Standard Addressed: 11.8 Students analyze the economic boom and social transformation of post–World War II America. Lesson Objectives: Section 1 - Postwar America 1. Identify economic and social problems Americans faced after World War II. 2. Explain how the desire for stability led to political conservatism. 3. Describe causes and effects of social unrest in the postwar period. 4. Contrast domestic policy under presidents Truman and Eisenhower.

THE POSTWAR BOOM THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 1950S John Naisbitt

Redefining the Family Tensions from changed gender roles during war increase divorce rate 1 SECTION NEXT continued Readjustment and Recovery Economic Readjustment Over 1 million defense workers laid off; wages drop for many workers Price controls end; 25% increase in cost of scarce consumer goods Congress reestablishes price, wage, rent controls Remarkable Recovery People have savings, service pay, war bonds; buy goods long missed Cold War keeps defense spending up; foreign aid creates markets

REDEFINING THE FAMILY A return to traditional roles after the war was the norm Men were expected to work, while women were expected to stay home and care for the children Conflict emerged as many women wanted to stay in the workforce Divorce rates surged

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS A – What problems did Americans face after World War II? Housing shortages, employment readjustment to family life, rising inflation and lower wages and shortages.

The Truman and Eisenhower administrations lead the nation to make social, economic, and political adjustments following World War II.

Readjustment and Recovery The Impact of the GI Bill 1944 GI Bill of Rights eases veterans’ return to civilian life Pays partial tuition, unemployment benefits; provides loans Postwar America 1 SECTION NEXT Continued...

Guided Reading: Postwar America 1. Problem: Millions of veterans thrown out of work as they return to civilian life Solution offered by the Truman administration and Congress GI Bill of Rights Free education, Unemployment benefits, Low-interest loans

After WWII, returning vets faced a severe housing shortage In response to the crisis, developers used assembly- line methods to mass- produce houses Developer William Levitt bragged that his company could build a home in 16 minutes for $7,000 Suburbs were born With the help of the GI Bill, many veterans moved into suburbs Housing

Readjustment and Recovery Postwar America 1 SECTION NEXT Continued... Housing Crisis 10 million returning veterans face housing shortage Developers use assembly-line methods to mass- produce houses Build suburbs—small residential communities around cities

Guided Reading: Postwar America 2. Problem: Severe housing shortage Solution offered by developers such as William Levitt Massed produced, standardized homes built using assembly-line methods Solution offered by Congress under the Truman and Eisenhower administrations Financial support to clear out slums and build low- income housing units; Increased funding for public housing

Meeting Economic Challenges President Truman’s Inheritance Harry S. Truman can make difficult decisions, take responsibility 1 SECTION NEXT Truman Faces Strikes 1946, higher prices, lower wages lead 4.5 million to strike Truman seizes mines, threatens to take over railroads Threatens to draft workers; unions give in “Had Enough?” Republicans win Senate, House; ignore Truman’s domestic policy Congress passes Taft-Hartley Act, overturns many union rights

DESPITE GROWTH, ISSUES PERSIST One persistent postwar issue involved labor strikes In 1946 alone, 4.5 million discontented workers, including Steelworkers, coal miners and railroad workers went on strike

TRUMAN TOUGH ON STRIKERS Truman refused to let strikes cripple the nation He threatened to draft the striking workers and then order them as soldiers to return to work The strategy worked as strikers returned to their jobs

Guided Reading: Postwar America 4. Problem: Labor strikes that threaten to cripple the nation Solution offered by the Truman administration Threaten to draft strikers

REMARKABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY Experts who predicted a postwar depression were proved wrong as they failed to consider the $135 billion in savings Americans had accumulated from defense work, service pay, and investments in war bonds Americans were ready to buy consumer goods

B – What factors contributed to the American postwar economic boom? The GI Bill – offered veterans low-interest loans and education benefits, wage, price, and rent controls; The Cold War military build up and foreign aid programs, such as the Marshall Plan; Personal savings and desire for consumer products.

Guided Reading: Postwar America 3. Problem: Runaway inflation Solution offered by the Truman administration and Congress Reestablishment of wartime controls on prices, wages, and rents

C – What actions did President Truman take to avert (avoid) labor strikes? Truman threatens to draft striking workers, keep them on the job as soldiers and to take control of the railroads and mines.

Social Unrest Persists Truman Supports Civil Rights African Americans, especially veterans, demand rights as citizens Congress rejects civil rights laws; Truman issues executive orders: - integrates armed forces; ends discrimination in government hiring 1 SECTION NEXT Continued...

SOCIAL UNREST PERSISTS President Truman: African Americans felt they deserved equal rights, especially after hundreds of thousands served in WWII Executive Order 9981 issued on July 26, 1948 Desegregating the armed forces Additionally, Truman ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of governmental employees

D – How did Truman use his executive power to advance civil rights? Truman issued an executive order integrating the military after Congress refused to act.

Social Unrest Persists 1 SECTION NEXT Continued... The 1948 Election Southern Democrats—Dixiecrats—protest civil rights, form own party Truman calls special session; asks Congress for social legislation Congress refuses; Truman goes on “whistlestop campaign”

THE 1948 ELECTION The Democrats nominated President Truman in 1948 The Republicans nominated New York Governor Thomas Dewey Polls showed Dewey held a comfortable lead going into election day Dewey

continued Social Unrest Persists Stunning Upset Truman defeats Thomas E. Dewey in close political upset Democrats regain control of Congress, lose some Southern states 1 SECTION NEXT Continued...

TRUMAN WINS IN A STUNNING UPSET Truman’s “Give ‘em hell, Harry” campaign worked Truman won a very close race against Dewey Truman holds a now infamous Chicago Tribune announcing (incorrectly) Dewey’s victory

To protest Truman’s emphasis on Civil Rights, the South opted to run a third candidate, South Carolina Governor Strum Thurmond

continued Social Unrest Persists 1 SECTION NEXT Continued... The Fair Deal Truman’s Fair Deal is ambitious economic program, includes: - higher minimum wage, flood control projects, low-income housing Congress passes parts of Fair Deal

E – What were some of Truman’s achievements as president? He led the US to final victory in WWII, dealt with labor disputes, Supported social programs Civil rights legislation.

Republicans Take the Middle Road I Like Ike! Truman’s approval rating drops over Korean War, McCarthyism - decides not to run for reelection Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower runs against IL governor Adlai Stevenson Newspapers accuse VP candidate Richard M. Nixon of corruption - defends self in televised “Checkers speech” Eisenhower wins; Republicans narrowly take Congress 1 SECTION NEXT Continued...

STEVENSON VS. IKE 1952 ELECTION The Democrats nominated intellectual Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson while the Republicans nominated war hero Dwight David Eisenhower Stevenson Ike

“I LIKE IKE” Eisenhower used the slogan, “I Like Ike” for his presidential campaign Republicans used Ike’s strong military background to emphasize his ability to combat Communism worldwide

REPUBLICANS PLAN FOR 1952 ELECTION By 1951 Truman’s approval rating sank to an all-time low of just 23% Why? Korean War, rising tide of McCarthyism, and a general impression of ineffectiveness The Republican (right) were chomping at the bit in the ’52 election

IKE’S VP SLIP-UP One potential disaster for Ike was his running mate’s alleged “slush fund” Richard Nixon responded by going on T.V. and delivering an emotional speech denying charges but admitting to accepting one gift for his children – a dog named Checkers The “Checkers speech” saved the ticket Nixon and his dog Checkers

IKE WINS 1952 ELECTION

continued Republicans Take the Middle Road Walking the Middle of the Road Eisenhower conservative about money, liberal on social issues Ike tries to avoid civil rights movement, which is gaining strength On economy, works for balanced budget, tax cut Pushes social legislation, new Dept. of Health, Education, Welfare Popularity soars; is reelected in SECTION NEXT

Guided Reading: Postwar America 5. Problem: Discrimination and violence Solution offered during the Truman administration Federal anti-lynching law; Abolition of poll tax as a voting requirement; Establishment of a permanent body to prevent racial discrimination in hiring; Passage of federal legislation to eliminate discrimination in voting; integration of armed forces