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How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1941-80, the impact of war and the Cold War brought about a decline in the confidence the nation had in the presidency?

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How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1941-80, the impact of war and the Cold War brought about a decline in the confidence the nation had in the presidency? Unit 1F - In search of the American Dream: the USA, c1917-96? Pearson edexcel history comprehensive essay plan

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usa
american dream
in search of
war
cold war
media
president actions
roosevelt
declining confidence
kennedy
truman
johnson
nixon
war impact
imoact
hfdyat
1917 96
1941 80
essay plan
essay
edexcel
1f
a

How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1941-80, the impact of war and the Cold War brought
about a decline in the confidence the nation had in the presidency?

Intro:
- Huge decline in period (especially towards end of period)
o 1960, 70% said they trusted gov most of the time  under 40% by 1974
- Convincing, however, actions of presidents & impact of media played larger role in this decline
o Impact of war itself may have caused temporary decline, however this decline could’ve been
recovered (e.g. after WW1 Roaring 20s), media & presidents caused long-term change
o Presidential actions = root cause, media significant role in exposing this (contributory)

P1: Impact of war and the Cold War
- Credibility gap reduced trust
o Secret bombing of Laos & Cambodia, My Lai Massacre
- Impact of War itself
o Low morale: of 16mil who fought in WW1 400,000 died and 600,000 wounded/captured, loss
at Vietnam reduced confidence, rationing
- People didn’t support actions during war
o VVAW, formed 1967 when 6 veterans marched  soon membership of over 30,000
o Students for a Democratic Society (1960), Symbolic to burn draft cards at anti-war protests
- Increased powers of presidents
o Congress hasn’t officially declared war since 1941, but presidents bypass this
o Truman 1948 Berlin airlift, Johnson sent troops to Vietnam, 1961 Kennedy Bay of Pigs
invasion of Cuba (all without Congress approval)
o CIA & National Security Council created (reported to White House, not Congress)
o Impacts of this:
 Violation of separation of powers, made people doubt president
 President increased their responsibility
o ‘Hey! Hey! LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?!’
o Caused media to become more critical of president
- However…
o More convincing to attribute loss of confidence to presidents’ actions – impact of war may
have caused temporary decline, but this could’ve been recovered if it wasn’t for presidential
scandal/incompetence & critical media
o Can argue war actually united people & increased support for president (e.g. Cold War united
2 parties under single foreign policy, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour caused nation to rally
around FDR)

P2: President Actions
- Red Scares
o Gov Involvement (1948 Elizabeth Bentley HUAC, 1950 Joseph McCarthy speech)
o People felt gov not doing enough to prevent communism spreading (‘China Lobby’ blamed
Truman, Committee on the Present Danger formed 1950, reformed 1976)
o Curb on civil liberties (FBI opening letters, tapping phones, bugging homes/offices)
 Significant as anti-communism united Democrats & Republicans
- Scandal/incompetence
o Nixon & Watergate 1972, Ford pardoning Nixon
o Carter incompetence, crisis of confidence
- Welfare caused divides
o Kennedy ‘New Frontier’ & Johnson ‘Great Society’ vs. Nixon ‘workfare’
- Roosevelt increased confidence, shows presidents themselves = significant (‘fireside chats’, etc.)

- However, can argue all presidents actually increased confidence
o Nixon & Ford reduced inflation
o Despite this, more convincing to say caused decline

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