American Public Policy : Federal Domestic Policy Achievements and Failures, 1901 to 2022

This is a sweeping narrative of American domestic public policy—its triumphs, struggles, and failures over the past 120 years. In a larger sense, it is a reflection on how the United States has grown and matured, faced challenges and opportunities, and how its federal leaders and policymakers have responded or failed to confront pressing problems. Moreover, __American Public Policy__ addresses the hurdles and challenges that still lie ahead. Four critical questions are posed and answered. First, what were the most significant adversities endured by the American people? Second, what were the landmark domestic policies crafted by the president, enacted by Congress, or issued in Supreme Court decisions? Third, what did they fail to do? Finally, how well have federal policymakers met the key challenges facing America: income inequality, racism, financial crises, terrorist attacks, climate change, gun violence, and other pressures? And what do we still need to do This book reaches out to students of public policy, American government, US history, and contemporary affairs, as well as to citizens, journalists, and policy practitioners. Cover Endorsements Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents About the Author Photos Acknowledgments Note Introduction Notes Part 1: The Early Years of the Twentieth Century Chapter 1: The Progressive Era Begins: 1901-1912 America at The Beginning of the Twentieth Century The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Exposing Corruption and Greed Bank Panic of 1907 Supremacy of Jim Crow Tenement Houses, Working Conditions, and Immigrants The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Conservation and Protection of Public Lands Significance of these Policies Trust-Busting Significance of these Policies Pure Food and Drugs Significance of these Policies Sixteenth Amendment: Federal Income Tax Significance of this Policy Seventeenth Amendment: Popular Election of Senators Significance of this Policy The Court Weighs In Affirming State Power to Regulate Working Conditions Significance of this Ruling Policies Delayed or Denied Protecting Children in the Workplace Worker Rights and Contracts Woman's Suffrage Notes Chapter 2: Success and Backlash of Progressive Policy: 1913-1920 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Entering the Great War Working Conditions and Labor Strikes The Red Scare The Influenza Pandemic East St. Louis and the "Red Summer" The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Federal Reserve System Significance of this Policy Prohibition Significance of these Policies Nineteenth Amendment: Woman Suffrage Significance of this Policy Protecting Children in the Labor Market Policies Delayed or Denied Anti-Lynching Legislation Reversal of Child Labor Protections Failure to Plan Demobilization Notes Chapter 3: The Return to "Normalcy" and the Onset of the Depression: 1921-1932 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Depression in Agriculture The 1927 Mississippi Flooding Racial Violence The "Invisible Empire" and 100 Percent Americanism Labor Relations The Great Depression Begins The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Problems with Prohibition Immigration Reform Significance of this Policy Ill-Fated Protective Tariff Significance of this Policy Maternity and Infant Protection Significance of this Policy Outlawing "Yellow Dog" Contracts and Federal Court Labor Injunctions Constitutional Amendment Policies Delayed or Denied Child Labor Anti-Lynching Legislation Assistance to Farmers Triumph of Freedom of Contract Failure to Combat the Depression Notes Chapter 4: The New Deal: 1933-1941 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress The Grinding Desperation of Poverty The Clash in the Workplace Turn to Radical Voices Race, Politics, and Southern Separation Rise of Anti-Semitism The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Stabilizing the Banking and Financial System Significance of these Policies Electricity, Flood Control, and Economic Support for the Tennessee Valley and Rural America Significance of these Policies Protecting the Working Family and Union Democracy Significance of this Policy Assistance for the Elderly: Social Security Significance of this Policy Establishing a Federal Minimum Wage and Prohibiting Child Labor Significance of this Policy Policies Delayed or Denied The Court Weighs In Failure of Anti-lynching Legislation Notes Part II: The War Years, Post-War and Modern America Chapter 5: War, Recovery, and Readjustment: 1941-1952 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Labor Unrest and Adjustment to the Post-war Economy McCarthyism and "Soft on Communism" Racial Unrest The Detroit and Harlem Race Riots The Right to Vote and Double V The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Protecting the Returning Veteran Significance of this Policy Hospital Construction Significance of this Policy Migrant Workers, Immigrants, and Refugees The Braceros Program Chinese Immigration The Displaced Persons Act (1948) Immigrants and National Security Significance of these Policies Fighting Racial Discrimination Through Executive Orders and Court Decisions Preventing Racial Discrimination in Federal Job Training Programs Desegregating the Armed Services Ending the White Primary Desegregating Interstate Buses Prohibiting Restrictive Covenants Constitutional Amendment: Limiting the President's Term of Office Revamping Labor-Management Relations Significance of this Policy Public Housing, Slum Clearance, Redlining and Discrimination Significance of this Policy The Court Weighs In Policies Delayed or Denied Failure to Eliminate the Poll Tax National Health Insurance Executive Order to Seize Steel Industry and Court Rebuff Notes Chapter 6: America at Midcentury: 1953-1960 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress McCarthy and "Soft on Communism," Part 2 Organized Crime and Union Corruption Racial Tensions The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Immigrants and Refugees Operation Wetback Refugee Relief Significance of these Policies Racial Justice Significance of these Policies Ribbons of Highway Significance of these Policies Protecting the Elderly and Those with Disabilities Significance of these Policies Federal Aid to Education Significance of this Policy Policies Denied or Delayed Medical Insurance for the Elderly Poor Watered Down Civil Rights Protections Notes Chapter 7: The New Frontier and Great Society: 1961-1968 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Poverty, Urban and Rural The Kennedy Assassination and Public Trust Cuba, Vietnam, and Discontent Racial Tensions and Struggle 1968 The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Constitutional Amendments Protecting the Rights of Minorities The Civil Rights Act (1964) Significance of these Policies The Voting Rights Act (1965) Significance of this Policy Health Care Assistance for Seniors and the Indigent Significance of these Policies The "War on Poverty" Food Stamps Head Start Significance of these Policies Immigration Reform Significance of this Policy Federal Education Assistance Significance of these Policies Protecting the Wilderness and Environment Significance of these Policies The Court Weighs In Expanded Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes Prayer and Bible Reading in Public Schools The Right to Privacy Freedom of the Press Interracial Marriages Redistricting and Equal Representation Notes Chapter 8: Watergate, Distrust, and Malaise: 1969-1980 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress The Vietnam War Environmental Consciousness Oil Crisis and Economic Turmoil The Rise of Feminism, Native American Consciousness, Hispanic and Gay Activism The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Guaranteeing Eighteen-year-olds the Right to Vote The Decade of the Environment Significance of these Policies Educational Equality for Women Significance of this Policy Campaign Financing Significance of these Policies The Supreme Court Weighs In The Right to Have an Abortion Executive Privilege and Wrongdoing Desegregation of Public Schools and Busing Inequality in Public School Financing and the Right to Education Affirmative Action Policies Denied or Delayed Universal Childcare The Equal Rights Amendment Abolishing the Electoral College Full Voting Participation in Congress for District of Columbia Notes Part III: Polarization, Growing Inequality, and Difficult Choices Chapter 9: Conservative Dominance: 1981-1992 America During This Era Turmoil in the World The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Rustbelt America Police Brutality and Urban Unrest AIDS Epidemic Environmental Backlash The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Tax Policy and Budget Cuts Domestic Budget Cuts Significance of these Policies Making Social Security Solvent Significance of this Policy Attempts to Balance the Budget Significance of these Policies Tax Reform Significance of this Policy Immigration Reform and Refugees Significance of these Policies Civil Rights for the Disabled Significance of this Policy Clean Air Amendments Significance of this Policy North American Free Trade The Court Weighs In Abortion Restrictions Policies Delayed or Denied Global Warming Permanent Storage of Nuclear Waste Notes Chapter 10: Coming Into the Twenty-first Century: 1993-2000 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress Growing Wealth Gap Dot.com Boom and Bust Homegrown Militias, Terrorism, and Hate Crimes The National Government The Presidency The Congress Contract with America Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Polices Enacted Key Policies Enacted Medical Leave for Families Significance of this Policy Gays in the Military and Same-sex Marriages Gays in the Military Significance of this Policy Same-sex Marriages Significance of this Policy Welfare Reform Significance of this Policy Banking and Investments Significance of this Policy The Court Weighs In Term Limits for Members of Congress Equal Protection and Homosexuals Racial Gerrymandering Florida Recount of Presidential Ballots Policies Delayed or Denied Universal Health Care Public Education Goals Presidential Line-Item Veto Climate Change Notes Chapter 11: Vulnerable America: 2001-2008 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society Under Stress 9/11 and Its Aftermath Growing Economic Inequality and the Great Recession The Opioid Crisis Cultural Fractures and Polarization Corporate Collapses Mass Shootings Katrina and Federal, State, and Local Unpreparedness The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Key Policies Enacted Reducing Taxes, Increasing the Deficit, Growing the Income Gap Significance of these Policies 9/11 and National Security Significance of these Policies No Child Left Behind Significance of this Policy Prescription Drugs Significance of this Policy Securities Legislation Significance of this Policy Campaign Finance Reform Significance of these Policies Energy Policy Significance of these Policies Averting an Economic Meltdown Significance of this Policy The Court Weighs In Affirmative Action and College Admissions Guns and the Second Amendment Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming Policies Delayed or Denied Gun Control Environment Rollback Immigration Reform Notes Chapter 12: Polarized America: 2009-2016 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Society under Stress Widening Inequality Economic Downfall The Continued Resurgence of Hate Groups and Racist Agitation Gun Violence Conservative Backlash—the Tea Party The National Government The Presidency The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Addressing the Financial Meltdown The Recovery Act Significance of this Policy Automobile Industry Rescue Significance of this Policy Universal Health Care The Content of the Affordable Care Act Significance of this Policy Reforming Wall Street Practices Significance of this Policy Protecting the Environment and Conservation Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Automobile Fuel Economy "War on Coal" The Court Weighs In Dismantling Campaign Finance Reform Removing Voting Rights Protections Defense of Marriage Act and Same-sex Marriage Policies Delayed or Denied Immigration Reform Climate Change Gun Control Overdose from Deadly Drugs Notes Chapter 13: Democracy Challenged: 2017-2022 America During This Era The Era by the Numbers Income, Wealth, and Growing Inequality Minimum Wage, Poverty and Access to Health Care Society Under Stress Threats to Democratic Values and Institutions Above All, Defying the Will of the People and Attacking the Legitimacy of Elections Crippling the Institutions of Government Mainstream Media as the "Enemy of the People" Social Media, Lies, Disinformation, and Conspiracies Defiance of Authority Immigrants, Xenophobia, and Border Walls Struggles of the White Working Class State of Black Economic Progress The Ugly Specter of Mass Shootings, Hate Crimes, Police Actions, and Racism The Majority/Minority America, the Culture Wars, and Christian Nationalism Coronavirus Pandemic The Polarization of the Political Parties The National Government The Presidency The Executive Branch The Congress Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the House The Judiciary Key Policies Enacted Tax Reform Significance of this Policy Financial Bailout During the Pandemic, CARES, and Stimulus Significance of these Policies The Court Weighs In Presidential Assertion of Absolute Authority Title VII and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Gerrymandering Native American Lands Policies Delayed or Denied The Pandemic Failed Repeal of Obamacare Immigration Reform Environment and Climate Change Climate Change Rebuilding the Infrastructure Mass Shootings, Gun Restrictions Notes Chapter 14: The Arduous Road Ahead Stresses On Society Key Policies Enacted and Key Policies Denied Battling Against the Pandemic Fixing the Crumbling Infrastructure Build Back Better The Policy Challenges Facing The United States Education Health Care Inequality Election Reform Who Can Vote? The Integrity of the Election Systems Campaign Financing The Electoral College Immigration Reform Climate Mitigation Assuring the Solvency of Social Security The Federal Budget Gun Violence Confronting Domestic Terrorism What Holds US Back? The Chasm How We Compare The Downward Trend The Way Ahead Notes Appendix A: Stresses on Society Chronologically and By Category Chronologically 1901-1912: The Progressive Era Begins 1913-1920: Progressive Policy: Success and Backlash 1921-1932: The Return to "Normalcy" and the Onset of the Depression 1933-1941: The New Deal 1941-1952: War, Recovery, and Readjustment 1953-1960: America at Mid-Century 1961-1968: New Frontier and Great Society 1969-1980: Watergate, Distrust, and Malaise 1981-1992: Conservative Dominance 1993-2000: Coming into the Twenty-First Century 2001-2008: Vulnerable America 2009-2016: Polarized America 2017-2020: Democracy Challenged By Category Financial and Economic Problems Racial Strife, Race Relations Poverty and Inequality Labor Relations Social Agitation War and Foreign Terrorism Natural Disasters Health Concerns Immigration, Nativism Social Disruption, Hate Groups, Domestic Terrorism Environmental Consciousness Loss of Trust In Government, Polarization Cultural Strains Appendix B: Key Policies, 1900-2021 Chronologically and By Category Chronologically 1901-1912: The Progressive Era Begins 1913-1920: Progressive Policy: Success and Backlash 1921-1932: The Return to "Normalcy" and the Onset of the Depression 1933-1941: The New Deal 1941-1952: War, Recovery, and Readjustment 1953-1960: America at Mid-Century 1961-1968: New Frontier and Great Society 1969-1980: Watergate, Distrust, and Malaise 1981-1992: Conservative Dominance 1993-2000: Coming into the Twenty-First Century 2001-2008: Vulnerable America 2009-2016: Polarized America 2017-2020: Democracy Challenged 2021: The Arduous Road Ahead By Category Conservation and Environmental Protection Energy Policy Food and Drugs Safety Monopolies, Anti-Trust Labor Relations, Working Conditions Taxation, Finance, Trade, and Banking System The Right to Vote Campaigns and Elections Social Welfare Health Care Civil Rights for All Prohibition and Repeal Presidential Authority Immigration Reform Federal Budgeting Economic Recovery Economic Regulation Combatting Racial Discrimination Housing Protecting the Military Veteran Education Assistance Transportation and Infrastructure Arts and Culture Protection of Rights and Freedoms National Security Appendix C: Policies Delayed or Denied Chronologically and By Category Chronologically 1901-1912: The Progressive Era Begins 1913-1920: Progressive Policy: Success and Backlash 1921-1932: The Return to "Normalcy" and the Onset of the Depression 1933-1941: The New Deal 1941-1952: War, Recovery, and Readjustment 1953-1960: America at Mid-Century 1961-1968: New Frontier and Great Society 1969-1980: Watergate, Distrust, and Malaise 1981-1992: Conservative Dominance 1993-2000: Coming into the Twenty-First Century 2001-2008: Vulnerable America 2009-2016: Polarized America 2017-2020: Democracy Challenged By Category Workers' Rights and Contracts Voting Rights Social Welfare Equal Rights Racial Strife and Justice War Demobilization Combatting Economic Collapse Health Care Global Warming and Climate Change Energy Policy Presidential Power Public Education Gun Control Immigration Reform Health Infrastructure and Transportation Index "This is a sweeping narrative of American Domestic Public Policy-its triumphs, struggles, and failures over the past one hundred and twenty years. In a larger sense, it is a reflection on how the United States has grown and matured, faced challenges and opportunities, and how its federal leaders and policymakers have responded or failed to address pressing problems. Moreover, American public policy addresses the hurdles and challenges that still lie ahead. Four critical questions are posed and answered. First, what were the most significant adversities endured by the American People? Second, what were the landmark domestic policies crafted by the president, enacted by Congress, or issued in Supreme Court decisions? Third, what did the federal policy makers fail to do? Finally, how well have federal policymakers met the challenges facing America: income, inequality, racism, financial crises, terrorist attacks, climate change, gun violence, and other pressures? And what do we still need to do?"-- Provided by publisher