Postwar America

Peacetime Americans increase spending, postwar economy booms Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (G.I. Bill): help veterans start businesses, buy homes, pay for college 1946 Election: Worker unrest related to rising cost of living/inflation sweeps Republicans to office Anti-union laws passed by new Republican Congress Right to work laws: allowing closed shops to work along side union shops Union money cannot be donated to political campaigns Truman vetoes anti-union laws, Congress overrides Truman’s veto Truman wants to continue FDR’s reforms started by the New Deal Wants to expand Social Security, public housing, and raise minimum wage Proposes a civil rights bill protect African-American voting rights by abolishing poll taxes Issues executive order ending segregation in the armed forces/discrimination in federal offices Prosecutes lynching as a federal crime Most of Truman’s agenda fails due to coalition b/w Southern Democrats and Republicans

Election of 1948 Truman expected to lose his campaign for reelection in 1948 Two groups leave Truman’s coalition of voters: Southern Democrats “Dixie-crats” leave over civil rights issues Liberal Democrats leave over ineffective reforms and anti-Soviet foreign policy Republican governor of New York, Thomas Dewey runs against Truman Nation shocked with Truman victory Democrats also take back both houses of Congress

The Fair Deal Truman reintroduces domestic reforms—The Fair Deal Some resistance from Congress Minimum wage raised to 75 cents/hour Social Security increased by 75% National Housing Act of 1949 National health insurance, aid to farmers and schools, and civil rights blocked by Congress

The Eisenhower Years Korean War ends Truman’s Fair Deal—Truman doesn’t run for reelection in 1952 Republicans run popular WWII hero, General Dwight D. Eisenhower Democrats nominate Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson “I like Ike” becomes campaign slogan Ike’s philosophies: “Middle of the Road” and “dynamic conservatism” Ended price and wage controls Cut aid to school building programs and housing assistance “creeping socialism” Cut New Deal programs like RFC and TVA Federal Highway Act: $25 Billion to build interstate highway system Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway Expands Social Security Eisenhower oversees a time of prosperity and is reelected in 1956

Work On It… On page 358 write and answer questions 1-10