AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Reality and illusion, 1945–1980 – Republican reaction: the Nixon…
Full specification wording
2Q The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980 – Republican reaction: the Nixon Presidency, 1968–1974 (A-level only): The restoration of conservative social policies; the reaction to protest movements and forces of social change; economic change and the end of the post-war boom
Nixon’s presidency attempted the restoration of conservative social policies, appealing to traditional values by opposing forced busing for school desegregation and appointing conservative Supreme…
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 4
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Nixon’s presidency attempted the restoration of conservative social policies, appealing to traditional values by opposing forced busing for school desegregation and appointing conservative Supreme Court judges. The administration's reaction to protest movements and forces of social change was often hostile, utilising federal agencies to surveil anti-war and civil rights activists, framing them as threats to law and order. Simultaneously, the era witnessed profound economic change, marking the end of the post-war boom. The US faced 'stagflation'—a toxic combination of stagnant growth and high inflation—driven by the financial drain of Vietnam, prompting Nixon to implement controversial wage and price controls in August 1971, prior to the exacerbating 1973 oil crisis.
What earns the marks
- Assess Nixon's efforts to restore conservative social policies, such as his opposition to busing and his Supreme Court appointments.
- Analyse the administration's aggressive reaction to protest movements, including the use of surveillance and 'law and order' rhetoric.
- Explain the causes of the end of the post-war economic boom, focusing on the emergence of stagflation.
- Evaluate the impact of external shocks, such as the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, on US economic change.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing inflation with stagflation.
Put it right: Stagflation specifically refers to the simultaneous occurrence of high inflation and high unemployment with stagnant demand.
Assuming the protest movements ended immediately when Nixon took office.
Put it right: Protests, particularly against the Vietnam War, continued and intensified, such as after the Kent State shootings.
Stating that Nixon successfully reversed all liberal social policies.
Put it right: Many Great Society programmes remained intact, and Congress passed significant liberal legislation during his tenure.
Exam tips
- Use the 1973 oil crisis as a primary example of how external geopolitical events directly triggered domestic economic change.
- Connect Nixon's 'law and order' rhetoric directly to his administration's reaction against civil rights and anti-war protest movements.
- When discussing the end of the post-war boom, explicitly mention the financial strain caused by the Vietnam War and Great Society spending.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2Q The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980 – Republican reaction: the Nixon Presidency, 1968–1974 (A-level only): The restoration of conservative social policies; the reaction to protest movements and forces of social change; economic change and the end of the post-war boom lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which economic phenomenon characterised the end of the post-war economic boom during the Nixon presidency?
Listen
Nixon’s presidency attempted the restoration of conservative social policies, appealing to traditional values by opposing forced busing for school desegregation and appointing conservative Supreme Court judges. The administration's reaction to protest movements and forces of social change was often hostile, utilising federal agencies to surveil anti-war and civil rights activists, framing them as threats to law and order. Simultaneously, the era witnessed profound economic change, marking the end of the post-war boom. The US faced 'stagflation'—a toxic combination of stagnant growth and high inflation—driven by the financial drain of Vietnam, prompting Nixon to implement controversial wage and price controls in August 1971, prior to the exacerbating 1973 oil crisis. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Assess Nixon's efforts to restore conservative social policies, such as his opposition to busing and his Supreme Court appointments. Analyse the administration's aggressive reaction to protest movements, including the use of surveillance and 'law and order' rhetoric. Explain the causes of the end of the post-war economic boom, focusing on the emergence of stagflation. Evaluate the impact of external shocks, such as the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, on US economic change. Exam tip: Use the 1973 oil crisis as a primary example of how external geopolitical events directly triggered domestic economic change.
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Test your understanding of 2Q The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980 – Republican reaction: the Nixon Presidency, 1968–1974 (A-level only): The restoration of conservative social policies; the reaction to protest movements and forces of social change; economic change and the end of the post-war boom
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