Postwar America

Postwar America WWII changed the U.S. from an isolationist country to a military superpower and world leader At first, 15 million soldiers, sailors, and marines returning home found it difficult to find jobs and housing Many feared the end of the war meant a return to hard economic times These fears were never realized: Many Americans had savings tucked away because of a shortage of consumer goods during the war and lessons-learned from the Great Depression Pent-up consumer demand for automobiles and housing quickly led to numerous construction and infrastructure projects 1950s: Americans enjoyed the highest standard of living achieved by any society in history

The G.I. Bill Allowed returning GIs to continue their education, paid for by the U.S. government Over 2 million GIs went to college on the GI bill, creating a postwar boom in higher education Also as a part of the GI Bill, veterans received over $16 billion in low-interest, government- backed loans to buy houses, farms, or start new businesses Helped focus on a better educated workforce while promoting new construction

The Baby Boomers The return home of 15 million men and women = an explosion in marriages and births 50 million babies born between 1945 and 1960 The baby boomers would profoundly affect the nation’s social institutions and economic life in the last half of the 20th century

Suburban Growth High demand for housing after the war resulted in a construction boom Postwar suburbs were characterized by Levittowns Mass-produced, low-cost houses (“cookie cutter” houses) In a single generation, the majority of middle- class Americans became suburbanites This mass movement to the suburbs was disastrous for inner cities, which became increasingly poor and racially divided

Rise of the Sunbelt Warmer climate, lower taxes, and economic opportunities attracted many families to the Sunbelt states The transfer of tax dollars from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and West helped finance the shift of industry, people, and political power from one region to another

PostWar Politics: Employment Act of 1946 Truman’s proposals for full employment and civil rights ran into opposition from conservatives in Congress Urged Congress to enact the following: National health insurance Increase min. wage Commit the U.S. govt. to maintain full employment Watered-down version of the bill was enacted as the Employment Act of 1946 Created Council of Economic Advisers to counsel the president and Congress on means of promoting national economic welfare

Postwar Politics: Inflation and Strikes Congress relaxed wartime price controls- led to an inflation rate of almost 25% during first year and a half of peace Workers and unions wanted wages to increase after years of wage control 4.5 million workers went on strike in 1946 demanding higher wages Strikes by railroad and mine workers threatened national security Truman seized the mines using soldiers until the workers agreed to return to work

Postwar Politics: Civil Rights Truman was the first president to use the powers of his office to challenge racial discrimination Used executive powers to establish the Committee on Civil Rights in 1946 Also strengthened the civil rights division of the Justice Department 1948: ordered the end of racial discrimination in the federal government and armed forces The Fair Employment Practices Commission that would prevent employers from discriminating against the hiring of African Americans was defeated by Congress

Return of Republicans to Congress 1946: Americans are in a conservative mood and elect Republican majorities to both houses of Congress Twenty Second Amendment (1951) limited a president to a maximum of two terms in office In reaction to FDR being elected four times Taft-Hartley Act (1947) was intended to check the growing power of unions Outlawed the closed shop “right to work” laws outlawing union shop Outlawing secondary boycotts Gave president the power to invoke a 80-day “cooling-off period” before a strike endangering national security could be called

Election of 1948 Truman’s popularity was at a low point and Republicans were confident of a victory Many Democrats had abandoned the party Liberal democrats thought Truman’s foreign policy was too aggressive Southern democrats bolted the party in reaction to Truman’s support for civil rights Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey who ran previously against FDR, and was so sure of a victory he ran a cautious and unexciting campaign

Election of 1948 Truman confounded the polling experts when he won a decisive victory over Dewey Won the popular vote by 2 million, won the electoral vote 303-189 Fresh off of victory, Truman pushed through an ambitious reform program which he called the Fair Deal National healthcare Federal aid to education Civil rights Funds for public housing New farm program

Failure of the Fair Deal Conservatives in Congress blocked most of Truman’s Fair Deal reforms except for: Increase in min. wage (from 40 to 75 cents) Inclusion of more workers under Social Security Most of the Fair Deal bills were defeated for two reasons: Truman’s political conflicts with Congress Pressing foreign policy concerns of the Cold War

? Why were postwar fears of returning to hard economic times never realized? By the 1950s, what did Americans enjoy? What did the G.I. Bill provide for? When were the baby boomers born? What were postwar suburbs characterized by? What did Truman achieve for civil rights in 1948? What two major pieces of legislation did Congressional Republicans push through after their 1946 victory? Why did many Democrats abandon the party by the 1948 election? What were the only two reforms Truman achieved through the Fair Deal? Why did Truman’s Fair Deal legislation ultimately fail?