The USA, Great Britain and France after the Second

World War
1) The USA
A) The political system of the USA preserved its structure without changes. In the beginning of
50sXXc. In the political life developed an extreme political event, called McCarthyism. It was
called after the name of senator Joseph McCarthy, leader of the American senate
commission for the investigation of “non-American activity”, which means supporters of
communism. McCarthyism reached extremes. That was in contradiction to the democratic
traditions of the American society. Later the senator was sentenced for slander and
eliminated from the political life.
B) In the 60sXXc. A movement for political and civil rights of the black Americans developed.
The peaceful demonstrations and marches of the Blacks for equal rights with the White
people in the schools, transport and state institutions had mass character. The leader of the
Blacks was Martin Luther King. The main adversary of the movement was the racist
organization Ku Klux Clan. Thousands of Black people died in the conflicts. In 1968 Martin
Luther King was killed.
C) In the 60sXXc. A mass student movement against social inequality developed. The
movement against the American involvement in the war in Vietnam (1956-1975) was strong.
D) The government of president Ronald Reagan(1981- 1989) led the USA out of the continuous
internal political and economic crisis. He decreased the taxes, eliminated some bank
limitations, widened the rights of the states in education, health care, social programs.
Many working places were opened.
E) In the beginning of the new century the USA faced the international terrorism. On 11
September 2001 members of the Islamic organization “Al Qaeda” hijacked three American
airplanes and crushed them in the two towers of the World trade centre in New York, which
fell down and in the Ministry of defense near Washington. 2600 people died. The
presidential administration declared war on terrorism. The first target became Afghanistan,
shelter of the terrorists.
F) The president Donald Trump, elected in 2016, is a contradictory person. In the first 5
months of his government employment increased with 810000 working places and
unemployment fell with 4,3%. More homes were bought and sold. A successful tax reform
was made. The USA went out of the Paris agreement for keeping the climate on the planet.
2) Great Britain
A) The British parliamentary monarchy kept the traditions of its political system. Queen
Elizabeth II has been monarch of the United Kingdom and North Ireland since 1952. Her
power is symbolic, but the royal institution keeps the feeling of entity and loyalty to the
constitution. Leading parties were the Conservative and Labourist. In 70s, 80s XXc. The two-
party system was changed. The Labourist party was divided in left and right wing. Part of the
right forces created the Social democratic party which was united with the Liberal party and
took position in the centre of the politics.
B) In 1979 the Conservative party won the elections and created a government led by Margaret
Thatcher- the first woman prime minister in the kingdom. She had three consecutive terms.
 Her policy was reforming and authoritarian, called Thatcherism. In 1990 her successor was
John Major. In 1998 on power came Anthony Blair(Labourist party).His policy was continued
by Gordon Brown and David Cameron. After the results of the referendum in Great Britain
about its exit from the European Union the post of the prime minister was taken by Theresa
May who had to prepare the going of the country out of the EU.
3) Republican France
A) According to the constitution of the Fourth republic accepted in 1946, France restored the
parliamentary form of government with a multiparty system and two chamber parliament
(National Assembly and Senate). The president had the right of two terms of 7 years. The
republic existed till 1958 when it suffered a heavy political crisis. The colonial wars in
Vietnam (1946-1954) and Algeria (1954-1963) and some economic difficulties together with
the frequent change of governments and coalitions divided the French society.
B) On 13 May 1958 French colonists and officers in Algeria made a revolt and insisted on
authoritarian power. They believed that Paris would support them but the strong
democratic traditions united the majority of the French for a republic. The political parties
gave the power to the hero from WWII Charles de Gaulle, a person who would unite the
nation. A new constitution was accepted and the Fifth republic began. The active policy of
Charles de Gaulle, the extending of the social reforms in the interest of the nation and the
economic upsurge were the successes of his government. In the spring 1968 the discontent
of the students and society from the conservative educational system increased. The
professional unions began a general strike which paralyzed the country. Charles de Gaulle
offered an administrative reform and a referendum. The voters did not accept it. The
president resigned.
C) His successors Georges Pompidou and Valery Giscard d’Estaing continued the policy of
strong presidential power of continental type. The next French president was the socialist
Francois Mitterrand (1981-1995). During his second term he worked with the premier
Jacques Chirac. That was a precedent in the history of the country. It was repeated in 90s
XXc. when president was Jacques Chirac who ruled with the socialist Lionel Jospin. Francois
Hollande was the second socialist president from the Fifth republic and was not a popular
head of the state. He was replaced by Emmanuel Macron.