USA: The Development of Democratic State Notes

Aims and Results of US Democratic Policies

Social and Economic Policies

1. New Deal (1933–39)
   1. Aims: Restore economic stability, protect democracy from collapse, and provide relief to unemployed Americans after the Great Depression.
   2. Results: Expanded federal responsibility through programs such as Social Security and public works, strengthening democratic trust.
   3. Limitations: Excluded many African Americans and women from full benefits, showing democracy expanded unevenly.
2. Great Society (1964–68)
   1. Aims: Reduce poverty and racial inequality, and widen access to education and healthcare.
   2. Results: Programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the War on Poverty expanded social rights and democratic participation.
   3. Limitations: High costs and Vietnam War spending limited long-term impact.
3. Welfare Reforms (Post-1980s)
   1. Aims: Reduce dependency on welfare and promote individual responsibility.
   2. Results: Short-term reductions in welfare rolls, especially after the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.
   3. Limitations: Increased vulnerability for low-income families, raising questions about democratic equality.

Case study

The Great Society (1964–68)

• Background
  • President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the Great Society during a period of economic growth but persistent poverty and racial inequality.
  • Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and the belief that democracy required social justice, not just political rights.
  • Johnson aimed to build on the New Deal by expanding the federal government’s role in citizens’ lives.
• Aims
  • Eliminate poverty through the War on Poverty.
  • Expand educational and healthcare access to promote equal opportunity.
  • Use federal power to reduce racial and economic inequality.
• Key Policies
  • Medicare and Medicaid (1965) provided healthcare for the elderly and the poor.
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) increased federal funding for schools.
  • Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965) enforced legal equality and political participation.
• Impact on Democracy
  • Strengthened democracy by expanding social rights alongside political rights.
  • Increased participation among marginalized groups through education, healthcare, and voting access.
  • Reinforced the idea that democracy requires active government intervention.
• Evaluation
  • Short-term: Reduced elderly poverty and expanded access to healthcare and education.
  • Long-term: Faced criticism for cost, bureaucracy, and limited success in eliminating poverty.
  • The Vietnam War diverted funding and weakened public support.

Impact on the Population

1. Expansion of the Middle Class
   1. Democratic policies helped grow the post-war middle class through home ownership, education, and job security.
   2. Programs like the GI Bill expanded access to higher education and political engagement.
   3. This strengthened democracy by increasing economic stability and civic participation.
2. Continuing Inequality
   1. Economic growth did not benefit all groups equally.
   2. Racial minorities and women experienced persistent gaps in income, housing, and political influence.
   3. Inequality limited democratic participation by restricting access to resources and power.

Case study

GI Bill (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, 1944)

• Background
  • Introduced during World War II to support returning veterans and prevent post-war unemployment.
  • Reflected the belief that democracy required economic security and opportunity for citizens.
  • Aimed to avoid the social instability that followed World War I.
• Aims
  • Reintegrate veterans into civilian life.
  • Expand access to education, housing, and employment.
  • Strengthen democracy by creating a stable and engaged middle class.
• Key Features
  • Provided funding for college and vocational education.
  • Offered low-interest home loans and unemployment benefits.
  • Benefits were administered locally, not federally.
• Impact on Democracy
  • Helped create a large, prosperous post-war middle class.
  • Increased political participation by improving economic stability.
  • Strengthened faith in democratic institutions through tangible benefits.
• Evaluation
  • Short-term: Millions of veterans attended college or bought homes.
  • Long-term: Contributed to economic growth and suburban expansion.
  • Limitations: African American veterans often excluded due to local discrimination, revealing unequal democracy.

Cultural Impact

1. Media and Civil Liberties
   1. A free press strengthened democracy by promoting transparency and accountability.
   2. Periods like McCarthyism showed how civil liberties could be restricted during crises.
   3. Media exposure of government abuse (e.g. Vietnam, Watergate) reinforced democratic oversight.
2. Cultural Diversity
   1. Immigration and civil rights reforms increased cultural pluralism.
   2. Policies like the 1965 Immigration Act reshaped American society.
   3. Greater diversity strengthened democracy but also created social tensions.
3. Freedom of Expression
   1. Constitutional protections encouraged activism and protest.
   2. Social movements used speech and protest to expand democratic rights.
   3. Limits existed during national security crises, revealing democratic tension.