USA, 1865–1975 – consequence in this period through the following key…

The idea

Between 1865 and 1975, the US political landscape transformed profoundly. Government expanded from the laissez-faire approach of the Gilded Age to the interventionist federal state of the New Deal and Great Society. Political authority increasingly centralised in the presidency, particularly under Franklin D. Roosevelt, challenging traditional congressional dominance. Simultaneously, political parties underwent major realignments. The Republicans transitioned from their Reconstruction origins to championing conservative business interests. Conversely, the Democrats evolved from their Southern roots to embrace progressive liberalism and civil rights, fundamentally altering voter coalitions and electoral maps across the century.

What earns the marks

• Assess the shift from laissez-faire government policies to federal interventionism, particularly during the Progressive Era and the 1930s.
• Evaluate the growth of executive political authority and the 'Imperial Presidency' relative to the power of Congress and state legislatures.
• Analyse the ideological realignment of the Democratic and Republican parties, focusing on the impact of the New Deal coalition and the civil rights movement.
• Examine how crises such as the Great Depression, World Wars, and the Cold War acted as catalysts for changes in government structure and political authority.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming the Democratic and Republican parties held the same ideological positions throughout the period.

  Put it right: Trace the ideological flip, noting how Democrats became the party of federal intervention and civil rights while Republicans embraced conservatism.

• Treating 'government' and 'political authority' as identical concepts.

  Put it right: Distinguish between the structural size and role of government institutions and the locus of political authority, such as the shift of power from Congress to the Presidency.

• Ignoring the role of third parties or grassroots movements.

  Put it right: Include the influence of Populists, Progressives, and civil rights activists in forcing major parties to adapt their platforms.

Exam tips

• Use specific turning points, such as the 1932 or 1968 elections, to anchor your analysis of political party realignment.
• When discussing political authority, explicitly compare the power of the executive branch during the Gilded Age with its power during the Cold War.
• Link changes in government size directly to specific legislative programmes, such as the New Deal or the Great Society, rather than making vague statements about state expansion.