AQA A Level History: The American
Dream,
Reality and Illusion: 1945-1980 Questions
&
Correct Answers/ Graded A+
What were the legacies of WW2 outside America?
🗸🗸: Mass Destruction
Massive Casualties
Huge social disruption
Serious economic hardship
Bombings
Food Shortages and Rationing
Occupation by foreign armies
Give some stats as to how the USA was in the strongest position by the start of 1945?
🗸🗸: 42% worlds income
62% discovered oil
50% manufacturing output
80% cars
1
,33 million households owned a radio
What was "American Exceptionalism"
🗸🗸: The idea that America is unique or exceptional which has become a popular part of
conservative American thinking
Why did people have doubts about Truman?
🗸🗸: Roosevelt had had a very successful presidency
The wars in Europe and the Pacific were still ongoing
Seen as a "compromise candidate"
What is the system of "checks and balances"
🗸🗸: The president is prevented from having too much power by the congress (who can refuse to
cooperate) and the Supreme Court what can rule the presidents actions as unconstitutional
The president can veto congressional proposals for laws and appoint new members of the supreme
court
What is "political capital" and why did Truman lack it?
🗸🗸: Refers to the trust and influence a politician has with the public and other politicians. Roosevelt
had a lot of this
2
, A lack of this could result in an uncooperative congress, supreme court and states
What were the two main parties?
🗸🗸: Republicans and Democrats
What was the level of unemployment in 1940?
🗸🗸: Nearly 8 million
When was the new deal?
🗸🗸: 1933-8
What was the new deal?
🗸🗸: A series of reforms enacted by the Franklin Roosevelt administration between 1933 and 1942
with the goal of ending the Great Depression.
Focussed on providing jobs for the unemployed and poor
During Roosevelts time in office the new deal added and annual GDP growth of 8.5%
Why was the USA in a good place after the war
🗸🗸: - Other countries like France, UK, Soviet Union were badly damaged with no supplies and the
USA could supply resources
- Benefitted from repayment loans made to the allied powers in the war
3
Dream,
Reality and Illusion: 1945-1980 Questions
&
Correct Answers/ Graded A+
What were the legacies of WW2 outside America?
🗸🗸: Mass Destruction
Massive Casualties
Huge social disruption
Serious economic hardship
Bombings
Food Shortages and Rationing
Occupation by foreign armies
Give some stats as to how the USA was in the strongest position by the start of 1945?
🗸🗸: 42% worlds income
62% discovered oil
50% manufacturing output
80% cars
1
,33 million households owned a radio
What was "American Exceptionalism"
🗸🗸: The idea that America is unique or exceptional which has become a popular part of
conservative American thinking
Why did people have doubts about Truman?
🗸🗸: Roosevelt had had a very successful presidency
The wars in Europe and the Pacific were still ongoing
Seen as a "compromise candidate"
What is the system of "checks and balances"
🗸🗸: The president is prevented from having too much power by the congress (who can refuse to
cooperate) and the Supreme Court what can rule the presidents actions as unconstitutional
The president can veto congressional proposals for laws and appoint new members of the supreme
court
What is "political capital" and why did Truman lack it?
🗸🗸: Refers to the trust and influence a politician has with the public and other politicians. Roosevelt
had a lot of this
2
, A lack of this could result in an uncooperative congress, supreme court and states
What were the two main parties?
🗸🗸: Republicans and Democrats
What was the level of unemployment in 1940?
🗸🗸: Nearly 8 million
When was the new deal?
🗸🗸: 1933-8
What was the new deal?
🗸🗸: A series of reforms enacted by the Franklin Roosevelt administration between 1933 and 1942
with the goal of ending the Great Depression.
Focussed on providing jobs for the unemployed and poor
During Roosevelts time in office the new deal added and annual GDP growth of 8.5%
Why was the USA in a good place after the war
🗸🗸: - Other countries like France, UK, Soviet Union were badly damaged with no supplies and the
USA could supply resources
- Benefitted from repayment loans made to the allied powers in the war
3
