Truman and the Election of 1948

Postwar Adjustments Domestic After the war 10million service men and women are demobilized Economy changed from war production to consumer goods Women leave workforce in large numbers 3million Labor unrest- unions end wartime promise to stop strikes, wave of strikes occurs After mine workers strike for 45days Truman proposes that the government be allowed to take control of essential industries that are struggling because of strikes This alienates unions

Taft-Hartly Act Republicans in control of both houses of congress- want a conservative government Lower taxes Reduce government regulation Support for business Anti-Union reduce the powers of the Unions to aid businesses Ends price controls passed during the war Truman vetoes but is overridden This regains unions trust in Truman

GI Bill of Rights Servicemen’s readjustment act 1944 (GI bill) Benefits offered by the government to help returning soldiers Housing support and loans Education funding Job training Business loans

Fair Deal Liberal programs similar to New Deal (Truman) Hiked minimum wage Provided more public housing, boadens social security Was limited and refused by the Republican Congress 1946

Truman and Civil Rights The “serious gap between our ideals and some of our practices…must be closed” War was fought for freedom- freedom should be available at home Soldiers don’t like racism in the US Postwar trend in US is against intolerance especially after Nazi racism came out at the Nuremburg Trials

Civil Rights 1948 Orders an end to segregation in the armed forces and civil services This is a big step in early struggle for an end to discrimination

Election 1948 Southern Democrats leave the national party in response to Truman’s support for Civil Rights Dixicrats- Strom Thurmond- South Carolina Senator runs for president Dewey Runs for Republicans

Thomas E. Dewey Moderate republican candidate Thought Truman had no chance of winning Campaign was laid back and dull Seemed to have the effort of someone who appreared to believe that he was already president

Harry Truman Spirited campaign “whistle stop” train campaign 201 stops “a vote for republicans was a vote to turn back the new Deal” Attacked “no good do nothing 80th congress” Crowds become large and enthusiastic nickname is “give ‘em hell, Harry”

Election Elmo Roper, pollster stopped polling nearly 2months before the election “my whole inclination is to predict the election of Thomas E. Dewey by a heavy margin, and devote my time and efforts to other things.” Pollster Dewey Truman Wallace Roper 52.2% 37.1% 4.3% Gallup 49.5% 44.5% 4% Crossley 49.9% 44.8% 3.3%

Election Results Dewey’s win predicted, even Chicago Daily Tribune went to press with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” Truman wins by a landslide! Candidate Pop vote Electoral vote Truman 49.6% 303 Dewey 45.1% 189 Thurmond 2.4% 39 Wallace