AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
USA, 1865–1975 – consequence in this period through the following key…
Full specification wording
1K The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975 – consequence in this period through the following key questions:: How important were ideas and ideology?
Ideas and ideology fundamentally shaped America's domestic development and foreign policy between 1865 and 1975.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 6
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Ideas and ideology fundamentally shaped America's domestic development and foreign policy between 1865 and 1975. Initially, Manifest Destiny justified westward expansion, while laissez-faire capitalism and Social Darwinism underpinned the rapid industrialisation of the Gilded Age. The twentieth century saw ideological shifts towards Progressivism and the New Deal, redefining the federal government's role in social welfare and economic regulation. Internationally, the ideological struggle between democratic capitalism and Soviet communism drove Cold War foreign policy and containment strategies. Domestically, the Civil Rights movement utilised the ideology of constitutional equality to challenge systemic racism and transform American society.
What earns the marks
- Evaluate the influence of laissez-faire capitalism and Social Darwinism on economic growth, corporate monopolies, and wealth inequality during the Gilded Age.
- Analyse how Progressivism and New Deal liberalism transformed the ideological consensus regarding the role and responsibilities of the federal government.
- Assess the impact of anti-communism and the defence of democratic capitalism on US foreign policy and domestic culture during the Cold War.
- Examine the role of egalitarian ideologies and constitutional rights in driving the Civil Rights movement and challenging segregation.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating American ideology as static.
Put it right: Demonstrate how dominant ideologies evolved, such as the shift from laissez-faire individualism to New Deal liberalism.
Ignoring the role of ideology in foreign policy.
Put it right: Explicitly link domestic beliefs in American exceptionalism and democracy to overseas interventions and imperialism.
Viewing ideologies in isolation.
Put it right: Explain how competing ideologies, such as states' rights versus federal intervention, interacted and caused political conflict.
Exam tips
- Define key ideological terms clearly, such as Social Darwinism or Progressivism, before evaluating their impact on specific historical events.
- Contrast the influence of ideology with pragmatic, geopolitical, or economic factors to build a balanced, analytical argument.
- Use the tension between the ideology of the American Dream and the reality of racial segregation to evaluate domestic social changes.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1K The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975 – consequence in this period through the following key questions:: How important were ideas and ideology? lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which ideology was primarily used to justify the United States' westward expansion and its growing influence in the late 19th century?
Listen
Ideas and ideology fundamentally shaped America's domestic development and foreign policy between 1865 and 1975. Initially, Manifest Destiny justified westward expansion, while laissez-faire capitalism and Social Darwinism underpinned the rapid industrialisation of the Gilded Age. The twentieth century saw ideological shifts towards Progressivism and the New Deal, redefining the federal government's role in social welfare and economic regulation. Internationally, the ideological struggle between democratic capitalism and Soviet communism drove Cold War foreign policy and containment strategies. Domestically, the Civil Rights movement utilised the ideology of constitutional equality to challenge systemic racism and transform American society. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Evaluate the influence of laissez-faire capitalism and Social Darwinism on economic growth, corporate monopolies, and wealth inequality during the Gilded Age. Analyse how Progressivism and New Deal liberalism transformed the ideological consensus regarding the role and responsibilities of the federal government. Assess the impact of anti-communism and the defence of democratic capitalism on US foreign policy and domestic culture during the Cold War. Examine the role of egalitarian ideologies and constitutional rights in driving the Civil Rights movement and challenging segregation. A common slip: Treating American ideology as static. Instead, demonstrate how dominant ideologies evolved, such as the shift from laissez-faire individualism to New Deal liberalism. Exam tip: Define key ideological terms clearly, such as Social Darwinism or Progressivism, before evaluating their impact on specific historical events.
See it
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