PDN What problems did the U.S. face at the end of World War II? What problems did the U.S. face at the end of World War II?

Truman and Eisenhower

Truman’s First Term US high living but tension from Cold War US high living but tension from Cold War Small town values Small town values No previous experience No previous experience GI Bill GI Bill Taft-Hartley Act – outlawed closed shop (veto overriden) Taft-Hartley Act – outlawed closed shop (veto overriden) CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff created CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff created

Election of 1948 Dems wanted Ike – he said no so they settled for Truman Dems wanted Ike – he said no so they settled for Truman Dems split – Progressives elected Wallace Dems split – Progressives elected Wallace Dixiecrats elected Thurmond Dixiecrats elected Thurmond Reps elected Dewey Reps elected Dewey Truman wins by narrow margin (famous newspaper headline) Truman wins by narrow margin (famous newspaper headline)

Truman’s Second Term Fair Deal – civil rights, low cost housing, education $, more Social Security Fair Deal – civil rights, low cost housing, education $, more Social Security Congress blocks Truman’s stuff Congress blocks Truman’s stuff Korean war leads to high taxes Korean war leads to high taxes Red Scare starts Red Scare starts Alger Hiss/Rosenberg cases occur Alger Hiss/Rosenberg cases occur Loyalty programs instituted Loyalty programs instituted McCarthyism McCarthyism

Election of 1952 Dems – Stevenson Dems – Stevenson Reps – Eisenhower Reps – Eisenhower Nixon runs for Ike’s VP and gives famous “Checkers” speech when accused of taking gifts as Senator Nixon runs for Ike’s VP and gives famous “Checkers” speech when accused of taking gifts as Senator Landslide for Ike Landslide for Ike

Eisenhower’s First Term Father figure Father figure Age of prosperity and innocence Age of prosperity and innocence Modern Republicanism – New Deal programs but States run them Modern Republicanism – New Deal programs but States run them Defense spending heavy Defense spending heavy Ended Korea Ended Korea Ended McCarthy scare after hearings Ended McCarthy scare after hearings

Election of 1956 Ike sick but ran anyway Ike sick but ran anyway Dems – Stevenson and Kefauver (instead of JFK for VP) Dems – Stevenson and Kefauver (instead of JFK for VP) Ike wins but democrats took control of Congress Ike wins but democrats took control of Congress

Eisenhower’s Second Term Suez Canal Crisis Suez Canal Crisis Sputnik Sputnik Civil Rights – Brown Decision Civil Rights – Brown Decision Little Rock Little Rock Civil Rights Act Civil Rights Act Montgomery Bus Boycott Montgomery Bus Boycott SCLC SCLC Major recession Major recession Alaska and Hawaii added to the Union Alaska and Hawaii added to the Union

Life in the 1950’s Luxuries Luxuries Some poverty Some poverty Too much $ on defense Too much $ on defense Baby boom Baby boom Homemaking encouraged Homemaking encouraged Suburbanization Suburbanization 3-D movies 3-D movies Sports popular Sports popular

More ’50’s Broadway Broadway Elvis – rock and roll Elvis – rock and roll Literature –Beatniks, famous authors (Norman Mailer, James Jones, Herman Wouk, Carson McCullers, J.S. Salinger) Literature –Beatniks, famous authors (Norman Mailer, James Jones, Herman Wouk, Carson McCullers, J.S. Salinger) Architecture – Wright Architecture – Wright Televangelism Televangelism

EXIT LETTER Write one paragraph summing up the 1950’s. Write one paragraph summing up the 1950’s.