GCSE History Revision Booklet

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GCSE History Revision Booklet

• Part 3a America in Transition, 1929-2000
• If you want to stretch yourself, look at the more
  detailed booklet http//www.historywithmissthomas
  .com/attachments/Revision_PDF_for_America_192990.p
  df

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The 1930s
The 1940s

• In a nutshell The 1930s were dominated by the
  Depression, which resulted from the Wall Street
  Crash of 1929. Millions lost their jobs.
• President Roosevelt tried to improve the
  situation with his New Deal (a series of
  reforms aimed to tackle poverty.) There was a lot
  of debate about whether or not the New Deal was a
  good thing. There is almost always a question on
  the New Deal. If you are going for a top grade,
  dont forget to look at the more detailed booklet
  http//www.historywithmissthomas.com/attachments/R
  evision_PDF_for_America_192990.pdf

In a nutshell America in the 1940s was
transformed by World War 2, which created
millions of jobs and lifted the USA out of
Depression. It also gave women more opportunities
in the workplace.

• The War useful facts and figures
• War lasted from 1939-45. America joined the war
  in 1941.
• Employment fell from 9.5 mill in 1939 to 670,000
  in 1944.
• 112,000 Japanese Americans were interned in
  prison camps

• The Depression
• Caused by long term problems in the economy
  (poverty, overproduction), and short term panic
  selling of shares. Hoover didnt do much.
• 9 Million people lost savings as 5,000 banks went
  out of business
• By 1932 100,000 businesses had gone bust
• 13 Million unemployed (25 of workforce)
• Town dwellers forced into Hoovervilles
• No social security meant people were reliant on
  handouts and charity.
• People forced to beg and scavenge on rubbish tips
  
• Farmers evicted from their land and became
  hoboes.
• 1932 Bonus Army of veterans of WW1 march on
  Washington demanding bonuses that had been
  promised to them.

The New Deal Roosevelt (Democrat) elected in
1932. Promised a New Deal. In his first 100 days
he introduced reforms and agencies to help the
economy recover. You must know about the alphabet
agencies, especially the TVA Tennessee Valley
Authority (built dam, providing jobs and
hydroelectricity) AAA Subsidies (financial help
for farmers) CCC Jobs for young men e.g. tree
planting NRA Setting codes for how employers
treated workers.
Positive outcomes Jobs created! In the army and
in munitions factories Economic recovery War
Production Board set up helped production
double by 1945. Got America out of
Depression? More independence for women (worked
in wartime jobs). Positive image of women
Rosie the Riveter Patriotism and a sense of
pulling together Victory gardens people grew
their own food
Successes Created millions of jobs and lots of
infrastructure (public building works). Roosevelt
was very popular (elected 4 times) Failings and
criticisms Didnt do enough for women and black
Americans? Unconstitutional? Was it WW2 that
actually saved the economy? Political criticisms
the rich and those on the political right opposed
the higher taxes used to fund the New Deal, while
some on the left (e.g. the Share the Wealth
Movement) thought it didnt go far enough).

• Negative outcomes
• About 400,000 American servicemen died.
• Terrible treatment of Japanese Americans
  internment
• Women lost new jobs and status when the war
  ended.

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The 1950s

• In a nutshell
• For many, the 1950s were a comfortable decade, as
  Americans enjoyed the benefits of a booming
  economy. However, Americans lived in constant
  fear of nuclear war and communism (this fear was
  played on by McCarthy). Teens used their new
  wealth and freedom to rebel against their parents
  with rock n roll, and many Americans remained
  beneath the poverty line. AVOID THE COMMON
  MISTAKE OF CONFUSING THE 20S AND THE 50S.

• Culture
• Church attendance grew (possibly because of the
  fear of nuclear war, or as a way of providing
  stability in the new suburbs.) Most middle class
  Americans were very patriotic and conformist
  (they didnt question things)
• BUT this was also the time of emerging youth
  culture. Teenagers rebelled against their boring
  suburban lives and the conformist lifestyles of
  their parents.
• Teen Rebellion
• The affluence of the 1950s created the teenager
  a section of society who were not quite adults
  but who had money and independence. They
  rebelled
• By listening to faced paced music like rock n
  roll, with its sexy dances.
• By wearing their own fashions, smoking and
  drinking
• By living risky lifestyles (crime, fighting etc)
  as portrayed in films like Rebel Without a Cause
  and The Wild Ones
• It is possible that the threat of nuclear war
  added to this nihilistic attitude (taking risks
  because it could all end any minute)

• The Affluent Society
• In the 50s, Middle class Americans had an
  affluent (wealthy) lifestyle that was envied
  around the world.
• Huge increase in GNP1956 US produced half the
  worlds goods.
• Almost full employment.
• Standard of living 3 times higher than UK.
• Between 1945 and 1960 baby boomers increased the
  population by 30.
• The better-off moved to the suburbs to bring up
  kids,
• Huge increase in car ownership. Roads, freeways
  and car parks built.
• Jobs created making, selling and servicing cars.
• By 1960 60 of US homes had TV.

• McCarthy and paranoia.
• The 50s was the start of the Cold War, between
  America and Communist Russia. Americans were
  terrified of Communist countries and nuclear war.
  Their motto was better dead than red (red meant
  communist)
• Who was McCarthy?
• A Republican senator.
• Helped the Republicans win the 1952 election by
  claiming that there were 205 communists working
  in the Truman government (he had no evidence.)
• He soon started accusing others. People lost
  their jobs and were treated very badly
• Eventually he was shown to be a fraud when he
  started accusing people in the army.
• Significance? Showed the extent of fear and
  paranoia in America. Led to the banning of the
  American Communist Party

• Poverty
• In 1959 22 of the US below the poverty line.
• Inner cities declined as rich moved to the
  suburbs
• Black Americans AND Puerto Ricans were a poor
  under class.
• Southern States were poorer
• Older people did not benefit from the prosperity.
• US did not have a free health service.

• Women
• Image in the media of the perfect housewife
  cooking and cleaning.
• Baby boom women had to care for kids
• Women lost war time jobs and their wages fell
• Not as independent and equal as in the 1940s.
• BUT
• Surprisingly, MORE women went out to work in the
  50s (although in traditionally female roles like
  secretarial) because they needed the money to
  fund the perfect home and the new goods (TV, car
  etc)

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The 1960s

• In a nutshell
• The 1960s were a decade of change and reform.
  Groups including young people, black Americans
  and women campaigned for change including greater
  social equality. JFK and LBJ both brought in some
  reforms to make society fairer. The decade was
  marred by the war in Vietnam.

• JFK
• John F Kennedy, Democrat (1960-63)
• Very popular and optimistic. Promised a New
  Frontier to deal with poverty and inequality.
• JFK increased the minimum wage and social
  security benefits to help the poor.
• HOWEVER, many of his reforms were blocked by
  Republicans and southern Democrats in Senate and
  Congress.
• He failed to pass his Civil Rights Bill (to get
  equal rights for black Americans) because of
  opposition in Senate and Congress
• He failed to introduce free medical care or
  better housing for the poor.
• Assassinated in 1963 before he could finish his
  program of reforms

• LBJ
• Lyndon B Johnson, Democrat, 1963-68
• Kennedys death helped him to pass some of the
  reforms Kennedy had wanted (got the sympathy
  vote!)
• Passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the
  Voting Rights Act of 1965 to help black Americans
• Introduced his War on Poverty and Great Society
  (reforms to deal with poverty and inequality)
• Introduced Medicare and Medicaid, (medical
  funding for the poor and sick)
• Put money into education, especially in poor
  areas.
• ? War in Vietnam overshadowed his presidency. He
  continued to send troops in spite of public anger

• Women
• The pill meant that women were more liberated
  sexually.
• More women went to university
• Betty Friedan (founder of the National
  Organization for Women) campaigned for change and
  wrote the Feminine Mystique, in which she argued
  that women should be more ambitious and strive
  for equality.
• JFK did ensure equal pay for women

• Culture
• A lot of 1960s popular culture was about opposing
  the government.
• Young people sometimes completely rejected the
  social norms and dropped out. These were
  hippies. They lived communal lifestyles with free
  love and drug taking,
• Opposition to the government was a big part of
  youth culture. Youths marched against the Vietnam
  War and in support of reforms on things like
  Civil Rights .This can be seen in the pop music
  of the time (protest songs by singers like Bob
  Dylan)

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The 1970s
The 1980s

• In a nutshell
• The 70s were defined by Watergate and by the
  resulting loss of faith in the presidency

In a nutshell The policies of Reagan meant that
although the economy did well, the rich got
richer and the poor got poorer
Richard Nixon Republican President
1968-74 Popular to begin with.
Ronald Reagan Republican President
1981-1989 Reagan the good... Former Hollywood
actor popular personality - nicknamed The
Great Communicator Many liked him because he
believed in economic laissez faire he cut taxes
and because his years in power saw a boom in the
economy, with a decline in inflation and
unemployment He said that America should play a
leading role in world affairs including taking a
tough line against communism. This made many
Americans feel that their country was top dog
once again. Military operations in Libya,
Grenada and Nicaragua

• What was the Watergate scandal?
• In 1972 5 men broke into the Democratic Party HQ
  at the Watergate Buildings in Washington. They
  were caught there, trying to bug phones and steal
  info. It turned out that they had been working
  for the Campaign for the Re-Election of the
  President (CREEP).
• Results
• An investigation was launched. Nixon tried to
  stop it and paid the burglars hush money. Nixon
  won the 1972 election.
• BUT 2 journalists from the Washington Post
  realised there was a cover up going on and
  revealed this. Nixon tried to deny it. Then it
  was revealed that there were tapes of
  conversations in which he ordered the cover up.
  He had to resign

• Why was Watergate important?
• Revealed the growing power of the media over
  politics
• Led Americans to question their presidents
• The end of the so-called Imperial Presidency
  (the idea that presidents could basically do what
  they wanted). Laws were introduced to regulate
  how politicians behaved (e.g. The Ethics in
  Government Act)

• Reagan the bad...
• Cut spending on the poorest in American society.
  Poverty in inner cities got worse and the crack
  cocaine epidemic struck.
• Massive spending on defence and war (including
  on controversial projects like the Strategic
  Defence Initiative/ Star Wars) left the American
  government in enormous debt.

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The 1990s
Themes in American life 1929-2000

• In a nutshell
• George Bush Snr couldnt do much because of the
  massive government debt.
• Clinton brought in some social reforms but some
  say he didnt go far enough.

Popular culture Films During the Depression
films offered a kind of escapism, and during the
war they encouraged a patriotic and optimistic
view of America (this was the golden age of
Hollywood). In the 50s and 60s, film attendance
fell as more and more people got TVs. There were
famous films though, including some which
reflected the new teen culture (like Rebel
Without a Cause). In the 70s 90s, big budget
films and special effects took over (e.g. Star
Wars). Across the period, movie stars have become
internationally famous and able to charge huge
fees. (Marilyn Munroe, James Dean, Harrison Ford,
Tom Cruise Music Music inspired social
revolution, especially in the 50s and 60s. Music
also gave young people a voice and an outlet, and
contributed to the generation gap between them
and their parents. This is seen in rock n roll
of the 50s, and in the protest music of the 60s.
Black inspired music became more and more
important throughout the century (think jazz,
motown, disco, rap and hip-hop). Young people
Teen culture became massive in the 50s, because
the Affluent Society youths had more money to
spend on pop music and cars gave them freedom.
Delinquency was also a problem, though, as teens
rebelled against their parents. In the 60s and
70s, teen culture was about protesting against
the government, by dropping out or taking part
in protest. In the 90s, teen culture was
increasingly influenced by technology (e.g.
Internet, mobile phones), giving young people
more independence. Personal computers Personal
computers have allowed people access to
information, making them better informed and more
able to criticise their governments. The internet
could be seen as a social leveller (i.e. It
makes society fairer as more people have access
to education and information)

• George Bush Snr (Republican, 1989-93)
• Main problem the massive government debt left
  by Reagan. Had promised that he would not raise
  taxes In the end Congress (dominated by
  Democrats) pushed him into increasing taxes as a
  way of paying off the debt. This angered voters
• international recession struck leading to high
  levels of unemployment, and poverty and violence
  in the inner cities. Voted out in 1992 after
  losing support over the taxation issue

• Bill Clinton (Democrat, 1993-2001)
• The Family and Medical Leave Act required
  companies to allow unpaid leave to qualifying
  employees in the event of family or medical
  emergencies.
• An existing ban on homosexuals in the military
  was lifted.
• The 1993 Omnibus Act increased taxes for the
  wealthiest and reduced them for the 15 million
  poorest Americans.
• Clinton passed the Brady Bill which put greater
  controls on who could own a handgun
• Failures
• Lifting of ban on Homosexuality in the army was
  only lifted with condition that homosexuals in
  the army remained quiet about their sexual
  preference
• Could have done more not all of congress
  supported his proposals (e.g. for greater funds
  to Medicare)
• ? Scandal of the Lewinsky affair

Women 30s Depression hits them harder than
men 40s War work independence, respect and
positive image (Rosie the Riveter) 50s Back to
the home (though more actually worked to afford
the lifestyle) 60s and 70s Womens movement.
Betty Freidan and NOW. The Pill and abortion
available 80s to 2000 Legally equal rights IN
THEORY. Women still earn less than men and are
more likely to live in poverty. Increase in
divorce and single parent families mean more
women bring up children alone.
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Practice questions America in Transition

• Question B Describe... (4 marks)
• Describe the effects of the Great Depression
• Describe the New Deal.
• Describe Roosevelts first100 Days
• Describe McCarthyism in the 1950s.
• Describe the hippy movement.
• Describe the Affluent Society
• Describe McCarthyism
• Describe the changes to popular culture in the
  1950s
• Describe Kennedys New Frontier.
• Describe the Hippy Movement
• Describe the Feminist Movement
• Describe Johnson Great Society
• Describe the Watergate Scandal

Question a What does source A show you about....
Source A Unemployed men in New York, 1929 What
does Source A show you about the impact of the
Depression (2)
Source A Female aircraft worker during World War
What does Source A show you about the role of
women in the War (2)
Source A American suburb in the 1950s What
does Source A show you about middle class
American life in the 1950s? (2)

• How to do it...
• Youll get 3-4 marks for a detailed and accurate
  description
• Mention 2-3 factors

• How to do it...
• Say 2 things, from the source and/or the caption

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Practice questions America in Transition
Question C (example 2) (Source B Young
people at a dance in the 1940s) (Source
C Technology in an American home, 2000) Use
sources B and C and your own knowledge to explain
how popular entertainment in America had changed
by the 1990s(6)
Question C (example 1) (Source B James
Dean in Rebel Without a Cause in the 1950s)
(Source C A photograph of young people
protesting against the Vietnam War in the 1960s )
Use sources B and C and your own knowledge to
explain how far teen culture had changed by the
1960s (6)

• How to do it...
• Refer to both the sources and own knowledge to
  explain change

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Practice questions
2 mark questions What was a Hooverville? What was
the TVA? What was the Wall Street Crash? What
were the alphabet agencies? What was the
Watergate scandal? What was McCarthyism?   4 mark
questions Describe the New Deal. Describe
McCarthyism in the 1950s. Describe the hippy
movement. Describe Kennedys New
Frontier. Describe Roosevelts first 100
days. Describe the Reagan years,   6 mark
questions (Use the sources and your own knowledge
to explain... Explain how the 2ww affected the
lives of American people. Explain why so many
people opposed the Vietnam War. Explain why some
people opposed the New Deal in the 1930s. Explain
the importance of popular culture in then 1950s
and 1960s. Explain the popularity of President JF
Kennedy. Explain why some people opposed the New
Deal.   8 mark questions Why did President Nixon
resign in 1974? Why was Roosevelt such a popular
president? Why was the New Deal important for the
American people? Why was there a change in the
life of women in the USA after and during
WW2? Why did some young people in America become
more rebellious from the 1950s onwards? Why did
the lives of women in America change in the 1950s
and 1960s?   10 marks questions In what ways did
the lives of American people changed between 1929
and 1990? Did changes in America society between
1929 and 1990 benefit all Americans? How much
were the lives of all American people improved
between 1929 and 1990? How were the American
people affected by changes in the USA between
1929 and 1990? In what ways did America develop
and change as a society between 1929 and
1990? How much did American society change
between 1929 and 1990? (In your answer you may
wish to consider the Depression, the impact of
the Second World War, changes in popular culture,
the situation in 1990 and other relevant
factors.)
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Practice questions America in Transition

• Section B (the 10 mark question)
• This question is always basically the same, but
  the wording may differ (examples below)
• What have been the most important developments
  that have changed life in America since 1929?
• In what ways did the lives of American people
  changed between 1929 and 1990?
• Did changes in America society between 1929 and
  1990 benefit all Americans?
• How much were the lives of all American people
  improved between 1929 and 1990?
• How were the American people affected by changes
  in the USA between 1929 and 1990?
• In what ways did America develop and change as a
  society between 1929 and 1990?
• How much did American society change between 1929
  and 1990?

• Question D (8 mark judgement question)
• How successful was The New Deal?
• Why was the Great Depression a turning point in
  America?
• Why was The New Deal a turning point?
• Why was WW2 a turning point?
• How far did WW2 change the lives of American
  people?
• Why were the 1950s a turning point in popular
  culture?
• How significant was McCarthyism?
• Why was Kennedys presidency a turning point in
  American society?
• How successful was President Kennedy?
• How successful was the womens movement?
• Why was the Watergate Scandal a turning point?
• How important was Kennedys New Frontier?
• How important was the Watergate Scandal?
• How successful was President Reagan?

• How to do it...
• To get full marks you need to
• Give an overview of the main developments and
  discuss change directly.
• Show that you understand the varying pace and
  impact of change and cover each decade.
• See the next page for an example commit it to
  memory

• How to do it...
• Give a detailed and accurate explanation and come
  to a judgement (say what you think). You must
  address the question DIRECTLY

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The ten mark question!
How did life change for Americans in the period
1929-1990? A section on the 1930s (Depression
and New Deal) In the 1930s life was harder for
most Americans because of the Depression. FDRs
New Deal did offer jobs and social security to
millions. However, some Americans disagreed with
the New Deal and it didnt help all groups
equally. A section on the 1940s (War) In the
1940s, the War provided a much-needed boost to
the economy, providing more jobs. Women in
particular benefitted from their increased
economic freedom. However, some Americans lost
out, particularly Japanese Americans who were put
into internment camps. A section on the 1950s
(Affluence, rebellion, McCarthyism) In the
1950s, middle-class white Americans felt more
affluent than ever, and moved out to the suburbs.
As a result of this wealth, teen culture was born
with artists like Elvis Presley. However, there
were still 30 of Americans living below the
poverty line, including a lot of black Americans.
The 1950s was also a time of fear and dread for
Americans, with McCarthyism showing the national
fear of communism and the nuclear threat hanging
over the country. A section on the 1960s
(Kennedy, protest) In the 1960s, many changes
were made as a result of popular protest. The
groups campaigning for change included young
people, womens rights groups and Civil Rights
groups. JFK brought about some changes in his New
Frontier, such as housing programs and training
for the unemployed. However, opposition meant
that he did not make as many changes as he would
have liked to by the time of his assassination in
1963. A section on the 1970s (Nixon) In the
1970s, many Americans lost trust in the
presidency as a result of the Watergate Scandal.
However, the scandal did show that the power of
the press had increased and that presidents were
now accountable. A section on the 1980 and
90s In the 1980s, middle class white Americans
benefitted from Reagans tax cuts and became
richer. However, public spending on social
security was cut, leading to poverty for many
Americans. Also, Reagans spending on defence
plunged the country into debt. In the 90s,
Clinton tried to make society fairer, with acts
such as the Ombibus Act, but some argue that he
didnt do enough. A concluding sentence To
conclude, by 2000 life has improved most for the
middle classes. Women and young people had gained
more of a voice. However, life was still hard for
the poor, especially for ethnic minorities.