Note De Civilisation America

1

LIBERAL REFORM IN THE 1960’s

I/ The affluent society

A/ The United States: the leader of the world

-Liberal = In favor of reforms

 Help to the poor

-1960’s = America confident in cultural, poltical, economical power

 Optimistic minds

-End of WW2 shows USA power: USA = World Power

 Technical: Nuclear bomb

 Political:defeat of Nazi, Democracy

 Economical: end of the depression (krash) thanks to a war economy

 Culture: European artists flee to the USA = New York becomes the cultural and artistic capital in place of Paris

USA = J.K. Galbraith’s “Affluent Society”

B/ Consumerism and suburbanisation

-Economic expansion lasts 20 years

 Creation of a middle class

-Income increases by 40%

 Richest period

-Middle class people buy appliances, cars...etc

 Market, fashion, technology increase

-New middle class buy houses in suburbs

 They move out of the city (=corruption)

 Confort, hygiene, space

 Suburbs have assets of the city close by and calm countryside

 From 1945 to 1960, 36M to 68M in 15 years

 They buy preconstructed housing, they strat as a collectivity but turn into individual houses

-Middle class keeps buying

 Support the Market

 Gain of condidence = defend their own values

-1950’s: Population becomes restless

 Southern populations are not happy (minorities)

 Women are not satisfied (contrary to the American mystic)

 Senator McCarthy’s witch-hunt against communists

 Farmers stay poor throughout the whole economic prosperity of the country

 Growing Restlessness

-1960’s:General Eisenhower president for 2 terms already, represents USA’s Grandfather but Americans want change

 They elect Young republican JFK: Hnadsome, young, good image (“Let’s get America moving again!”)

 JFK represents a new decade

II/ Liberal reform

A/ Lyndon B. Johnson’s « Great Society »

-Inaugural adress = Speech made in public, ceremony in which the President “takes into office” when swearing oath on the bible. He then expresses his future plans for the country.

-JFK’s new program: “New frontier” (to push back limits)

-Weak domestic policy:

2

 JFK gets proposals rejected

 Democratic party conflict (concening the liberal reforms) = African americans

-JFK assassinated in Dallas in 1963

 Lots of opposition in the south due to his catholic religion and Africans americans debate

-Vice president Lyndon Banes Johnson

 Home state is Texas, where JFK assassinated (bad for reputation)

 Experienced politician

 Man from the south so understading of South’s prejudice

-Start of the presidential campaign 6 months later :

 Use Kennedy’s death to his benefit

B/ The debate on liberal reform

-1964: Speech at the Michigan University where he presents his ambitious program:The Great Society

 Erase poverty: Medicaid for the poor, Medicare for the elderly disabled

 According to “The other American” by M.Harrington, 25% of the pop in need of assisstance

 Education: “Head Start”

-Program critisized by the unsatisfied Radical left and the Conservative opposition.

-Minorities feel self reliant and deny the help provided by the program

-Although the succes in the GS program, resident Johnson is caught up in the Vietam War

THE US CONSTITUTION

Americans declared their independence on 4th July 1776 in the Decoration of Independence in which they state that they are 13 free and independent states

I/ Background of the Constitution

A/ English political tradition

-Constitution inspired by England (concepts and principles)

-John Locke’s theory of Natural Rights

 Rights come from God: We are born with them and they cnnot be denied

 3 Main rights: Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness

B/ Colonial experience

-Influence b their coloized stats in the past

-Pilgrim Fathers wrote “Mayflower Compact” about government with the consent of the governed = Democracy

-Separation of powar during the colonial period:

 Executive branch = Governor

 Legislative branch = Assemblies

 Judicial branch = Courts

-The separation of powers between England and USA gave birth to Federation in

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