IB History Topic USA: Aims & Results of Policies Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB History Topic USA: Aims & Results of Policies Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

The Development of the USA as a Democratic State

Factors Influencing the Evolution of Democracy

Industrialization
1. Rapid industrial growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries shifted power from rural elites to urban workers, increasing demands for political representation.
2. The rise of labor unions (e.g. AFL) pressured the government to pass reforms such as workplace safety laws and minimum wage legislation.
3. Industrialization also strengthened corporate influence, leading to political corruption and limiting true democratic equality.
Immigration
1. Mass immigration (1880–1920) expanded the electorate but also provoked nativist backlash, limiting democratic inclusion.
2. Laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) contradicted democratic principles by denying rights based on race.
3. Over time, immigrant communities helped expand democracy through political machines and voter participation.
Ideology
1. American democracy was shaped by liberal ideology, emphasizing individual rights, constitutionalism, and limited government.
2. Cold War fears led to contradictions, such as McCarthyism, where civil liberties were restricted in the name of security.
3. Ideology promoted democracy globally while often failing to fully apply it domestically.

Definition

Liberalism

Liberalism is a political ideology that emphasizes individual freedom, equality before the law, and protection of civil rights.

Definition

Urbanization

Urbanization is the movement of populations from rural to urban areas.

Tip

Use this information to show cause-and-effect by linking economic change, immigration, and ideology directly to how US democracy expanded and contracted over time.
In Paper 2 essays, it helps you weigh progress against limitations, which is essential for high-level evaluation in “to what extent” questions.

Case study

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Background

Large-scale Chinese immigration followed the California Gold Rush and railroad construction.
Economic downturns in the 1870s led to job competition fears, especially among white working-class Americans.
Strong nativist ideology portrayed Chinese immigrants as unassimilable and a threat to American values.

Key Features of the Act

Banned Chinese labor immigration for ten years (later extended indefinitely).
Denied Chinese immigrants the right to naturalization, excluding them from full political participation.
Enforcement expanded federal authority over immigration control.

Impact on Democracy

Contradicted democratic principles of equality before the law by discriminating on racial grounds.
Limited democracy by excluding an entire ethnic group from citizenship and voting rights.
Demonstrated how democracy could be shaped by popular pressure rather than constitutional ideals.

Evaluation

Short-term: Appealed to voters and stabilized political support in western states.
Long-term: Set a precedent for racially based immigration policy, weakening democratic inclusivity.
Repeal in 1943 reflected a gradual shift toward a more inclusive interpretation of democracy.

Race Relations

Racial inequality limited democracy because African Americans were denied voting rights and equal protection despite constitutional amendments.

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Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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The Development of the USA as a Democratic State

Factors Influencing the Evolution of Democracy

Industrialization
1. Rapid industrial growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries shifted power from rural elites to urban workers, increasing demands for political representation.
2. The rise of labor unions (e.g. AFL) pressured the government to pass reforms such as workplace safety laws and minimum wage legislation.
3. Industrialization also strengthened corporate influence, leading to political corruption and limiting true democratic equality.
Immigration
1. Mass immigration (1880–1920) expanded the electorate but also provoked nativist backlash, limiting democratic inclusion.
2. Laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) contradicted democratic principles by denying rights based on race.
3. Over time, immigrant communities helped expand democracy through political machines and voter participation.
Ideology
1. American democracy was shaped by liberal ideology, emphasizing individual rights, constitutionalism, and limited government.
2. Cold War fears led to contradictions, such as McCarthyism, where civil liberties were restricted in the name of security.
3. Ideology promoted democracy globally while often failing to fully apply it domestically.

Definition

Liberalism

Liberalism is a political ideology that emphasizes individual freedom, equality before the law, and protection of civil rights.

Definition

Urbanization

Urbanization is the movement of populations from rural to urban areas.

Tip

Use this information to show cause-and-effect by linking economic change, immigration, and ideology directly to how US democracy expanded and contracted over time.
In Paper 2 essays, it helps you weigh progress against limitations, which is essential for high-level evaluation in “to what extent” questions.

Case study

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Background

Large-scale Chinese immigration followed the California Gold Rush and railroad construction.
Economic downturns in the 1870s led to job competition fears, especially among white working-class Americans.
Strong nativist ideology portrayed Chinese immigrants as unassimilable and a threat to American values.

Key Features of the Act

Banned Chinese labor immigration for ten years (later extended indefinitely).
Denied Chinese immigrants the right to naturalization, excluding them from full political participation.
Enforcement expanded federal authority over immigration control.

Impact on Democracy

Contradicted democratic principles of equality before the law by discriminating on racial grounds.
Limited democracy by excluding an entire ethnic group from citizenship and voting rights.
Demonstrated how democracy could be shaped by popular pressure rather than constitutional ideals.

Evaluation

Short-term: Appealed to voters and stabilized political support in western states.
Long-term: Set a precedent for racially based immigration policy, weakening democratic inclusivity.
Repeal in 1943 reflected a gradual shift toward a more inclusive interpretation of democracy.

Race Relations

Racial inequality limited democracy because African Americans were denied voting rights and equal protection despite constitutional amendments.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History USA: Aims & Results of Policies Notes

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

The Development of the USA as a Democratic State

Factors Influencing the Evolution of Democracy

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Race Relations

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Development of the USA as a Democratic State

Factors Influencing the Evolution of Democracy

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Race Relations

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account