Postwar America

1. Postwar America Mr. White’s US History 2

2. Objectives • Presidents Truman and Eisenhower led the nation through the social, economic, and political adjustments following World War II. • After we finish this section, you should be able to answer these questions: • What types of social and economic problems did Americans face after World War II? • How did the desire for stability lead to new political choices? • How did social unrest affect the country after the war? • How did Truman and Eisenhower differ in their political policies?

3. Americans sought to readjust to peacetime life and recover from World War II. Part I: Re-adjustment and recovery

4. A World Without War • Following the war, many Americans now faced the challenge of adjusting to peacetime life • Members of the armed forces came home, looking for jobs and trying to restart their lives • Families reunited and faced new problems • Defense industries laid off defense workers

5. The GI Bill • To help ease the return of veterans to civilian life, Congress passed the GI Bill • Paid part of veteran’s college tuition • Guaranteed a year’s worth of unemployment benefits • Offered low-interest loans to returning service-men • The GI Bill helped many returning soldiers get on their feet

6. The Housing Crisis • As veterans returned, the nation now faced housing shortages • Developers like Henry Kaiser and William Levitt responded by using assembly-line methods to mass-produce houses • Levitt claimed he could build a house in sixteen minutes • Kaiser and Levitt built large, mass-produced, and affordable developments in the suburbs • Many Americans moved to these developments

7. Changes in the Family Structure • As men returned from the armed services, they came back to find a nation where gender roles were changing • Many women had been employed in war industry jobs; over 75% of these women were married • Enjoyed economic and social freedom • This rise in economic independence for women led to an increase in the divorce rates, as well as many women putting off marriage to a later time in life

8. Economic Adjustments • During the war, the United States military and government had commissioned many defense contracts to provide for the war • When the war ended, these contracts came to an end almost overnight • Millions of defense workers were instantly laid-off by the companies – high unemployment immediately after the war • The government had also instituted price controls, which were now removed • Prices rose rapidly, many people couldn’t afford • Congress eventually stepped in and re-established the price controls

9. Economic Recovery • Despite these problems, no recession followed, and the American economy hit a boom period • During the war, consumer goods were heavily restricted, so after the war, many people wanted to buy these goods, and demand rose • Production couldn’t keep up, so industry began to employ more and more Americans to build consumer goods – televisions, cars, household appliances • Defense spending for the Cold War, foreign aid programs to Europe, and foreign markets helped the economy recover

10. Despite recovery, Americans faced many economic problems following World War II. Part II: Meeting economic challenges

11. Truman’s Challenges • Truman faced many challenges following the end of World War II • Rising threat of communism, both abroad and home • Had to sort out the problems with the American economy • Truman’s main weakness was his lack of political experience • However, he was viewed by many people as honorable, down-to-earth, and self-confident • Truman was also willing to make difficult decisions and take responsibility for their outcome

12. Strikes • Immediately after the war, rising costs and unemployment resulted in a general strike by steelworkers, coal miners, and railroad workers • Truman typically supported unions, but believed that this would negatively impact the country • Truman threatened to draft the striking workers into the armed forces; the strikers returned to work

13. Social unrest erupted, particularly in the American South. Part III: Social unrest

14. Truman and Civil Rights • Truman was committed to improving civil rights and equality in the United States • Truman supported: • A federal anti-lynching law • Abolition of the poll tax • A permanent body to prevent racial discrimination in government hiring • Integration of the armed forces • Congress rejected all of these proposals

15. Truman Takes Control • In spite of Congress’ reluctance to pass laws for civil rights, Truman used his power as president • Issued an executive order that integrated the armed forces • Also ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of government employees • The Supreme Court under Truman also ruled that African Americans could not be barred from purchasing homes in neighborhoods

16. Election of 1948 • In the election of 1948, new parties formed opposing Truman • Southerners who opposed Truman’s civil rights policies formed the States’ Rights Democratic Party – Dixiecrats • A Progressive Party formed that felt Truman was too conservative • Republics nominated Thomas Dewey • Losing in the polls right before the election, Truman campaigned aggressively and narrowly won

17. Second Term • In his second term, Truman proposed more social and economic programs to Congress • Mandatory health insurance (failed) • Crop subsidies for farmers (failed) • Truman was able to pass some of his other ideas, such as: • Raising the minimum wage • Extending Social Security coverage to more Americans • Initiating infrastructure improvements throughout the country

18. The Republican party capitalized on the threat of communism in the government and the appearance of Truman as a weak president. Part IV: republicans take the middle road

19. I Like Ike • In 1952, Truman doesn’t get the Democratic nomination for president • Republicans nominated Dwight Eisenhower, general of the Allied armed forces in World War II • Pointed to the threat of communism at home and abroad • Criticized the growing power of the federal government – bribery and corruption • Eisenhower wins election convincingly

20. Checkers • During Eisenhower’s campaign to become president, he selected Richard Nixon as his vice presidential running mate • Nixon was accused of political corruption – using a campaign slush fund for his own uses • Nixon responded to these accusations on television in his famous Checkers address • This is the one of the first uses of the medium of television in American politics

21. Eisenhower’s Administration • Eisenhower promised to follow dynamic conservatism – conservative on money, liberal on people • Eisenhower was relatively hands-off with civil rights • Brown v. Topeka Board of Education – Supreme Court case that ruled “separate but equal” as unconstitutional in public schools; must integrate • Rosa Parks’ civil disobedience and the Montgomery Bus Boycott took place

22. Eisenhower’s Administration, Continued • Eisenhower worked to balance the budget, cut taxes, and keep defense strong at the same time • Raised the minimum wage • Extended Social Security and unemployment benefits • Increased funding for public housing • Backed and completed the construction of the Interstate highway system • Eisenhower’s administration shifted defense spending from conventional forces to cheaper nuclear forces – bombs, bombers • Eisenhower’s administration adopted the nuclear strategy of massive retaliation

23. The Blitz • Now get ready for the Blitz!

24. Question #1 • What did President Harry Truman do when 4.5 million discontented workers went on strike in 1946 as a result of rising prices and lower wages? • Truman sent federal troops to ‘break’ the strikes • Truman called his mom for advice • Truman threatened to draft the striking workers and order them as soldiers to stay on the job • Truman asked Douglas MacArthur to do to the striking workers what he had done to the Bonus Army during Herbert Hoover’s administration.

25. Question #2 • President Harry Truman worked to secure equal rights for African Americans by: • Issued an executive order for the racial integration of the military • Ruled that the “separate, but equal” doctrine was unconstitutional • Passing the Civil Rights Act • Freeing slaves in the southern states

26. Question #3 • Which of these forms of media grew the fastest immediately following World War II? • Radio • Printed media • Television • The internet

27. Question #4 • This act, signed into law by Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, authorized the building of a nationwide highway network, including 41,000 miles of expressway. • The Interstate Highway Act • The Intrastate Highway Act • The Streets and Turnpikes Act • The National Roads Act

28. Question #5 • What new medium of communication was used to convey Richard Nixon’s “Checkers Speech”? • Radio • television • cable news • fireside chats

29. Discussion Questions • Evaluate Eisenhower’s military strategy of increasing the nuclear armament to reduce expenses. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? • Evaluate Truman’s threat to draft strikers into the military to end the strike. Was this a fair treatment of the strikers? Explain why you feel this way.