Postwar America: The Return to “Normalcy” Politics and the Rise of Suburbia

Postwar Politicss and Partisan Turmoil: Elections 1944: Democrats controlled Presidency and both houses of Congress 1946: In off year elections for 80 th Congress, Republicans took control of Congress for 1 st time since 1932 (split government) 1948: Truman won election in his own right. Democrats regained control of 81 st Congress. 1952: Dwight Eisenhower elected President (1 st Republican in 20 years). Republicans regained narrow control of 83 rd Congress.

Result of Split Government Shifting legislative initiatives, partisan rivalry and vetoes Points of consensus: Prosecuting the Cold War Points of conflict: Domestic agenda and continuation and advance of New Deal

The Cold War at Home 1947: Federal employees required to take loyalty oaths 1947: HUAC investigated Hollywood for subversion 1949: Federal prosecution and conviction of Communist Party leaders under the Smith Act 1949: Alger Hiss convicted of perjury 1950: Rosenberg’s charged with spying for Soviet Union. Convicted and executed in Internal Security Act of 1950

The Cold War Abroad Reinstitution of draft: 1947 Marshall Plan North American Treaty Organization National Security Act

Republican Legislative Initiatives Taft Hartley Act limited the power of unions: 1947 Tax cuts: 1947 Constitutional amendment limiting presidents to 2 terms: 1947

Democratic Legislative Initiatives National Health Insurance: proposed 1948 (failed) National Housing Act supported urban renewal: (1949) Expansion of Social Security to workers not previously covered Increase in Minimum Wage

Challenging Jim Crow Truman differentiated his administration from the Republicans during 80 th Congress: –Truman desegregated the federal workforce (1948) –Truman desegregated armed forces (1948)

Beyond Partisan Politics Normalcy for most Americans… –Securing and keeping a good job –Finding decent housing –Returning to private life and leaving the great crises of world politics behind And the Question: How?

Planning the postwar future… Where would the most promising jobs be? What parts of the country would prosper? How would people live? …Lessons from the past…

Before the Depression… : Dramatic growth of urban America. Economy based on manufacturing and commerce 1890: Closing of the frontier. Farming was no longer a growth industry for newcomers and young people migrated to cities. Immigrant migrations of were primarily to urban areas Black migration out of South to northern cities began in 1910 and continued to 1930.

If past was prologue…. Cities would again be the place to be. –There was pent up demand for manufactured goods produced by industrial centers. –Cities had grown dramatically during war years. –Cities were the center of culture, entertainment and nightlife. –Cities had public transit systems and related services.

Could the cities continue to expand? Problems on the horizon: –Crowded housing –Deteriorated infrastructure and housing after 15 years of depression and war –Congested transportation –“Corrupt” political machines

Solutions to the Housing Shortage Suburbia: Build new housing at the periphery of cities Suburban models in 1945: –Middle class bedroom suburb: residential community with transportation to center city (auto or rail) –Working class industrial suburb with jobs within walking distance or near transit

Pre 1945 Suburban Development Developer acquired open land and built new housing Upon completion residents could vote to: –Annex to city to acquire public services (water, sewage, schools, amenities) –Remain independent and build services Both models existed

Post 1945 Suburban Development New model: Working class or lower middle class, bedroom or car culture suburb –Small houses –Mortgages supported by the Federal Housing Administration or Veterans Administration –Modest but prosperous suburbanization An end to the previous pattern of expanding urban integration.

The Levitt House and its Occupants

From Potato Farm to Bedroom Suburb: Levittown, New York

Levittown after construction

Levitt became a national leader

Life in early Levittown

The House

Floor Plan: Four rooms plus bath

Suburbanization in Milwaukee in 1950s An initial exception to national trends Milwaukee continued to annex adjacent land in 1950s The “Suburbanization” of new housing and industrial development took place both within the city and in new suburbs

Milwaukee 1945

Milwaukee, 1950s

Current Milwaukee Neighborhoods

Milwaukee County and its Suburbs

National Patterns End of Annexation as an urban growth strategy –In Wisconsin, the Oak Creek Law Milwaukee’s last annexation was 1960 Legal segregation by race, religion, national origin in the national housing market led to building of segregated cities and suburbs Black and white rural migration to cities replaced departing suburbanites

New Migrants to Milwaukee, 1945

Birth of the Black Community