1. Truman and the Election of 1948

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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”

11. 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%

12. 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