American History: Chapter 20

1. American History: Chapter 20 III. Domestic Politics and Policy

2. Objectives • Discover Truman’s domestic policies as outlined in the Fair Deal. • Learn how Truman won the election of 1948. • Understand the Republican approach to government during the Eisenhower presidency.

3. Bell Ringer • Think of someone in a leadership position whom they admire, for example, a teacher, coach, or member of the clergy. Ask students to describe that person’s leadership style and explain why they think it’s effective. • How popular was Eisenhower after WWII? Did that influence his prospects as a candidate for President?

4. A) Truman’s Domestic Policies • Reconversion – the social and economic transition from war time to peacetime. • Government eased controls on goods and prices soared. • Major strikes for wage increases after war. 2) Taft-Hartley Act – President could declare an 80-day “cooling off” period which strikers had to return to work - For important industries – Truman vetoed it – passed over veto.

5. a) Truman’s Fair Deal • Extened New Deal programs • Most programs stopped by Republicans • Wanted national health insurance and legislation to control atomic energy

6. b) Truman on Civil Rights • Tried to pass a federal anti-lynching law, abolish poll taxes, prevent discrimination in hiring. • Republican controlled Congress voted all down • Truman banned discrimination in hiring of federal employees, and ended segregation in the armed forces

7. B) The Election of 1948 • Truman’s popularity at all time low. • Democrat party split into 3 (Dixiecrat Party. Progressive Party) and Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey. • Truman’s barnstormed the country attacking Congress, not Dewey – pulled of the upset • 22nd Amendment passed

8. C) Eisenhower and the Republican Approach • Eisenhower running for President against Adlai Stevenson from Illinois. • The Checkers Speech – Nixon (VP) accused of taking bribes – refuted it on national TV – admitted to one – a dog named Checkers (684) • Eisenhower’s style was low key – accused of doing nothing • Modern Republicanism – conservative with money, liberal with humans • Ike’s attempt to balance budget failed – recessions – did not reverse all of the New Deal (minimum wage, increased SS)

9. Meeting the Technology Challenge • USSR launching of Sputnik scarred the heck out of US – blamed education for falling behind in technology. 4) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – created in 1958 as an independent agency for space exploration. 5) National Defense Education Act (1958) – tried to improve science and math is school - Loans for college, did not have to repay if became a teacher, $ for science and foreign language buildings throughout US colleges.

10. Review • What issues did Truman face during the period of reconversion? • What was the Taft-Hartley act? • What was Modern Republicanism? Why did Eisenhower embrace it? • Why was NASA created? • What was the National Defense Education Act? • What were Truman’s domestic policies as outlined in his Fair Deal?