(EDEXCEL) A-LEVEL HISTORY USA
CHAPTER 1.1 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Back to Democracy: Hoover to Roosevelt - ANSWER--Republican failure in curing
problems of Depression led to more voting Democrats. Hoover very unpopular, no
better Republican nomination.
-1932 Presidential campaign: Roosevelt offered 'New Deal'. He was a great
communicator and his speeches had more vitality. Hoover won only six states,
Republican party only won two states due to not appearing to be a viable alternative
gov.
US Presidents, 1933-45 - ANSWER-Franklin Roosevelt (Democrat), 1933-45
Roosevelt: New Deal - ANSWER--Federal government would do all it could to save
country from disaster.
-Asked Congress for special powers to deal with economic situations and they
granted them to him.
-Saw providing gov. help as important even if it left gov. in debt.
-Insisted gov. was responsible for welfare of people. Though relief that New Deal
agencies gave was absolute minimum and many chose not to take them as some of
the tests to qualify were demeaning
-Stressed importance of rapid, national action. Federal gov. had to take over some
policy-making that was, under the Consitution, the role of individual states. Got
Congress to accept this because his 'war' rheotoric suggested this increase in power
was only temporary.
Roosevelt: Alphabet Agencies - ANSWER-National Recovery Administration (NRA):
Enforced codes of practice for businesses; included setting working hours and
minimum wage. Those part of the NRA displayed a blue eagle in their window and
people were encouraged to only go to those. This angered many businessmen.
Agricultural Adjustment Agency (AAA): Regulated major crops. Bought surplus crops
and subsidised farmers to grow less of crops that were being overproduced.
Roosevelt: Presidency style - ANSWER-Confident, charming, pragmatic, prepared to
work with anyone to get things done. Understood how to manipulate Congress,
allowing him to pass huge amounts of legislation around banking, taxations,
economic help for farmers, and unemployment. Great difference from Hoover.
Roosevelt: Increasing importance of president - ANSWER--Created significant White
House staff to make increased fed. intervention in gov. work.
-When Congress wasn't helpful he used presidential executive orders designed for
emergency use to push laws through.
-Didn't understand economic theory, though measures creating inflation and others
deflation cancelled eachother out
-Created 'fireside chats' to communicate with public and media. Very popular. Gave
'off the record' meetings to media so they knew what was happening as well as an
, 'on the record' information that could be published, so they felt involved and on his
side.
-Wasn't popular with everyone: 1936, Supreme Court began to rule some of his laws
and agencies as unconstitutional (inc. AAA and NRA in 1937). This made it difficult
for him so he suggested packing the Court with his supporters but he got a lot of
backlash for breaking separation of powers and abandoned this idea.
Changing Presidency: Roosevelt to Truman - ANSWER--President now expected to
interfer as much as Roosevelt had done (he died in 1945) and be responsible for
public welfare and fix problems.
-White House expected to tell media and public about policy.
-Roosevelt created legacy of reforms like his New Deal (Truman's Fair Deal, etc.)
-Though Separation of Powers still held and Supreme Court still opposed too much
fed. legislation. President needed Congress agreement to pass laws. Personality still
affected presidency as well as media portrayal and people's reactions to them.
Impact of WW2, 1939-45 - ANSWER--Roosevelt supported of Allies, but knew
people didn't want to go to war. Assured people they would stay neutral.
-Implied to young men that they wouldn't get punished if they did want to go fight (US
Neutrality Acts forbade it)
-Still geared up US for war, technically to supply Allies. Goods supplied on 'cash and
carry' basis. Britain did not get credit to buy supplies as under Neutrality Acts this
was forbidden. Production boosed industry and farming, as well as employment.
-1940, Europe overrun, Britain fighting alone and couldn't afford US supplies.
Roosevelt proposed lend-lease scheme to bypass Neutrality Acts, offering to let
them return supplies post-war. Congress accepted (passed in 1941). Value of lend-
lease ended up being $51 billion.
-Another deal was the 'destroyers-for bases'. Roosevelt gave Britain 50 naval
destroyers in return for British-held country bases
-Joined war in 1941 after bombing of Pearl Harbot. Unemployment dropped steeply,
women took up service in farming and industry. Produce $47 bil worth of goods.
Industry profits rose from 17mil (1940) to 28mil (1943). However human cost was
high af.
US Presidents, 1945-80 - ANSWER-Harry Truman (Democrat), 1945-53;
Dwight Eisenhower (Republican), 1953-61;
John Kennedy (Democrat), 1961-63;
Lyndon Johnson (Democrat), 1963-69;
Richard Nixon (Republican), 1969-74;
Gerald Ford (Republican), 1974-77;
James Earl 'Jimmy' Carter (Democrat), 1977-81
Truman: Presidential Style (1945-53) - ANSWER-Personality: Uncharismatic,
unconfident, made mistakes under pressure.
Media: Saw working with media as important but sometimes didn't explain enough
(Korean War)
Public: Didn't try to connect or explain strategy (Korean War)
Organisational ability: Worked well with White House
Congress: Worked less well with Congress, they blocked many reforms he wanted,
less able to network and charm
CHAPTER 1.1 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Back to Democracy: Hoover to Roosevelt - ANSWER--Republican failure in curing
problems of Depression led to more voting Democrats. Hoover very unpopular, no
better Republican nomination.
-1932 Presidential campaign: Roosevelt offered 'New Deal'. He was a great
communicator and his speeches had more vitality. Hoover won only six states,
Republican party only won two states due to not appearing to be a viable alternative
gov.
US Presidents, 1933-45 - ANSWER-Franklin Roosevelt (Democrat), 1933-45
Roosevelt: New Deal - ANSWER--Federal government would do all it could to save
country from disaster.
-Asked Congress for special powers to deal with economic situations and they
granted them to him.
-Saw providing gov. help as important even if it left gov. in debt.
-Insisted gov. was responsible for welfare of people. Though relief that New Deal
agencies gave was absolute minimum and many chose not to take them as some of
the tests to qualify were demeaning
-Stressed importance of rapid, national action. Federal gov. had to take over some
policy-making that was, under the Consitution, the role of individual states. Got
Congress to accept this because his 'war' rheotoric suggested this increase in power
was only temporary.
Roosevelt: Alphabet Agencies - ANSWER-National Recovery Administration (NRA):
Enforced codes of practice for businesses; included setting working hours and
minimum wage. Those part of the NRA displayed a blue eagle in their window and
people were encouraged to only go to those. This angered many businessmen.
Agricultural Adjustment Agency (AAA): Regulated major crops. Bought surplus crops
and subsidised farmers to grow less of crops that were being overproduced.
Roosevelt: Presidency style - ANSWER-Confident, charming, pragmatic, prepared to
work with anyone to get things done. Understood how to manipulate Congress,
allowing him to pass huge amounts of legislation around banking, taxations,
economic help for farmers, and unemployment. Great difference from Hoover.
Roosevelt: Increasing importance of president - ANSWER--Created significant White
House staff to make increased fed. intervention in gov. work.
-When Congress wasn't helpful he used presidential executive orders designed for
emergency use to push laws through.
-Didn't understand economic theory, though measures creating inflation and others
deflation cancelled eachother out
-Created 'fireside chats' to communicate with public and media. Very popular. Gave
'off the record' meetings to media so they knew what was happening as well as an
, 'on the record' information that could be published, so they felt involved and on his
side.
-Wasn't popular with everyone: 1936, Supreme Court began to rule some of his laws
and agencies as unconstitutional (inc. AAA and NRA in 1937). This made it difficult
for him so he suggested packing the Court with his supporters but he got a lot of
backlash for breaking separation of powers and abandoned this idea.
Changing Presidency: Roosevelt to Truman - ANSWER--President now expected to
interfer as much as Roosevelt had done (he died in 1945) and be responsible for
public welfare and fix problems.
-White House expected to tell media and public about policy.
-Roosevelt created legacy of reforms like his New Deal (Truman's Fair Deal, etc.)
-Though Separation of Powers still held and Supreme Court still opposed too much
fed. legislation. President needed Congress agreement to pass laws. Personality still
affected presidency as well as media portrayal and people's reactions to them.
Impact of WW2, 1939-45 - ANSWER--Roosevelt supported of Allies, but knew
people didn't want to go to war. Assured people they would stay neutral.
-Implied to young men that they wouldn't get punished if they did want to go fight (US
Neutrality Acts forbade it)
-Still geared up US for war, technically to supply Allies. Goods supplied on 'cash and
carry' basis. Britain did not get credit to buy supplies as under Neutrality Acts this
was forbidden. Production boosed industry and farming, as well as employment.
-1940, Europe overrun, Britain fighting alone and couldn't afford US supplies.
Roosevelt proposed lend-lease scheme to bypass Neutrality Acts, offering to let
them return supplies post-war. Congress accepted (passed in 1941). Value of lend-
lease ended up being $51 billion.
-Another deal was the 'destroyers-for bases'. Roosevelt gave Britain 50 naval
destroyers in return for British-held country bases
-Joined war in 1941 after bombing of Pearl Harbot. Unemployment dropped steeply,
women took up service in farming and industry. Produce $47 bil worth of goods.
Industry profits rose from 17mil (1940) to 28mil (1943). However human cost was
high af.
US Presidents, 1945-80 - ANSWER-Harry Truman (Democrat), 1945-53;
Dwight Eisenhower (Republican), 1953-61;
John Kennedy (Democrat), 1961-63;
Lyndon Johnson (Democrat), 1963-69;
Richard Nixon (Republican), 1969-74;
Gerald Ford (Republican), 1974-77;
James Earl 'Jimmy' Carter (Democrat), 1977-81
Truman: Presidential Style (1945-53) - ANSWER-Personality: Uncharismatic,
unconfident, made mistakes under pressure.
Media: Saw working with media as important but sometimes didn't explain enough
(Korean War)
Public: Didn't try to connect or explain strategy (Korean War)
Organisational ability: Worked well with White House
Congress: Worked less well with Congress, they blocked many reforms he wanted,
less able to network and charm
