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Truman and Eisenhower

Truman and Eisenhower. Ch. 27, Sec. 1. Key Idea . After WWII, the Truman and Eisenhower administrations set out to help the nation adjust to peacetime. . Return to a Peacetime Economy. U.S. economy cont. to grow after WWII increased consumer spending GI Bill helped the economy

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Truman and Eisenhower

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  1. Truman and Eisenhower Ch. 27, Sec. 1

  2. Key Idea • After WWII, the Truman and Eisenhower administrations set out to help the nation adjust to peacetime.

  3. Return to a Peacetime Economy • U.S. economy cont. to grow after WWII • increased consumer spending • GI Bill helped the economy • provide loans to vets. to attend college, set up businesses, buy homes • Increased spending = higher prices for goods  led to rising inflation

  4. Return to a Peacetime Economy • Workers went on strike for increased wages • Truman fearing an energy shortage • forced miners to work after month-long strike • 1946 U.S. interested in change • elected Republican majority in both houses • Congress proposed Taft-Hartley Act to cut union power

  5. Return to a Peacetime Economy • Taft-Hartley Act • outlawed closed shop • States could pass right-to-work laws outlawing union shops - new workers required to join union • prohibited featherbedding – limiting work output to create more jobs • Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act • Congress passed it in 1947 w/ override

  6. Truman’s Domestic Program • Truman proposed many domestic programs • expansion of Social Security benefits • raising min. wage • broad civil rights bill protecting African Americans • met w/ little success w/ Republicans and conservative Southern Democrats

  7. Truman’s Domestic Program • 1948 election approached, reelection looked slim for Truman • Truman criticized “Do-Nothing Congress,” b/c it hadn’t enacted his proposals • Truman won election • Democratic Party regained control of both houses

  8. Truman’s Domestic Program • Truman’s domestic agenda - Fair Deal • State of the Union message = Americans had a right to expect a fair deal from govt. • Congress didn’t support all of Truman’s ideas • min. wage increased • Social Security system expanded • Congress refused to pass national health insurance or civil rights law

  9. The Eisenhower Years • W/ U.S. at war in Korea, Truman’s Fair Deal faded w/ his approval rating • Truman didn’t run for reelection • Republican candidate Eisenhower ran w/ slogan “It’s time for a change!” • promised to end Korean War • Eisenhower won in landslide w/ running mate Nixon

  10. The Eisenhower Years • Eisenhower’s political beliefs moderate • referred to dynamic conservatism – balancing economic conservatism with activism • On the conservative side • Eisenhower ended govt. price and rent controls • vetoed a school construction bill • cut aid for public housing • supported tax reductions

  11. The Eisenhower Years • As an activist • Eisenhower pushed for Federal Highway Act - 10-year project to construct 40,000 miles of interstate highways • number of car owners increasing  necessary to provide for more efficient travel • authorized the construction of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway.

  12. The Eisenhower Years • 1956 - Eisenhower easily won 2nd term • America transitioned from wartime to peacetime economy • Americans focused energy on decade of tremendous prosperity

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