Chapter 19 Section 1 Notes The U.S. after WWII (1945 – 1960)

The end of WWII – Expectations of Soldiers Within 1 year of the war ending, 10 million people released from the military. Return home and want Jobs Family (wife/kids) Nice things Home Modern conveniences Normal Life

The U.S. Economy after WWII needs to adjust from making war related stuff to consumer stuff Initial problems include High unemployment All returning soldiers want jobs 3 million war industry workers laid off by 1946. Takes awhile for all to find new jobs High prices for consumer products (inflation) Due to High demand and low supply More people in workforce = lower pay for employees

Postwar Strikes 4.5 Million Workers total strike in 1946 Railroads, Coal Factories, Steel Mills Begins to negatively affect economy President Truman responds Threatens to draft strikers into the military Would then force them to do their jobs Workers return – Strikes end Congress passes Taft – Hartley Act (1947) Weakens power of unions Truman vetoed it… Congress overrode it

Postwar Economic Recovery by 1950 Many Reasons GI Bill of Rights U.S. Citizens cashing in War Bonds U.S. Gov. Defense Spending (Cold War) U.S. Spending to help Rebuild Europe and Japan Creation of Suburbs (lots of jobs) People wanting modern conveniences Appliances, Automobiles Unemployment Rate in the U.S. 1948 - 2010

G.I. Bill of Rights Intended to help returning soldiers Veterans get 3 major benefits most of tuition paid for by the govt. 1 year worth of unemployment benefits low interest loans for houses or starting businesses A version is still in effect today

Cashing in War Bonds Roughly $180 Billion was collected by U.S. Gov during WWII Different amounts, Different redemption dates, etc… People start cashing them in late 1940’s Gives people $$$ to spend and improves economy This Bond Was Bought For $18.75 And Would Be Cashed 10 years Later for Its Full Value

U.S. Spending to help in Europe & Asia, Plus Military $$$ Covered Last Chapter (CONTAINMENT!!!) Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, China, Korea, Nuclear Build Up Create a whole bunch of jobs here Nuclear Stockpiles

Creation of Suburbs Housing shortage in cities after WWII not enough room for growing families GI Bill meant families could get loans Solution = Build around them SUBURBS houses were inexpensive Between $5,000 & $10,000 Mortgages of less than $100 a month! Built really fast Assembly line methods used New house finished every 16 minutes all looked the same William Levitt and Levittown 1st major developer of suburban houses Community Copied all around the U.S. Helped the economy by creating all kinds of jobs! Construction, Public Utilities, Road Building, Lumber, Steel, Automobiles, Banking, Home Finance, Businesses around new Neighborhoods, etc….

Family Life after WWII Men expect to still be “heads of household” and “provider” Typically got jobs back after war Women became used to making decisions for households during WWII most leave their jobs and be “homemakers” Result = A spike in the divorce rate due to arguments quick marriages before or after the war.

U.S. President after WWII - Truman His best quality = Making difficult decisions “The buck stops here” 1. Should U.S. drop atomic bombs on Japan? 2. How should U.S. deal with rising threat of communism? 3. How can the American economy continue to be strong after WWII? We discussed all these already Many of these decisions made him unpopular

Truman on Civil Rights 1st President to actively promote equality for African Americans was limited by Congress on many issues unpopular position to take at the time Two major Executive Orders (went around Congress) Fully integrated the armed forces (1948) Ended discriminatory hiring practices in the National Govt One Major Social Change Jackie Robinson becomes 1st African – American MLB player (1947) All blacks were in a separate league up to that point

1948 Election Democrats have 3 Major Candidates 1. Strom Thurmond Supported by Southerners known as Dixiecrats Extremely Conservative – less Fed. Govt. Involvement in people’s lives Opposed to Civil Rights and Integration Was a U.S. Senator for South Carolina for 48 yrs Was 100 yrs old when He left office (oldest ever)

2. Henry Wallace Supported by some Northerners Extremely Liberal – More Nat. Govt. Programs, No War… Ever! For full civil rights and equality for women (even more than Truman)

3. Harry Truman Incumbent (already in office) wasn’t elected 1st time (took over for FDR after his death) Middle of the Road on issues Supported by the military Unpopular nationwide by 1948 (economy, China, Civil Rights) Wins a tough 3 way battle to get Dem. Nomination

Republicans nominate Thomas Dewey Popular Governor of NY Everyone expects him to win election with division in Dem. Party Didn’t campaign much – figured he didn’t need to

Dewey Defeats Truman – or does he? Truman wins in an upset Very close election Campaigned hard at the end Changed people’s minds Look at slide 12

Truman’s Plan for U.S. = Fair Deal Tries to associate himself with FDR Wants health insurance for all Americans Congress mostly Republican – does not agree (Obamacare now) Some accomplishments Almost doubles minimum wage (75 cents an hr. in 1949) Provides $ for low income housing projects in cities Extends Social Security to more people Doubling The Minimum Wage May Seem Insane But It Happened In 1949 President Harry Truman signs legislation raising the minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents, Oct. 26, 1949. (AP Photo)

Truman’s Popularity Tumbles during 2nd term Major Reasons China becomes Communist Korean War McCarthyism in U.S. Cold War fears 23% popularity by 1952 Doesn’t run for another term

1952 Election Democrat Candidate Adlai Stevenson Smart guy many people couldn’t relate What he had going for him? Dems. had been in power for 20 years Tried to show the progress made since then

Republican Candidate Dwight Eisenhower (“Ike”) WWII Hero No prior political career Good use of TV to campaign VP running mate Richard Nixon Avoided campaign finance scandal by successfully using TV to explain accusations Checkers speech

1952 Election Results = Ike Wins Easy People want a change 

Eisenhower’s Presidency (1952 – 1960) very middle of the road…. Avoided controversy if possible relied on polls to determine course of action on issues was well liked… mainly because of his “war hero” status Stayed popular throughout his presidency Good Economy, Wars are over, Brinkmanship reduced, people felt safer Supported Civil Rights and Integration Major event = Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) Supreme Court orders integration of all public schools Beginning of modern Civil Rights movement More in Chp 21