1. “I’m Mrs. Edward M. Barnes. Where do I live?
Do Now:
“I’m Mrs. Edward M. Barnes. Where do I live?

2. What words or phrases would you use to describe the housing development depicted in this cartoon?
How do you think the woman in the cartoon Mrs. Edward M. Barnes, feels about living in a suburban development?
Why do you think Americans in the 1950s wanted to live in a housing development like this one?

3. Life After WWII

4. Do Now: 2/26 What problems might arise in the post-war era? at home?
“The War is Over!”
What problems might arise in the post-war era?
at home?
abroad?

5. GI Bill of Rights Passed in 1944 by Congress
Helped veterans return to civilian life
Paid part of their tuition
Guaranteed 1yrs worth of unemployment
Offered low interest federal loans- many used these loans to buy a home, farm, or business

6. The Housing Crisis Returning veterans faced a housing shortage
Lived in cramped apartments or with relatives
The answer to the housing crisis was the newly developed suburbs

7. Levittown The 1st suburb in Long Island, NY
Developed by William Levitt
Homes built in 16 minutes (assembly line) and cost only $7,000
Could be rented for $65/m (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, living room, and appliances)
All homes looked the same-zoning laws ensured that they would stay that way

10. Redefining the Family
Women didn’t want to give up their independence (jobs)
Men traditionally breadwinners
Divorce rate rose (1950- more than 1,000,000 war marriages ended in divorce)

11. Economic Adjustment Wartime » peacetime economy
War contracts cancelled and defense workers laid off
Unemployment increased
Prices skyrocketed when the OPA cancelled the controls on inflation- for 2yrs until the supply caught up with the demand
Wages were less
4.5 million workers went on strike

12. Recovery Congress placed controls on prices, wages, and rent
Supply eventually caught up with the demand & wages increased because people where spending their savings
Americans prospered in the 1950s- “the affluent society”
The threat of the Cold War kept America spending on defense and allowing to employ workers

13. Truman would not allow workers to strike
“The buck stops here”
Threatened to draft anyone striking
Ordered them to work

14. 1946 Congressional Elections
Republican Party won control of both the Senate and House of Representatives
80th Congress ignored Truman’s domestic proposals
1947- passed the Taft-Hartley Act
Overturned many rights won by unions
Passed over Truman’s veto

15. Truman Supports Civil Rights
“I am asking for equality of opportunity for all human beings,” “…and if that ends up in my failure to be re-elected, that failure will be in good cause.”

16. Wanted Congress to support a federal anti-lynching law, abolition of the poll tax, and set up a body to prevent racial discrimination in hiring (Congress refused)
1948 Truman integrated the armed forces
Also, ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of gov’t employees
Supreme Court said no more discrimination in residential neighborhoods
1947- Jackie Robinson integrated baseball

17. 1948 Election Truman-Democrats Dewey- Republicans
Strom Thurmond- Dixiecrats
Southern Democrats
Wallace- Progressive Party
Truman’s “Give em hell, Harry”
Traveled the country campaigning
303 Electoral College Votes
189 39

18. The Fair Deal Truman’s Domestic Program
Raised Minimum Wage- 40 ¢ - 75 ¢
Extended Social Security Coverage to 10 million more people
Initiated flood control projects
Provided financial support for cities to clear out slums and build 810,000 units for low-income families