, Roosevelt offered ‘New Deal’ (gov. responsible for welfare)
o National Recovery Administration (NRA) set up – set minimum wage/working conditions
o Agricultural Adjustment Agency (AAA) – regulated crops, subsidised farmers
o ‘Alphabet agencies’ – development of Tennessee Valley
- Roosevelt
o Set up Executive Office of the President, used executive orders to pass laws
o Great communicator: ‘fireside talks’ ‘off the record’ meetings
o Not popular with everyone, SC ruled NRA + AAA unconstitutional 1937
R suggested packing SC – violation of separation of powers, forced to abandon
o Elected for unprecedented 4 terms
o Died 1945, changed presidency (increased involvement & responsibility)
- WW2 Impact
o Roosevelt geared up war production – supplied allies on ‘cash & carry’ basis
o Lend-lease act passed March 1941 – supplies valued $51bil by end of year
o USA entered WW2 8th December 1941 after Pearl Harbour
o Industry profits increased from $17mil 1940 to $28mil 1943
o Of 16mil who fought, 400,000 died, 600,000 wounded/captured
- The Second Red Scare, 1947-54
o 31st July 1948, Elizabeth Bentley exposed Moscow-led spy ring to HUAC
o 1949, China became communist – ‘China Lobby’ blamed Truman
o Senator Joseph McCarthy
9th February 1950, made anti-communist speech, claimed knew 205 communists
working in state dept., revised number multiple times
Tydings Committee investigated, 14th July report said claims were lies
McCarthy = powerful, many believed him (until began investigating army 1953)
o Impact: curb on civil rights, united Republicans & Democrats, groups pressed gov. for hard-
line action vs. communism
, E.g. Committee on the Present Danger set up 1950 (reformed 1976)
- Counter-Culture
o New liberalism under Kennedy (equality, civil rights, welfare)
o Hippies: communal societies, peace, sexual freedom, Woodstock (August 1969)
o Radical Student Groups
Students for a Democratic Society (1960), The Free Speech Movement
4th May 1970, Ohio National Guard shot 4 unarmed students, injured 9 at protest
Students planted bombs at military targets, 24 th August 1970 bomb
detonated: 1 killed, 4 injured, $60mil in damages
- Conservative Reaction
o 3rd November 1969, Nixon campaigned on ‘New Right’ policies
o Religious groups’ campus campaigns – e.g. Bill Bright 1967 Campaign Crusade for Christ
o 1970s, ‘religious right’ (family values, vs. abortion + contraception)
- The Cold War
o Impact on domestic policy
‘Truman Doctrine’ (policy of ‘containment’)
Marshall Plan = aid to war-torn countries to prevent communist takeover
o E.g. 1948 USSR blockaded Berlin, USA broke it & airlifted food
1949, USA became NATO member
Nuclear defence: early 1950s, Federal Défense Administration set up
Arms Race: June 1947–June 1948, US atomic bomb holdings increased from 13 to 50
Creation of large, permanent military force
o Impact on the Presidency
Power to go to war/make treaties without Congress grew
1947 National Security Act
Reorganised military under new Defence Dept. at the Pentagon
President = commander-in-chief, could move forces without Congress
Created CIA & National Security Council (reported to White House, not
Congress)
After war, Truman made treaties to create permanent US bases in other countries,
ordered 1948 Berlin airlift, went to war with Korea – all without consulting Congress
Later presidents did too, e.g. Kennedy didn’t tell Congress of 1961 Bay of
Pigs invasion of Cuba
- The Korean War
o In context of 2nd Red Scare, 25th June 1950 NK invaded SK with USSR help
o Huge cost: defence spending high at 14% GNP – every gov. since struggled to manage budget
o August 1950, Truman began TV briefings, arranged for 200 reporters to go to Korea
Changed media (became more critical, indulged in speculation), disillusionment
o Truman under pressure to take harsher stance vs. communism
- The Vietnam War, 1954-75
o 1st December 1969, lottery to be drafted – meant to be fair, in reality WASPs got their sons
exempted, draft-dodging increased, symbolic to burn draft cards at protests
o Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) began with 6 veterans marching in New York
1967, soon had over 30,000 members
o Media = critical, ‘credibility gap’, 27th Feb 1968 Walter Cronkite following Tet Offensive
o Presidents held responsible: ‘Hey! Hey! LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?’
- Declining confidence in the Presidency
o 1960, 70% said they mostly trusted gov. – less than 40% by 1974
o Media: wider access, changing role
o Scandal: Watergate (1972), mishandling of war
o Social factors: violent policy (1970 Kent State), lack of welfare provision, civil rights tension
