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Objective: Analyze Truman’s labor policy for America. All day long, the President’s got me workin ’. Background. 1945 WWII ended 12 million soldiers returned from war Pair share – what effect would a large number of people have on the economy (good and bad) of the US
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Objective: Analyze Truman’s labor policy for America All day long, the President’s got me workin’
Background • 1945 WWII ended • 12 million soldiers returned from war • Pair share – what effect would a large number of people have on the economy (good and bad) of the US • Look for jobs, homes, financial security (money to live) • Americans were tired of suffering through rations
Background • African Americans served in war next white soldiers • Gained respect on battle field • Came home to segregation • Wanted equality like in battle • Pair share – How can race relations change the economy?
Truman Policy • Called for 21 major changes to labor force • Sept 6, 1945 - Vision for Postwar America • Minimum wage • Guaranteed employment • Medical insurance • Housing aid • Improved benefits for war veterans • Wage and price controls
Truman Policy - Fair Deal • Continued to push New Deal programs – Taft Hartley Act • Support unions as long as they don’t harm working nation (steel, railroads, coal) • Draft workers as soldiers and force them to work • Created the Fair deal • Pro-labor • Economic controls • Social security • Medical provisions
Fair Deal changes • Federal agencies to provide minor medical and dental services to employees (1945) • Social Security Act was amended (1950) to provide a new category of state aid to the totally and permanently disabled. • Child labor was finally prohibited through an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act(1949). • National School Lunch and Milk Act (1946) • Funds were provided for slum clearance and urban renewal
Truman Policy - Opposition • Republicans & some democrats saw it as unnecessary giveaways • Pair share – How could these “giveaways” effect • Business owners • Workers? • Workers – want pay increase • Business owners – want profits
Truman Policy - Opposition • 1946 – 5,000 strikes • Ran out of basic goods • Meat, bread • Washing machines, cars • Some went to African Americans store • Others went with out
Truman Policy - Complaints • Taft-Hartley Act – Government monitors the activity of labor unions • Labor unions walked off the job • Military had to force them back on the job • Pair share – What effect would labor unions have on America? • Should the President step into force labor back to work
African Americans • Knew that African-Am represented large voting block & constitution gave equal rights to all • Ordered investigation into race relations • Desegregate the military in ’47 • Split his party • States Rights’ Democratic Party • Pair share - What is the goal and where are these democrats located?
African Americans – Truman Speech to NAACP • “Every man should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in the making of public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trial in a fair court.” • Went against his party to end racial segregation
Another War • 1950 Korean War • Wanted to rally Americans behind new War • Didn’t take control of economy like WWII • People weren’t willing to sacrifice • Congress ended Truman’s war taxes • Strikes continued
Result • People continued to strike • 1952 Steel strike • Truman tried to take control of company • Court said he couldn’t take control of businesses • Had to justify by Taft Hartley Act to delay strike • Refused to use it cause he didn’t like it • Truman lost control of Economy