SSUSH21A, B & C

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Truman’s Domestic Policies

• 22 Jun 1944: Selective Service Readjustment Act.

More commonly known as the “G.I. Bill.”

Provided a variety of Benefits for WWII Veterans

Low Cost Mortgages for buying a home

Low Interest Loans for starting a business

Tuition Assistance to attend a Trade School, College or University.

• 23 Jun 1947: Taft-Hartley Act

Called the “Slave Labor Law” by labor union leaders

Outlawed “Closed Shops” (Union only employment)

States allowed to pass laws outlawing Union Shops

Prohibited “Featherbedding.” Limited work output to create extra jobs

Prevented Union Contributions to Political Campaigns

President Truman Vetoed, But Congress over-rode veto

• 26 Jul 1948: Executive Order 9981

Promoted by African American Civil Rights Leader A. Philip Randolph

Abolished Racial Discrimination in the Armed Forces

Led to the Desegregation of the U.S. Military

Last ALL Black Units in the U.S. Army finally eliminated in 1954

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Truman’s Domestic Policies

1948 Presidential Election

• Democratic Party split over Civil Rights & Cold War

• President Harry S. Truman was re-elected due to support from Laborers, Farmers, & African Americans

Dixie Right’s Party chose S.C. Gov. Strom Thurmond Progressive Party chose former VP Henry A. Wallace Republican Party chose N.Y. Gov. Thomas Dewey

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Truman’s Domestic Policies

• 1949: Truman’s new “Fair Deal” policies had 21 key points

Congress did not fully embrace or approve all his proposals

Congress Approved:

Raise the minimum wage to 75 cents an hour Increase Social Security to 75% Pass the National Housing Act of 1949

Congress Refused to Pass:

National Health Insurance Farmers Insurance and Subsidies Federal Aid for Public Schools Civil Rights Legislation

• National Housing Act of 1949

Provided Federal Funding for Slum Clearance and Urban Renewal

Increased authorization for Mortgage Insurance by the FHA

Extended Federal Funding to build over 800,000 low cost homes

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

1952 Presidential Election

President Harry S. Truman chose not to run again

Democrats chose Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois

Republicans chose General Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Although Adlai Stevens was an eloquent orator and intellectual politician:

• Dwight D. Eisenhower was America’s hero of WWII and Crusader against the Communism.

“Middle of the Road” =

His political ideologies were summed up by his two favorite phrases:

Politically Moderate

“Dynamic Conservatism” = Economically Active but Conservative

His Campaign Slogan was “It’s Time for a Change”

His Party’s Rally Cry became “I Like Ike!”

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Eisenhower’s Domestic Policies

• Although he continued most of the “New Deal” program of Roosevelt . . . .

He reduced funding for the Tennessee Valley Authority

He abolished the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (formed in 1938)

• 29 Jun 1956: Federal Highway Act

Interstate Highway System

41,000 miles of Highway

Auto Ownership in U.S. increased

Need to move Military rapidly

Influenced by the German Autobahn

• Other domestic improvements:

Minimum Wage went up from 75 cents to $1 per hour

Social Security Benefits were increased

Extended Unemployment Compensation

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

America’s Changing Society

White Collar Workers

(Sales, Management, and Banking)

Blue Collar Workers

(Labor, Farming, and Industry)

• Franchises developed across the United States

Local ownership of chain stores and restaurants

• Multi-National Corporations started developing

Expanding businesses to overseas locations

• Advertisement became the fastest growing industry

Influencing the rise of New Consumerism

“Keeping up with the Joneses”

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

America’s Changing Society

• 1945 – 1961: Baby Boom

Servicemen returned from WWII and the Korean Conflict

Man couples got married after putting it off due to the war deployments

U.S. Birthrate exploded with more than 65 Million babies being born

• 1945 – 1961: Growth of Suburbs

Mass produced Homes

Inexpensive and Affordable

Simple and Similar

• 1947 - 1967: Jewish Developer Bill Levitt

Built large suburban area in New York

Residential area was named Levittown

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Poverty Amidst Prosperity

• 1945 – 1960: Urban Decay

Middle class white families moved to suburbs

Poor African American families left living in Ghettos

Changing demographics of residents caused a lack of needed Tax Dollars

Government tried Urban Renewal Programs to improve living conditions

To Eliminate Poverty

By Tearing Down Slums

Urban Improvement actually destroyed existing housing

Building Parks and Schools

Occasionally New Housing

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

America’s Poverty Stricken

• Impact of the Great Migration (20’s-40’s)

African Americans looking for work moved to cities in the north

Racial Discrimination and Economic Inequality led to lower incomes

51% less than white employees

Suburban growth and Urban Renewal left them behind in poor Ghettos

• Impact of the Bracero Program (1940’s)

U.S. brought nearly 5 million Mexicans into the country to work in agriculture

About 350,000 settled in the U.S.

Many became Migrant Farm Workers

Most lived in Poverty and Extreme Hardship in shacks or tents

Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

America’s Poverty Stricken

• Impact of Native American Policies (1950’s)

U.S. Government initiated a new Termination Policy

Ended recognition of Native American Sovereignty on reservations

Granted Native Americans the same status of other U.S. Citizens

Expected to cause Native Americans to assimilate into society

No longer exempt from state laws or State & Federal Taxes

Increased poverty when already making less than African Americans

• Impact of Mine Closings in Appalachia

1.5 Million Appalachians migrated to the cities to find employment

Elderly and poor were left behind

Malnutrition and Infant Mortality increased