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Truman and Eisenhower

Harry S Truman  President from 1945 to 1952  FDR’s vice president and took over when FDR died in office  Made the decision to use atomic weapons to end WWII  Truman Doctrine - containing communism  President from 1945 to 1952  FDR’s vice president and took over when FDR died in office  Made the decision to use atomic weapons to end WWII  Truman Doctrine - containing communism

 Public’s main fear in 1945 was that the depression would return now that the war was over  The GI Bill was created to put money into the economy by giving educational and financial assistance to veterans  Inflation increased and labor unions demanded higher wages and began to strike  Public’s main fear in 1945 was that the depression would return now that the war was over  The GI Bill was created to put money into the economy by giving educational and financial assistance to veterans  Inflation increased and labor unions demanded higher wages and began to strike

 Congress passes the Taft-Hartley Act that limited the labor union’s power  Truman vetoed the bill, saying it’s “bad for labor, bad for management, and bad for the country”  The Republican congress overrode the veto  Congress passes the Taft-Hartley Act that limited the labor union’s power  Truman vetoed the bill, saying it’s “bad for labor, bad for management, and bad for the country”  The Republican congress overrode the veto

1948 Election  Both the right and left wings of the democratic party split off and nominated their own presidential candidates  Progressive Party - thought Truman was too soft on communism (Henry Wallace)  Dixiecrats - did not want federal interference in race relations (no civil rights) (Strom Thurmond)  Both the right and left wings of the democratic party split off and nominated their own presidential candidates  Progressive Party - thought Truman was too soft on communism (Henry Wallace)  Dixiecrats - did not want federal interference in race relations (no civil rights) (Strom Thurmond) Dewey was projected to win, but Truman managed a remarkable victory after waging an incredibly effective campaign.

Fair Deal Liberalism  Truman proposed a plan to Congress that would give the people the right to a job, adequate medical care, a good education, social security and increased civil rights  He called it the “Fair Deal”  Congress only passed the increases in minimum wage, social security and low-income housing  Special interest groups blocked many advancements  The Korean War took away funds  Truman proposed a plan to Congress that would give the people the right to a job, adequate medical care, a good education, social security and increased civil rights  He called it the “Fair Deal”  Congress only passed the increases in minimum wage, social security and low-income housing  Special interest groups blocked many advancements  The Korean War took away funds

Dwight D. Eisenhower  Elected in 1952  Nixon was VP  Truman did not run for a second term  Sought a middle ground between liberalism and conservatism  Dynamic Conservatism

Public Works  Increased minimum wage to $1 per hour  Created Department of Health, Education and Welfare  Passed the Interstate Highway Act of 1956  ($26 billion!!)  Increased minimum wage to $1 per hour  Created Department of Health, Education and Welfare  Passed the Interstate Highway Act of 1956  ($26 billion!!)

Affluent Society  Many Americans, especially whites, moved to home ownership in new suburban communities  Economic expansion = Domestic prosperity  Rapidly growing middle class

AFL - CIO  In 1955, the Congress of Industrial Organizations joined its old enemy, the American Federation of Labor  Represented 90% of the nation’s union workers  Labor peace (no strikes)  Cost of living pay increases  Consumer spending soared  In 1955, the Congress of Industrial Organizations joined its old enemy, the American Federation of Labor  Represented 90% of the nation’s union workers  Labor peace (no strikes)  Cost of living pay increases  Consumer spending soared

Suburbs  Returning veterans faced a housing shortage  Solution was to mass- produce houses in suburbs  Arthur Levitt was the creator of Levittown, NY - the first subdivision  Restrictive covenants prohibiting blacks!

Tomorrow: Consumer Culture