postwar america chapter 27, section 1. repopulating american society repopulating american society...
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POSTWAR AMERICAPOSTWAR AMERICA
CHAPTER 27, SECTION 1CHAPTER 27, SECTION 1
REPOPULATING AMERICAN REPOPULATING AMERICAN SOCIETYSOCIETY Summer, 1946: Summer, 1946:
– U.S. Armed Forces are “demobilized”U.S. Armed Forces are “demobilized”– 10 Million military personnel released10 Million military personnel released
What are the pros & cons?What are the pros & cons?– Pros?Pros?
Larger WorkforceLarger Workforce More More “CONSUMERS”“CONSUMERS” for American for American
productsproducts U.S. economy can “expand” U.S. economy can “expand”
(explain)(explain)– Cons?Cons?
How will the nation integrate these How will the nation integrate these people into daily life, the workforce, people into daily life, the workforce, etc.?etc.?
Where will they live?Where will they live?
NEW PROBLEMSNEW PROBLEMS 1945: WW II ENDS: U.S. Gov’t. 1945: WW II ENDS: U.S. Gov’t.
cancels $35 Billion in war contractscancels $35 Billion in war contracts– Result? Result?
19451945: : 1 million defense workers 1 million defense workers unemployedunemployed
Unemployment increases: Veterans & workers Unemployment increases: Veterans & workers have nowhere to go immediatelyhave nowhere to go immediately
19461946: : 3 million unemployed3 million unemployed (height of (height of postwar unemployment)postwar unemployment)
Failing Marriages:Failing Marriages:– Traditional gender roles challenged by warTraditional gender roles challenged by war– Men & women find new roles during / after Men & women find new roles during / after
warwar– Example? WW II: 6 mil. women enter Example? WW II: 6 mil. women enter
workforceworkforce– New economic power for women ; causes New economic power for women ; causes
more male-female tensionmore male-female tension– 1950: 1 million marriages divorced1950: 1 million marriages divorced
DEALING WITH PROBLEMSDEALING WITH PROBLEMS Problem #1: Bringing veterans Problem #1: Bringing veterans
back into the society.back into the society.– What do they need?What do they need?
Need to be familiarized w/societal Need to be familiarized w/societal changeschanges
Need to be given new skills so they can Need to be given new skills so they can find jobsfind jobs
Need $ to start new livesNeed $ to start new lives
– Answer? Answer? Gov’t. anticipated this potential problemGov’t. anticipated this potential problem Result? Result?
– 1944: 1944: G.I. BILL OF RIGHTSG.I. BILL OF RIGHTS: See p. 796: See p. 796 How does this help? How does this help?
NEW PROBLEMS NEW PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)(Cont’d.) Civil Rights: DefineCivil Rights: Define
– Why?Why? Large #s of African-American war veteransLarge #s of African-American war veterans Greater demand for equal rightsGreater demand for equal rights
– What part of the U.S. will resist this What part of the U.S. will resist this demand most strenuously?demand most strenuously? Why?Why?
DEALING WITH PROBLEMSDEALING WITH PROBLEMS
PROBLEM #2: Where will former PROBLEM #2: Where will former vets. (& families) live?vets. (& families) live?– Solution? Solution?
Affordable housingAffordable housing
– Where?Where? Birth of Birth of “SUBURBS”“SUBURBS” (define) (define) 11stst One: One: LEVITTOWN, NEW YORKLEVITTOWN, NEW YORK Describe: See p. 797Describe: See p. 797 Advantage?Advantage?
LEVITTOWN, NEW YORKLEVITTOWN, NEW YORK
PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)PROBLEMS (Cont’d.) PROBLEM #3: HIGH UNEMPLOYMENTPROBLEM #3: HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
– Prediction: Economy would continue to Prediction: Economy would continue to deterioratedeteriorate
– Reality: Not true ; Why not?Reality: Not true ; Why not? Americans had learned how to save $ since Americans had learned how to save $ since
Depression hit.Depression hit. 1940s: $135 billion in savings, war bonds, etc.1940s: $135 billion in savings, war bonds, etc. So… More Americans had more $ to spendSo… More Americans had more $ to spend
– Result? Result? Demand for “Consumer” goods increasesDemand for “Consumer” goods increases
– ““ConsumerConsumer” Goods:” Goods: Household appliancesHousehold appliances CarsCars Etc.Etc.
– MARSHALL PLAN helps create new trading MARSHALL PLAN helps create new trading partners for U.S. Economypartners for U.S. Economy
– U.S. Economy / businesses recover & U.S. Economy / businesses recover & expandexpand
PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)PROBLEMS (Cont’d.) PROBLEM #4: Civil RightsPROBLEM #4: Civil Rights
– Solution?Solution?1946: Truman forms 1946: Truman forms Committee on Civil RightsCommittee on Civil Rights
1947: Committee 1947: Committee recommends widespread legal recommends widespread legal changes in U.S. laws to ensure changes in U.S. laws to ensure civil rightscivil rights
1948: Truman orders racial 1948: Truman orders racial integration of all U.S. integration of all U.S. Armed ForcesArmed Forces
1948 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN1948 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Who?Who?
– Democrats: TrumanDemocrats: Truman– Republicans: Thomas E. Dewey (NY)Republicans: Thomas E. Dewey (NY)
Problems?Problems?– Yes: Why?Yes: Why?– Many Southern Democrats are upset w/TrumanMany Southern Democrats are upset w/Truman– Why? Truman’s interest in Civil RightsWhy? Truman’s interest in Civil Rights
So What?So What?– ““Dixiecrats”Dixiecrats” form State’s Rights Progressive form State’s Rights Progressive
PartyParty– Nominate Gov. Strom Thurmond (SC)Nominate Gov. Strom Thurmond (SC)
Result?Result?– Truman wins anywayTruman wins anyway
Effect?Effect?– The U.S. may be more ready for changes than The U.S. may be more ready for changes than
many thoughtmany thought
Sen. Strom Thurmond, South Sen. Strom Thurmond, South CarolinaCarolina
19481948
PresidentialPresidential
ElectionElection
ResultsResults
EISENHOWER BECOMES PRESIDENTEISENHOWER BECOMES PRESIDENT When?When?
– 19521952– Republicans now take powerRepublicans now take power
Why?Why?– Democrats had a low approval rating in 1952Democrats had a low approval rating in 1952– Dissatisfaction w/Korean WarDissatisfaction w/Korean War– People don’t think Democrats are hard People don’t think Democrats are hard
enough on Communistsenough on Communists Other issues?Other issues?
– 22ndnd Red Scare: McCarthyism Red Scare: McCarthyism – Growing power of Federal governmentGrowing power of Federal government
So What?So What?– Eisenhower promises more stabilityEisenhower promises more stability– Eisenhower has credibility (war record, Eisenhower has credibility (war record,
leadership)leadership)– People trust / like EisenhowerPeople trust / like Eisenhower
Result?Result?– Eisenhower wins 55% of vote Eisenhower wins 55% of vote
1952 ELECTION 1952 ELECTION RESULTSRESULTS
MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUESMORE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES
1954: 1954: Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education– Where? Topeka, KansasWhere? Topeka, Kansas– Why? Integration of public schoolsWhy? Integration of public schools– Result? Sup. Court orders Result? Sup. Court orders
integrationintegration 1957: 1957: Little Rock IncidentLittle Rock Incident
– Where? Little Rock, ArkansasWhere? Little Rock, Arkansas– Why? Resistance to integrating 9 Why? Resistance to integrating 9
African-Amer. Students into Little African-Amer. Students into Little Rock Central H.S.Rock Central H.S.
– Result? Ike uses U.S. Army troops to Result? Ike uses U.S. Army troops to integrate integrate
Little Rock Central H.S. Little Rock Central H.S.