America post ww II

What is happening post war? The US experiences major increases in economic power They also see the new role as a world super power Millions of servicemen (women) are coming home Increase in credit Rise in television The American Dream forms

All of these create challenges Where will the returning veterans work? Where will they live? How can we fight inflation? How can we slow down the increase in labor strikes? How will the country move forward in their race relations?

Where will our veterans find work? Over $30 billion in defense contracts were cancelled, plus the veterans are returning looking for work The GI Bill of Rights (now most widely know by its “GI Bill” tuition coverage Pays part of GI college tuition Guarantees them a year’s worth of unemployment benefits while looking for a job Low interest guaranteed loans for housing

How to solve the housing shortage William Levitt introduces the idea of mass producing houses Building homes in small residential communities outside the larger city, becomes known as the Suburbs Side-by-side, identical (or near identical) small, open-lot housing These were affordable to many of the returning GI’s, especially with the GI Bill benefits Government backed loans, rent controls, zoning laws

Fighting inflation Consumer spending increased post-war, the Office of Price Administration ceased to act after the war Prices increased as wages sagged Congress answered by implementing price controls on wages, rents, and products

Labor strikes threaten production Higher prices and lower wages cause unrest in the labor force Steel, coal, and railroads were affected the most Truman threatens to draft the striking workers and use them as military labor Authorized the Federal government to take over the places of major resistance Was poised to ask Congress for approval to officially draft a group of striking railroad workers to forced labor and the unions gave in

Race relations in the 1950’s Truman staked his presidency on a push for equal rights Created the Presidents Commission on Civil Rights Asks Congress for a ban on the Poll Tax and a permanent Civil Rights commission Congress refused this and the integration of the army Truman takes action Integrated the Army via and Executive Order Called for an end to discrimination in the hiring of government employees