The Superpower, 1945–1975 (A-level only) revision notes

Key Themes in US History, 1945-1975

Domestic Politics

• Truman and Eisenhower: Analyze the impact of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan on post-war reconstruction. Consider how Eisenhower's policies, including the New Look strategy, influenced Cold War dynamics.

Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon

• New Frontier and Great Society: Evaluate Kennedy's vision for America and Johnson's expansion of social programs. Discuss the implications of Nixon's policies and the Republican revival in the late 1960s.

Economic Change

• Consumer Society: Examine the rise of the consumer culture in the 1950s and 1960s, focusing on economic prosperity and its effects on American life.

Social Divisions

• McCarthyism and Civil Rights: Discuss the impact of McCarthyism on American society and the civil rights movement's struggle for equality. Analyze the role of youth culture and protest movements in shaping public opinion.

International Relations

• Cold War Dynamics: Assess the USA's foreign policy towards the USSR and China, including the Vietnam War's significance and its effects on American society.

Cultural Developments

• Women and African-Americans: Explore the evolving roles of women and African-Americans in society by 1975, considering the limits of social cohesion and the emergence of new cultural identities.