| Front | Back | | --- | --- | | What was the primary democratic aim of the New Deal (1933–39) in response to the Great Depression? |

Aim: Restore economic stability to protect democratic institutions from collapse.
Mechanism: Provided immediate relief to the unemployed to prevent social instability and preserve faith in the democratic system.

| | How did the New Deal (1933–39) structurally expand the role of the federal government in supporting democracy? |

Mechanism: Established the precedent of federal responsibility for citizens' basic welfare through programs like Social Security and public works.

| | What major limitation of the New Deal (1933–39) demonstrated that democratic expansion was uneven? |

Limitation: Excluded many African Americans and women from receiving full benefits, leaving existing social inequalities intact.

| | Launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Great Society aimed to build on the New Deal by expanding the federal government's role to eliminate poverty and racial inequality. | Launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Great Society aimed to build on the New Deal by expanding the federal government's role to eliminate poverty and racial inequality. | | How did the Great Society's Medicare and Medicaid (1965) policies aim to strengthen American democracy? |

Aim: Expand social rights alongside political rights.
Mechanism: Ensured healthcare access for the elderly and poor, reducing economic barriers to civic participation.

| | Why did the long-term impact of the Great Society's domestic programs fall short of their original goals? |

Financial diversion: Massive spending on the Vietnam War diverted resources away from domestic reform.
Political opposition: Rising costs and bureaucracy weakened public and political support.

| | What was the primary ideological shift behind the Welfare Reforms of the post-1980s (e.g., the 1996 Welfare Reform Act)? |

Aim: Shift from state-supported welfare to individual responsibility.
Mechanism: Reduced welfare rolls to decrease dependency on the federal government.

| | How did critics argue that the post-1980s welfare reforms undermined democratic equality? |

Consequence: Increased the economic vulnerability of low-income families, limiting their resources to participate equally in democratic life.

| | The GI Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act) of 1944 aimed to prevent post-war unemployment and strengthen democracy by integrating WWII veterans into the economy. | The GI Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act) of 1944 aimed to prevent post-war unemployment and strengthen democracy by integrating WWII veterans into the economy. | | How did the GI Bill (1944) help stabilize and strengthen post-war American democracy? |

Mechanism: Funded college/vocational education and offered low-interest home loans.
Outcome: Created a prosperous, stable middle class with a high stake in civic participation.

| | What structural limitation of the GI Bill (1944) reinforced racial inequality in post-war America? |

Mechanism: Benefits were administered locally, allowing local discrimination to systematically exclude African American veterans.

| | How does persistent economic inequality limit democratic participation? |

Mechanism: Restricts marginalized groups' access to resources and political influence, preventing equal representation.

| | The 1965 Immigration Act increased cultural pluralism in the US, strengthening democracy by diversifying society but also generating social tensions. | The 1965 Immigration Act increased cultural pluralism in the US, strengthening democracy by diversifying society but also generating social tensions. | | How did the tension between national security and civil liberties manifest during the Cold War in the US? |

Example: McCarthyism.
Mechanism: Anti-communist hysteria was used to restrict civil liberties and suppress political dissent, demonstrating the limits of democratic protections during crises.

| | How did the free press and media exposure reinforce democratic accountability in the late 20th century? |

Mechanism: Exposed government abuses during the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, enabling public oversight and checking executive power.

| | How did social movements leverage constitutional protections to expand democratic rights in the mid-20th century? |

Mechanism: Used protected rights of free speech and assembly to organize protests and press for legislative reforms like the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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How did the constitutional framework established here in 1787 contrast with the democratic expansions of the 1930s and 1960s regarding the role of the federal government?

1787 Constitution: Focused on limiting federal power and protecting negative liberties.
1930s/1960s Reforms: Expanded the federal government's active role to secure positive social and economic rights.

| |

How did the public works programs depicted here during the New Deal era serve a democratic purpose beyond simple economic relief?

Democratic purpose: Restored faith in democratic institutions by demonstrating that the government could actively address systemic economic crises, preventing the rise of extremist political alternatives.

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: the Development of Democratic State Flashcards

Flashcards for USA: The Development of Democratic State

Flashcards for USA: The Development of Democratic State - IB