April 10, 2014 WW2 Note Packet DEMOBILIZATION

 The movement from a military to a civilian status  US armed forces decreased from 12 million to 1.5 million  Biggest issue  prevent US from slipping back into depression DEMOBILIZATION

FAIR DEAL  Promoting full employment  Higher minimum wage  Greater unemployment compensation  Housing assistance TRUMAN’S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

 Authorized billions of dollars to pay for veteran benefits  College education  Medical treatment  Unemployment insurance  Home/business loans SERVICEMEN’S READJUSTMENT ACT (THE GI BILL OF RIGHTS)

 Made full employment a national goal  Set up a Council of Economic Advisors  Guide the president on economic matters EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1946

 1946 – gov’t moved to end control of prices on goods  Ending price control and cutting taxes led to inflation  Food prices increased by 25% in 2 years AN END TO PRICE CONTROLS

 Workers wages couldn’t keep up w/ inflation  Increase in strikes, antiunion feelings  Taft-Hartley Act  Provided an 80-day “cooling off period”  Barred the closed shop  Allowed states to pass “right-to-work laws”  Banned union contributions to political campaigns  Required union leaders to swear they were not communists THE TAFT-HARTLEY ACT

 National Security Act (1947)  Created the Department of Defense  CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)  Banning racial discrimination in armed forces  Baby boom  Largest population explosion in history  Expanded middle class OTHER IMMEDIATE POST WW2 CHANGES