Republican reaction: the Nixon Presidency, 1968–1974 (A-level only) common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Overgeneralizing Nixon's policies

  Students often describe Nixon's policies as uniformly successful or unsuccessful without acknowledging the complexities.

  Fix itIt is important to analyze specific policies and their varied impacts on different groups within American society.

• Overgeneralizing Nixon's policies

  Students often describe Nixon's policies as solely conservative without acknowledging the complexities and contradictions.

  Fix itFocus on specific policies and their impacts, recognizing the nuances in Nixon's approach to both social issues and economic challenges.

• Overgeneralizing Nixon's policies

  Students often describe Nixon's foreign policy as solely focused on Vietnam without acknowledging the broader context of détente and relations with China.

  Fix itEnsure to discuss Nixon's policies in a broader context, including his efforts in détente and the opening of relations with China.

• Confusing Watergate with other scandals

  Students often mix up the details of Watergate with other political scandals.

  Fix itFocus on the specific events and consequences of the Watergate scandal, particularly Nixon's actions and the resulting investigations.