Eisenhower.

Question	Answer
Why Eisenhower won the 1952 Presidential Election.	He was liked by voters due to his record as a General in WW2. He was a moderate - both parties considered him as a candidate. Personally popular - slogan was "I like Ike" Nixon was his running mate - balanced out Nixon's political inexperience. Republicans ran an effective campaign that utilised television - adverts focused on Eisenhower's honesty and integrity.
Eisenhower's political philosophy.	He was a moderate - asserted a new brand of Republicanism. "Dynamic conservatism" -Fiscal conservatism: balancing the budget and keeping taxes low. - End creeping socialism of previous Democrat administrations -Smaller role for the Federal Government -Accepted businesses needed to be regulated. -Some level of welfare was necessary Eisenhower was conservative with money, and liberal with people.
McCarthyism under Eisenhower	McCarthy was an alcoholic who was making wilder accusations and therefore started to lose credibility. The "red scare" had faded away by 1954.
Eisenhower's relations with Congress	Faced by a Democrat controlled House and Senate. However he was a moderate - this did not present him with too many problems. This helped him in the 1956 election - countered claims he hadn't done anything of substance, and the public liked that he got on with Congress.
Eisenhower and the economy: an overview.	President during a time the economy was doing extremely well. GDP grew, wages were rising and working hours fell. Demand was stimulated by the baby boom. Government spending after WW2 helped boost this economic boom. Eisenhower balanced the federal budget by selling off atomic power plants to private businesses.
The consumer boom	Technology was advancing which meant that new goods became available, eg TVs/radios. People were lured by cheap credit which furthered the consumer boom. Growth of advertising industries promoted these products further.
Social policy under Eisenhower.	Felt he had a responsibility to help the poor. Minimum wage raised from 75 cents to $1 Social security was extended to cover 10.5 million more Americans. Spending on the transport network - 1956 Highways Act built 41,000 miles of interstate highways. States had to find the extra 10% of the money, federal govt. gave 90%. 1658 NEDA (National Defense Education Act) - gave a large amount of money to science/language teaching. Reflected American fears they were falling behind in the Cold War.
Were the 50s an age of affluence?	Yes - 75% owned cars Average incomes were twice those of the 1920s. There was a building boom. By 1960, 60% owned their own homes. No - 22% lived below the poverty line. Unemployment reached 7.6% More money was spent on advertising than education - although there was more money around, was it being spent in the right places? Right wings saw the culture as encouraging sexual liberation - e.g Elvis.
Nixon as Vice President.	Chosen to balance out Eisenhower's political inexperience. Had a whiff of corruption about him, which people were unsure about as Eisenhower had promised a totally clean administration. A cunning politician.
Eisenhower and Civil Rights: key events.	Brown vs the Board of Education, 1954 Emmett Till, 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955-56 Little Rock, 1957 Civil Rights Act, 1957 Civil Rights Act, 1960
Brown vs The Board of Education: outline.	1954 Oliver Brown challenged the legal segregation of schools in Kansas - he had to send his daughter to an all black school further away. Ruled that facilities even if they were equal, were psychologically damaging to black children. All children to be admitted to schools equally. Significant ruling - overturned Plessy vs Ferguson which gave constitutional agreement to segregation. However - not all Southern states accepted ruling/revival in KKK popularity.
Emmett Till: overview.	1955. Allegedly wolf-whistled at a white woman, and was brutally killed. Found in the Mississippi River Claimed Till was still alive & this was the NAACP's plot. The verdict came back as not guilty
Montgomery Bus Boycott: overview.	Began December 1955- Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white man. Boycott was organised on the first day of her trial, lasted nearly a year. Demands included employment of black drivers/end of blacks standing when the bus wasn't full. Had enormous support. Martin Luther King emerged as a leader - gave notable speeches and used non violence. Boycott called off in December 1956 when desegregated buses began running.
Little Rock: overview.	1957 A good Southern school - 25 black children accepted but 16 withdrew, only 9 remained to face hatred of white community. Orval Faubus, the governor was against integration. Eisenhower forced to send troops to protect the 9 black students. Showed the hatred of integration in the South. Showed the black community needed to be proactive.
1957 Civil Rights Act	Aimed to ensure all citizens had the vote - at the time impossible questions were asked to prevent blacks from voting. Democrats tried to weaken it as it went through Congress Thurmond filibustered it for 24 hours Final act did little to help voter registration.
1960 Civil Rights Act	Added another bill - concerned with growing attacks on black schools/Churches and also wanted the black vote Met with resistance from Southern Democrats 1957/1960 Acts only added around 3% of blacks to the electoral register
Assessment of Eisenhower's Civil Rights record.	Easy to be critical as at first he was reluctant to act. Little Rock forced him into action as he had no choice. Process of desegregation after the Brown ruling was slow - however difficult to effect rapid change so a cautious approach was perhaps best.
Key foreign policy events under Eisenhower.	End of the Korean War New Look policy Geneva Summit 1955 Hungary 1956 China Vietnam Geneva Accords
End of the Korean War	Had been one of Eisenhower's election promises. The public opinion was becoming increasingly anti-war - this was a popular move. Stalin died in 1953 - beginning of a thaw in the Cold War, this improved relations.
Eisenhower and the New Look policy	Wanted a way of fighting wars that was effective but also cheaper Radford Plan/New Look: Cut back on conventional forces US more dependant on nuclear power "more bang for your buck" Administration also believed in the domino theory - however Eisenhower and Dulles (secretary of state) would not do anything to bring the US and USSR into direct conflict. Increasing nuclear power would act as a deterrent as massive retaliation would be possible.
Reasons for improving US-USSR relations	Death of Stalin - Khrushchev spoke of "peaceful coexistence" End of the Korean War End of McCarthyism
The Geneva Summit	1955 Little concrete was achieved but it was a great success in terms of relations However some tension still remained Khrushchev suggested disbanding Nato/Warsaw Pact but nothing came of this Eisenhower proposed "open skies" but Khrushchev rejected this as the US had U2 spy planes
Hungary 1956	Revolt broke out against the Communist government Hungarians pleaded for help from US but they did nothing except accept refugees Preoccupied with the Suez crisis Soviets crushed the revolt easily. Showed how a policy of liberationism was unrealistic Accepted the Soviet sphere of influence.
Eisenhower and China	After China had fallen to Communism the nationalist forces fled to Taiwan. The US continued to support them under Chiang and didn't recognise Mao as the legitimate ruler. Mao bombarded Taiwan, and Eisenhoer got approval from Congress to deploy troops in the region - Formosa Resolution. Made it clear to Chiang he had US support but could not expect unlimited support every time he decided to provoke China.
Vietnam under Eisenhower : the beginnings.	The French were struggling to win battles against the Vietminh. (Ho Chi Minh) 7 May 1954 - Dien Bien Phu fell to the Vietminh. This therefore meant agreements had to be made at the Geneva Accords.
Geneva Accords 1954	Agreed that the Communists would rule the north and non-Communists under Diem in the South. Free elections would be held in 1956 to unite Vietnam Although Eisenhower was not entirely happy, at least they had saved half of Vietnam, after Dien Bien Phu it had looked like the whole of Vietnam would become Communist.
Diem's rule in South Vietnam	Called the "best of a bad bunch" Ruled in a dictatorial manner Exploited the Buddhist peasant majority Bulk of US aid went into building up the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) Diem was deeply unpopular.

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