Ch 19 Section 1 Ch 19 Section 1 The Post-War The Post-War

Years Years at Homeat Home

The Truman The Truman PresidencyPresidency

1945-19531945-1953

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions What economic and social What economic and social

problems did Americans face problems did Americans face following WWII?following WWII?

How did President Truman respond How did President Truman respond to these challenges?to these challenges?

What were the issues of the 1948 What were the issues of the 1948 Presidential Election?Presidential Election?

What was Truman’s What was Truman’s Fair DealFair Deal program and what elements of it program and what elements of it were enacted?were enacted?

Challenges for TrumanChallenges for Truman President Truman took over for President Truman took over for

FDR after his death in April FDR after his death in April 19451945

Truman was seen as determine Truman was seen as determine and confident yet he had a and confident yet he had a tremendous job ahead tremendous job ahead

Major challenges were Major challenges were demobilizing the troops and demobilizing the troops and reconverting the economyreconverting the economy to a to a peace time economypeace time economy

““To Err is Truman”To Err is Truman” Demobilization delays hurt Demobilization delays hurt

Truman, “Bring Daddy Home” Truman, “Bring Daddy Home” and “No Boats No Votes”and “No Boats No Votes”

Truman lashed out at detractors Truman lashed out at detractors and had trouble convincing and had trouble convincing Americans he was sincereAmericans he was sincere

Truman took responsibility for Truman took responsibility for the good and bad…”The buck the good and bad…”The buck

stops here!”stops here!”

The Impact of the The Impact of the GI BillGI Bill Not only did the Not only did the Servicemen’s Servicemen’s

Readjustment ActReadjustment Act pay for part pay for part of college tuition but it also gave of college tuition but it also gave them one year of unemployment them one year of unemployment benefits while they were job benefits while they were job hunting and low interest hunting and low interest government loans (Buy homes or government loans (Buy homes or start businesses)start businesses)

By the summer of 1946, 10 By the summer of 1946, 10 million men and women were million men and women were released from the armed forcesreleased from the armed forces

Housing and Redefining Housing and Redefining the Familythe Family

Due to a major housing shortage Due to a major housing shortage William William J. LevittJ. Levitt and other builders developed and other builders developed mass produced house in the suburbs and mass produced house in the suburbs and the new homes were $7,000the new homes were $7,000

Nearly 8 million women went to work Nearly 8 million women went to work during the war and made all family during the war and made all family decisions, when the men came home decisions, when the men came home tensions rose, 1 million marriages endedtensions rose, 1 million marriages ended

Yet America experienced an increase in Yet America experienced an increase in the birthrate or a the birthrate or a “baby boom”“baby boom” was was underwayunderway

Economic ReadjustmentEconomic Readjustment After the war the US cancelled $35 After the war the US cancelled $35

billion in defense contractsbillion in defense contracts In March 1946 some 3 million In March 1946 some 3 million

Americans were seeking workAmericans were seeking work During the war the OPA had halted During the war the OPA had halted

inflationinflation Price Controls ended in June 1946 and Price Controls ended in June 1946 and

prices skyrocketed (Ex. Sugar, Meat, prices skyrocketed (Ex. Sugar, Meat, Coffee, Beans, Rent and New Homes)Coffee, Beans, Rent and New Homes)

Congress eventually reestablished Congress eventually reestablished price controls on prices, wages, and price controls on prices, wages, and rentsrents

Truman not agreeing vetoed the billTruman not agreeing vetoed the bill

Remarkable RecoveryRemarkable Recovery Consumers were tired of rationing, Consumers were tired of rationing,

some $135 billion had been saved some $135 billion had been saved by Americans during the war by Americans during the war ( Defense work, Service Pay , and ( Defense work, Service Pay , and Bonds)Bonds)

Americans bought cars and homesAmericans bought cars and homes Demand exceeded supply and Demand exceeded supply and

eventually new jobs were created eventually new jobs were created “The Affluent Society”“The Affluent Society”

By 1950 Americans could own By 1950 Americans could own automatic washers, appliances, automatic washers, appliances, power tools, cameras and TVspower tools, cameras and TVs

Truman Faces StrikesTruman Faces Strikes Facing higher prices and lower wages 4.5 Facing higher prices and lower wages 4.5

million discontented workers including steel million discontented workers including steel workers, coal miners, automobile workers, workers, coal miners, automobile workers, maritime workers and railroad workers went maritime workers and railroad workers went on strike in 1946on strike in 1946

US ports were closed for two weeksUS ports were closed for two weeks General Motors and US Steel struck for General Motors and US Steel struck for

monthsmonths Truman threatened to draft striking workers, Truman threatened to draft striking workers,

he authorized the federal government to he authorized the federal government to seize the coal mines, and he threatened to seize the coal mines, and he threatened to take control of the railroads as welltake control of the railroads as well

Many issues were in court, many strikers Many issues were in court, many strikers gave in and worked with compromise gave in and worked with compromise contractscontracts

““Had Enough?”Had Enough?” Disgusted by shortages of goods, Disgusted by shortages of goods,

rising inflation, and labor strikes rising inflation, and labor strikes Americans were ready for a change Americans were ready for a change in 1946in 1946

By 1946 Truman’s approval rating By 1946 Truman’s approval rating was 32%was 32%

Republicans won both Houses of Republicans won both Houses of Congress in the mid-term elections Congress in the mid-term elections of 1946 (80of 1946 (80thth Congress) Congress)

They set to turn back the New DealThey set to turn back the New Deal They passed the 22They passed the 22ndnd Amendment Amendment

limiting the President to two termslimiting the President to two terms

The Taft - Hartley ActThe Taft - Hartley Act The law set out to undo many of the The law set out to undo many of the

labor gains on the Wagner Act of 1935labor gains on the Wagner Act of 1935 Union had 15 million members, 40% of Union had 15 million members, 40% of

the workforce, and tremendous powerthe workforce, and tremendous power The law outlawed the closed shop, The law outlawed the closed shop,

secondary boycotts, and the use of secondary boycotts, and the use of union dues for political activitiesunion dues for political activities

An 80 day cooling off period to be An 80 day cooling off period to be called by the President was enactedcalled by the President was enacted

Union leaders had to swear under oath Union leaders had to swear under oath they were not Communiststhey were not Communists

Formation of Unions was made more Formation of Unions was made more difficult (Truman vetoed the bill difficult (Truman vetoed the bill entirely)entirely)

Truman Supports Civil Truman Supports Civil RightsRights In 1946 Truman created a Commission In 1946 Truman created a Commission

on Civil Rightson Civil Rights Truman was the first US President to Truman was the first US President to

propose an anti-lynching law, a ban propose an anti-lynching law, a ban on poll taxes as a voting requirement, on poll taxes as a voting requirement, and a permanent civil rights and a permanent civil rights commissioncommission

In July 1948 his issued an executive In July 1948 his issued an executive order banning segregation and order banning segregation and discrimination in the armed forcesdiscrimination in the armed forces

Truman ordered an end to Truman ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of federal discrimination in the hiring of federal employeesemployees

Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson In 1947 Jackie In 1947 Jackie

Robinson joined Robinson joined the Brooklyn the Brooklyn DodgersDodgers

He received death He received death threats to himself threats to himself and his family, but and his family, but he was he was determined to determined to staystay

By 1950 he was an By 1950 he was an all-star and one of all-star and one of the most popular the most popular AmericansAmericans

The Election Of 1948The Election Of 1948 Some Democrats wanted IKE in 1948Some Democrats wanted IKE in 1948 Despite the inflation and Labor Despite the inflation and Labor

unrest unrest Truman was nominated for the Truman was nominated for the DemocratsDemocrats

Henry A. Wallace an old New Dealer Henry A. Wallace an old New Dealer ran for the Progressive Partyran for the Progressive Party

Truman sent spending measures for Truman sent spending measures for Education and Housing that he knew Education and Housing that he knew the Republicans would kill, Truman the Republicans would kill, Truman called them called them “The Do Nothing “The Do Nothing Congress”Congress”

Southern Democrats angry about Southern Democrats angry about Truman’s Pro Civil Rights Position Truman’s Pro Civil Rights Position broke away and formed the broke away and formed the DixiecratsDixiecrats

The Election of 1948 IIThe Election of 1948 II

Truman (D)Truman (D)Dewey (R)Dewey (R)S. S. Thurmond Thurmond (States’ (States’ Rights)Rights)

Wallace (P)Wallace (P)

Major Upset of 1948Major Upset of 1948 Truman rallied the New Deal Truman rallied the New Deal

coalition, through vigorous coalition, through vigorous campaigning and a whistle stop train campaigning and a whistle stop train tourtour

He got support of organized labor, He got support of organized labor, African-Americans, Jews and New African-Americans, Jews and New Deal LiberalsDeal Liberals

““Give’em Hell Harry!”Give’em Hell Harry!” He ran as the saviorHe ran as the savior

of the New Dealof the New DealDewey was ahead in Dewey was ahead in the pollsthe polls

Truman’s Fair DealTruman’s Fair Deal Truman wanted an extension to Truman wanted an extension to

FDR’s New DealFDR’s New Deal “…“…every individual has the right every individual has the right

ot expect from our Government ot expect from our Government a Fair Deal.”a Fair Deal.”

Truman wanted a system of Truman wanted a system of health insurance, crop subsidy health insurance, crop subsidy system, civil rights advances and system, civil rights advances and Federal Education AidFederal Education Aid

All measures were defeated by All measures were defeated by Southern Dem. and Rep.Southern Dem. and Rep.

Fair Deal VictoriesFair Deal Victories The Housing Act of 1949-The Housing Act of 1949- $2.8 billion $2.8 billion

for slum clearance and low-rent for slum clearance and low-rent housing projectshousing projects

The Minimum Wage Act of 1949The Minimum Wage Act of 1949 – 40 – 40 cents to 75 cents per hr.cents to 75 cents per hr.

Social Security AmendmentsSocial Security Amendments of 1950- of 1950- Extend coverage to new workers, Extend coverage to new workers, provide pensions for the self-provide pensions for the self-employed, and increase benefitsemployed, and increase benefits

Civil Rights- Many measures were Civil Rights- Many measures were defeated, but through executive defeated, but through executive order Truman appointed the first order Truman appointed the first black Fed. Judge in 1951black Fed. Judge in 1951

Truman’s DownfallTruman’s Downfall Despite these victories Truman’s Despite these victories Truman’s

approval rating sank to 23% in 1951approval rating sank to 23% in 1951 Frustration over Truman’s handling of Frustration over Truman’s handling of

the Korean War contributed ( Ex Firing the Korean War contributed ( Ex Firing of Mac Arthur)of Mac Arthur)

Rising Tide of Rising Tide of McCarthism/LoyalityMcCarthism/Loyality IssuesIssues

Wages and Prices being frozen during Wages and Prices being frozen during the Korean Warthe Korean War

Some political kick backs in the Some political kick backs in the administrationadministration

Truman decide not to run in 1952, Truman decide not to run in 1952, Americans looked to the positive Americans looked to the positive political change of IKE ( Dwight D. political change of IKE ( Dwight D. Eisenhower)Eisenhower)