AICE American History Paper 2 B Questions
'The Thirteenth Amendment was the greatest of the constitutional amendments passed between 1865 and 1970.' How far do you agree?
13th Amendment abolished slavery. 14th Amendment gave equal rights for all. 15th Amendment gave blacks the right to vote. Agree - First major change to Constitution in 60 years - Expanded federal power and gave federal government broad power to enforce Disagree - 14th gave great power to federal government to enforce equality due process clause - 15th gave blacks the right to vote but was not enforced until 1960s Which was the greatest? 14th Some have called 3 Amendments the Second American revolution.
Which side did more to limit civil liberties during the Civil War: North or South?
Civil liberties are the rights and freedoms of the individual, e.g. freedom of speech, freedom of association. In wartime, they are usually restricted Both sides - Used a draft (conscription) but South started first - Had exemptions and could pay way out of draft - Suspended habeas corpus and individuals could be detained without charge - Lincoln was quick to suspend habeas corpus in certain areas, e.g. Merryman case: habeas was granted by a judge but Lincoln ignored it - South used marital law especially in border states in military courts bc South was more desperate for manpower - Both sides limited civil liberties but North's restrictions more well known
'The federal nature of the Southern system of government was the main reason for the South's weakness in waging war against the North.' How far do you agree?
Confederacy had loose relationship between states and the states have broad power. The central government is weak. Argument for Southern form of government being main weaknes - Union government (Washington) had greater control over states than CSA (Richmond) - Jefferson Davis based arguments against the North on states rights and made it hard to control the Southern states - CSA constitution also gave considerable powers to the states - Conscription, CSA did one year before North and some states reluctant to provide troops because of exemptions given to slave owners. War became known as 'a rich man's war but a poor man's fight' - Georgia governor called Davis a tyrant over conscription - CSA did not have two-party system and 1863 election saw the defeat of some pro-Davis candidates Counterarguments - CSA had trouble paying for war and printed money rather than raise taxes which caused inflation and lowered living standards - Naval embargo restricted exports of cotton and imports of needed military equipment (South lacked industrial base to produce) - CSA was agricultural society waging war the industrial North
How great was the damage to life in the South during the Civil War?
Damage to south: - 40% of South destroyed -Higher casualty rates than North - Blockade caused shortages - Inflation rate of 9000% - Slaves left plantations - Total war strategy (Sherman and Grant) - left large areas of South damaged - Left South poor for decades No damage to south: - Rich less effected by war. Plantation owners avoided draft - Anaconda Plan: slowly strangled the South and conditions got worse when North changed tactics - Certain parts of South left unscathed Conclusion - South suffered a great deal of damage during the War
How different were the first and second New Deals?
First Deal focused on relief and recovery the second deal on reform. First New Deal (1933 to 1934) included federal action to relieve unemployment (Civilian Conservation Corps) and economic hardship (Agricultural Adjustment Administration). It stabilized the banking system and abandoned the gold standard. Second New Deal (1935 to 1938) was more ambitious focused on reform and FDR's vision of future of US in Social Security Act (old age pensions) and Wagner Act (new basis for labor relations).
How far do you agree that the passage of four constitutional amendments between 1913 and 1920 shows the power of the Progressive Movement?
Four amendments were - 16th create federal income tax - 17th was direct election of US Senators - 18th was Prohibition of alcohol - 19th was votes for women Argument that shows power of Progressives - To get Amendment passed need broad support - Progressives passed 4 Amendments in short period Arguments against - 18th and 19th were passed because of WWI - No Progressive party - Prohibition was never a progressive reform
How far does Theodore Roosevelt deserve to be described as a Progressive?
In favor of TR being a progressive - As representative in NY, he attacked rule of party bosses - As President, he implemented railroad regulation, meat inspections, Pure Food and Drug Act, trustbusting (broke up Northern Securities Company), intervened in coalminers strike and set up national parks - As candidate in 1912 (Bull Moose Party), he wanted women's suffrage and social insurance Limitation of TR's Progressivism - Did very little for civil rights and allowed Jim Crow laws to stay in place
'The right-wing opposition to Roosevelt's New Deal was more effective than left-wing opposition.' How far do you agree?
Leading left-wing opponents were Father Coughlin, Francis Townsend and Huey Long. Leading right-wing opponents were American Liberty League and Conservative Coalition. Arguments against - Left-wing opponents became more famous - Coughlin established a National Union for Social Justice in 1934 and a third party to contest the 1936 presidential elections - Francis Townsend gained national publicity for his proposal to introduce Social Security for the old - Long set up his Share Our Wealth movement in 1934, arguing for progressive taxation and great redistribution of wealth - Labor unions caused unrest in the 1930s - American Liberty League consisted of conservative Democrats and leading industrialists disbanded after FDR won in 1936 Arguments for - Conservative Manifesto was a document praising private enterprise - Blocked anti-lynching law. Some candidates will include Supreme Court opposition to many New Deal reforms, but the Supreme Court is a judicial not a political institution and so cannot be seen as either left wing or right wing
How far did President Johnson continue the Reconstruction policies of President Lincoln?
Lincoln had 3 initiatives. - 10% Plan:rebel states could return if 10% of voters took an oath of future loyalty and state amended constitution to abolish slavery - 13th Amendment to abolish slavery - Freedmen's Bureau to help freed black slaves Before assassination, Lincoln stated publicly some black males could be given the vote. Congress - Opposed 10% Plan and approved Wade-Davis bill with a minimum of 50% taking the loyalty oath but Lincoln vetoed the bill Andrew Johnson - Lincoln's VP, was a Southern Democrat from Tennessee (border state) Argument that he did follow Lincoln's policies - gave amnesty to southerners with no percentage required to take oath taking the oath - Pardoned many southern landowners - Declared Reconstruction complete and alienated Congress - Introduced 14th Amendment which was equality for all Americans Argument that he did not follow Lincoln - Vetoed bill to extend the Freedmen's Bureau - Vetoed Civil Rights Act introducing black suffrage - Believed in state's rights which allowed black codes - Johnson thought he was continuing Lincoln's policies and radicals in Congress became even more hostile to Johnson
'Extremely ambitious.' How far do the aims of the Progressive Movement of the 1890s merit this description?
Progressive Era Goals - Limit the power of party bosses - Limit power of robber barons and trust - Create country that benefitted everyone not just the powerful To accomplish goals - needed more power of government regulate private corporations - Social legislation such as better housing, food, and water. A ban on alcohol. - Political reforms like primaries, initiatives and referendums - Bimetal currency - Women given the right to vote Answer: When muckrakers and middle class got involved many of these goals were achieved. Was not too ambitious. Opposing view: there were still powerful elites, unequal wealth distribution, poor housing, etc.
How far did the Progressive reforms make the USA more democratic?
Progressives changes to political system - referendums, initiatives, and recalls mostly at state level - primaries - popular elections of US Senators (17th Amendment) - women's suffrage (19th Amendment) Arguments it made US more democratic - Before 17th Amendment, Senators chosen by state legislatures (often controlled by one party) - Primaries, referendums, etc. undermined party bosses - Women got the right to vote Arguments it didn't make US more democratic - Money is still a key to winning election in US - Wealthy hold disproportionate share of government - Women did not vote in large numbers until after 1980
In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt was described as 'a cautious politician'. How far did Roosevelt's domestic policies in the 1930s support this view?
The quote challenges the usual view that Roosevelt was a radical reformer. Arguments to support - FDR did little to help African Americans because he could not afford to antagonize the powerful Southern Democrats in Congress - FDR did little to reduce the inequalities which many saw as a root cause of America's social and economic problems. e.g. he maintained a balanced budget which led to the Roosevelt Recession in 1937 Arguments that challenge - Court Packing Plan was a radical effort to reshape US government (attack on checks and balances) - Social Security Act was bold act in providing the elderly with benefits - Wagner Act was a radical attempt to set minimum wages and institute collective bargaining with unions
'Promised much, achieved little.' How accurate is this assessment of President Grant's reconstruction policies?
The reconstruction of the South after 1868 focused on two main issues: political equality for freedmen and the rise of white violence against blacks trying to claim their rights. Grant's theme in 1868 was 'Let us have peace'. He was a soldier who had little liking for politicians apart from Lincoln. Evidence for the assertion that Grant promised much in reconstructing the South includes - His use of federal troops in states where black rights were threatened, especially by white groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, e.g. Louisiana and Georgia. - His support for the Fifteenth Amendment giving the vote to all men, white or black. - His support for the 1875 Civil Rights Act, which banned racial discrimination in access to public places. - His support for and use of the Force Acts of 1870-71 against the Ku Klux Klan. Evidence for the assertion that his policies achieved little includes: - His reliance on federal law and troops to implement his reconstruction policies did little to win over white southerners. - The failure to continue with the Freedmen's Bureau in the early 1870s. - His failure to continue to focus on the South as other issues needed more attention, e.g. financial and economic crises.
The North won the war because Grant was prepared to attack the people of the South as well as its armies. How far do you agree?
Agree - March to the Sea led by Sherman was very effective and he said: 'We are not only fighting hostile armies but a hostile people.' There was pillaging and destruction - Sherman's rapid advance allowed him to join with Grant's army and Lee surrendered soon after at Appomattox - Scorched earth policy destroyed the spirit of popular resistance in the South - Sherman's army had long supply lines lived off the land Disagree - Civilians were not attacked but moved out of the way - Grant's battles in 1864 were traditional military campaigns (battles and sieges) No attacks on civilians - Anaconda Plan had suffocated the South by 1864
How far did the economic boom of the 1920s cause the Great Depression of the 1930s?
Argument that boom caused Depression - Created a large disparity in wealth bc richest 1% owned 1/3 of US - Encouraged consumers to get into debt and installment contracts were overused - Encouraged firms to make products that consumers eventually could not afford - Encouraged excessive speculation in stock market and banks to make risky loans so stock market collapsed Argument that other factors caused Depression - Capitalism was inevitable that boom would end - US Banking industry was not well regulated - Growing tariff wars bc US enacted Smoot-Hawley tariff and Europe retaliated - US stayed on gold standard which limited money supply - Decline in Agriculture and farmers were in trouble during 20s which drought made it worse
How far did the New Deal bring about a major shift in power towards the US presidency?
Arguments that it did bring about a major shift in power include - The creation of many federal government executive agencies - The great increase in the number of executive orders, i.e. presidential decrees - The 100 Days and its various actions, though approved by Congress, were led by FDR - FDR's unprecedented decision to stand for a third term in 1940, and his subsequent re-election Arguments against the New Deal bringing about a major shift in power towards the US presidency include - The checks and balances of the US constitution continued to work, e.g. Supreme Court judgements against New Deal legislation - The failure of FDR's court-packing plans - The electoral limits on presidential power - States' powers were not completely eroded - The growth of political opposition
How far do you agree that the expansion of the railroad network was the main cause of the rapid growth of the American economy in the period from 1865 to 1914?
Arguments that support railroads were a main cause of growth - Created a national market - Reduced transport costs - Expanded markets - Stimulated growth in coal, steel, and iron industries - Expanded capital (banking) market which then helped other industries Arguments that challenged this view - Laissez faire economics was more important and allowed business to expand without oppressive regulations - Large scale immigration was more important and provided labor - Railroads had limited effect on capital, steel, coal, etc. markets
How successful were Franklin Roosevelt's '100 Days of Action'?
Elements of FDR's first 100 days - Fifteen bills, all approved by Congress, all aiming to provide relief - Recovery and reform in creation of alphabet agencies (AAA, CCC,NIRA) - Closing all US banks for four days - Taking US off the gold standard Argument first 100 days a success - Gave impression federal government would help the people and control big business - FDR came across as a dynamic national leader in contrast to relative inactivity of the Hoover - In mid-term elections (1934), Democrats gained nine seats in Congress which is rare for president's party to do this - Created the New Deal coalition of the white South, labor unions, and ethnic minorities of the North Argument against - the economy was slow to recover. Many argue that it was only entry into the Second World War that restored the economy
How great was the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation?
Emancipation Proclamation was a military decree announced during the war that freed all slaves in states still in rebellion and did not apply to border states or areas already freed by Union armies. Great impact - Changed how Europe viewed North. Kept Britain and France out of war - Allowed black men into the Northern armies. Provided needed soldiers - Changed focus of war from keeping union together to the moral issue of eliminating slavery - Lincoln did this because war was not going well for the North - Proclamation seriously undermined the Southern war effort because it could not rely on the support of its slaves - War had been a stalemate in east and caused movement in the east Counter-argument Proclamation did not shift balance. There was already an imbalance of resources that favored the North and it took until 1863-64 for the imbalance to take effect
How far did the New Deal mark the end of laissez-faire values and policies?
Evidence that the New Deal marked the end of laissez-faire values and policies includes - The growth of federal state regulation of the economy, e.g. NIRA - The growth of federal provision of economic activity, e.g. WPA - The growth of federal organization of welfare benefits, e.g. Social Security Act Evidence that the New Deal did not mean the end of laissez faire includes - Some regulation was intended to increase competition between private companies, i.e. still leaving companies free to compete - The private sector still dominated the US economy, free market individualism still survived, e.g. the absence of a wealth tax - Political and judicial checks meant that the New Deal had to work within the existing set of values and policies
Account for the rise and fall of the Freedmen's Bureau during the Reconstruction era.
Freedmen's Bureau was extremely controversial and was established last few months of Lincoln's presidency - Intended to last for one year only - Purpose: to help the 4 million ex-slaves become free men - Resistance: White Southerners passed Black Codes which were laws intended to restrict African Americans' freedom and made them to work for low wages or debt - Ku Klux Klan formed: a way white Southerners opposed Reconstruction and used intimidation and violence - In 1866, Congress extended life of Bureau and had to override President Johnson's veto - Bureau provided hospitals, schools (beginning of black universities), and support of exslaves - when southern states readmitted to Union, they used votes to stop the Bureau - Grant introduced bill to save Bureau in Ku Klux Klan Act - First time federal government took welfare role, a role which traditionally belonged to the states - In 1872, Congress dismantled bureau due to pressure from White Southerners
How far did the USA benefit from the mass immigration of the late nineteenth century?
From 1865 to 1900, 13 million people emigrated to America mostly from Europe Benefits - Industries had steady supply of workers - Workers were relatively cheap - Immigrants provided a large market for new goods - New machines and entrepreneurs lowered costs of products and raised standard of living Problems - Unequal pay and workers exploited by trusts - Urbanization caused overcrowding and ghettos - Organized crime - Political bosses/machines
How far do you agree that President Hoover's response to the Great Crash was wholly inadequate?
Great Crash happened 7 months into Hoover's presidency. Argument Hoover's response was inadequate - He kept US on gold standard put US at disadvantage to countries that gave up on gold and caused high interest rates further hurting the economy - Hoover signed Smoot-Hawley Bill to increase tariffs which hurt US trade and other countries retaliated - Hoover raised taxes which caused deflation - Hoover remained a believer in laissez-faire and believed government should not interfere in economy. He also felt the economy would rebound (in capitalist countries the economy has highs and lows) Argument Hoover's response was adequate - No one realized the depth of the Depression - Traditionally president didn't get involved in economy - Hoover tried to get states and private companies to invest in projects like roads - He created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to give loans to private industry and Home Loans Bank System to help mortgagees - Hoover was blamed by many Americans for the depression and arguably he could have done more. However, many of the problems happened before he was president
How important were technological innovations to rapid industrialization in the 1870 and 1880s?
Innovations included - incandescent light bulb, the electrical dynamo, typewriter, farm tractors, telephone, and Bessemer steel-making process Importance - labor-saving devices and some machines caused unemployment (replaced people) but overall machines were needed because of labor shortages Other factors that caused industrialization - availability of resources: financial and raw materials - individualistic, entrepreneurial culture of USA ensured competition between the inventors of the new technologies - US system of patents encouraged innovation - high tariff walls protected developing industries - growing population of US provided mass market not available to US competitors Overall, rapid industrialization resulted from series of factors one of which was new technologies
How far did the New Deal encourage economic growth?
It is a great debate among economists (some parallels to Great Recession in 2008). Purpose of New Deal was to halt decline in economic growth and get Americans back to work. Many reforms were tried and FDR did a lot of experimenting. By 1937, economy had recovered from the depths of depression in 1933. Later in 1937, there was a contraction in the economy called the Roosevelt recession. A full recovery and full employment only came with the outbreak of WWII. An argument is that some credit is given New Deal with doing much to stimulate economic growth while others dismiss its importance compared with the onset of war. Recent studies argue that New Deal emphasis on road building and improving infrastructure helped but did not make a great deal of difference.
How deserved were the widespread criticisms of party bosses in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?
Party bosses dominated politics and government of the big cities via party machines. Criticisms of party bosses - ran cities in in their own interests - made sure cronies were given government jobs and contracts e.g. Boss Tweed - fixed elections - principal reason behind the Progressive movement was to get rid of party bosses Defense of party bosses - can be argued that they provided some kind of - provided jobs especially for new immigrants (jobs for votes) - provided some form of order and dealt with urban issues such as sanitation and public health - were not dictators. Boss Tweed did fall from power in New York as did some of his successors
'The USA is the great melting pot, where all races are melting and reforming.' How accurate is this assertion about the place of immigrants in the USA in the early twentieth century?
Quote from play term used to describe American society. Old identities melts away and creates new American identity. Irish were source of criticism at the time Arguments against - Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 - Discrimination against Germans in WWI - Red Scare was discrimination against communists, anarchists, etc. e.g. Sacco and Vanzetti - 1924 Immigration act limited immigration from eastern and southern Europe Arguments for - Size and economic opportunities of US allowed many immigrant groups to assimilate with ease - Americanization programs were various attempts for public and private to assimilate, or Americanize, immigrant communities
How radical was Radical Reconstruction?
Radical. means fundamental change not limited reform. Radical Reconstruction aim was to bring big changes to South. Goals were redistribution of land, harsh treatment of CSA leaders, political equality, and support for ex-slaves. Goals achieved - political equality in theory by the 14th and 15th Amendments Goals not achieved - actual equality (e.g. black codes) and things got worse once North became less involved in South - CSA leaders escaped relatively lightly and Jefferson Davis was arrested spent four years in prison then was released without charge - Land redistribution was mostly ignored. Sherman's idea was 'forty acres and a mule' never became part of federal government policy - Land remained with previous landowners. Exslaves ended up working for their ex-masters on terms slightly better than before Radical Reconstruction had some radical goals. Practice of Reconstruction, however, was limited by the politics of both the South and of federal government.
How far do you agree that President Wilson did more for the Progressive cause than did President Theodore Roosevelt?
TR and WW had similar domestic policies. TR (Republican) had Square Deal and valued conservation (national parks), trust-busting, Pure Food and Drug Act WW had New Freedom initiative and went after triple wall of privilege (tariffs, banks, and trusts) Major difference - WW allowed Espionage and Sedition Act and repressive policies associated with the Red Scare (Probably a result of World War I)
On the evidence of his domestic policies, how far does President Wilson deserve to be called a Progressive?
Wilson was only second Democrat president since Civil War led Congress. Progressive reforms of Wilson - Anti-trust legislation (Clayton Anti-Trust Act) and Federal Trade Commission - Tariffs reduced (Underwood Act) - Federal income tax offset money lost from tariffs - Federal Reserve established Federal Reserve System to stabilize the banking sector - Social reforms e.g. limits on child labor and an 8-hour day for railroad workers Case against Wilson being called a Progressive - Did nothing to help African Americans. In fact, upheld racial segregation in the federal administration - Was not as tough on business as he promised
