Edexcel A-Level History Paper 1 Revision - In search of the American Dream: c1917-1990
Includes key points for final revision for:
Theme 1: The changing political environment, 1917–80
• The changing political climate from US entry into the First World War to Reagan’s election.
• The changing styles of presidential leadership across the period.
• The impact of American involvement in war on the general political environment and presidential government.
Theme 2: The quest for civil rights, 1917–80
• The struggle for minority rights in the years 1917–80, with particular reference to African-American civil rights.
• The changing nature and pattern of campaigning
• The impact of major federal civil rights legislation
• The influence of the African-American struggle on the search for non-African-American minority rights as well as the distinct reasons for campaigning by other minorities.
Theme 3: Society and culture in change, 1917–80
• The transformation of American society.
• Links with theme 2 regarding the experience of migrants and women.
• Overall patterns of change along with the different experience for women.
• The extent to which the USA was a migrant nation and the diversity of the immigrant experience.
• The extent to which popular culture and broadcast news both reflected and influenced society.
Theme 4: The changing quality of life, 1917–80
• The extent to which the quality of life in the USA in the years 1917–80 was affected by the economic environment and increasing aspiration.
• Patterns of economic change and their effects on living standards, both general and specific to different groups.
• The extent to which developments in leisure and travel affected the quality of life.




