Part 2, July 5 th, 2011 Summer 2011

Ch. 2: A Fair Deal What was Truman’s Fair Deal? Before and after the Presidential Election of 1948, it was the name given to describe his liberal domestic agenda. It added Truman’s own ideas to FDR’s New Deal. It focused on workers, veterans, and improved the national education system. Why would workers need even more education? As the economy grows unskilled jobs are being replaced. As modern industry grows factories are requiring an educated workforce. Eventually, the economy will shift from manufacturing to providing services, which will require even more education. Why would the Fair Deal help Veterans? Returning WWII veterans needed access to higher education for new jobs, and homes because they wanted to start families. So how did the Veterans receive this help? Truman created the G.I. Bill of Rights to help them as they returned after the war. It paid for a G.I.s college education. The G.I. Bill also provided troops to use Veterans Administration loans to purchase a home. How did the Fair Deal attempt to help education? Because of intense Soviet competition during the Space Race, Truman had Congress create the National Science Foundation to emphasize science and math over anything else.

Ch. 2: The Election of 1948 Challenges facing Truman Truman had to replace FDR who was very popular and charismatic. Very liberal Democrats wanted a return to the policies of FDR, while southern Democrats hated Truman’s policies, Republicans disliked him in general Congressional elections A large number of Republicans & conservative Democrats were elected to Congress. They ended New Deal programs, cut the federal budget, & fought unions with the Taft Hartley Act. Truman used his power to veto these action…but Congress overrides his vetoes. Follow up to the 1948 Presidential Election Truman’s campaign looked hopeless. FDR, The Great Depression, & WWII kept everyone and their different issues together with the hope of saving the country. Now that FDR is gone, & The Depression and War are over, Truman has to deal with the problems. Problems with the Left Democrats are usually called “the Left.” The most liberal Democrats brought back the Progressive Party. More conservative southern Democrats, scared of civil rights, split & formed the States’ Rights Party (aka Dixiecrats).

Ch. 2: The Election of 1948 Who was Truman’s Republican opponent? The Republicans nominated New York Governor, Thomas E. Dewey. The Democrats were divided between those loyal to Truman, & those loyal to the Dixiecrats and Progressives. What was the Whistle Stop Tour and why was ‘Give ‘em Hell, Harry’ his slogan? Truman was the only person on his campaign who thought he could win. He promised to never give up and he began a major tour across the country using a train, stopping everywhere he could. Truman attacked the Republican Congress. Calling them “do nothings” which were only harming the American people. At each stop Truman’s supporters would shout, “Give ‘em Hell Harry.!” So what was the result of the election? Public opinion polls favored Dewey. The Chicago Daily Tribune news paper ran a headline claiming victory for Dewey. But in reality, the poor, the working class, & minorities, came out in record numbers to vote for Truman. Since that day the Republicans have been seen to represent the rich, while the Democrats have been seen as the party of underdogs.

The Lack of funding during the New Deal. Did Congress fully support President Truman? No. Unfortunately, Congress did not spend enough money on education besides the National Science Foundation. It did fund the foreign exchange student program, and school lunches. What did this mean for education in the USA? From now on, each of the states would be responsible for funding education in their state. California Master Plan for Education The plan California had to guarantee an adequate education is a right of all Californians. California’s state universities were re-organized to allow greater access to a higher education. A “Fair” LegacyWhile Congress opposed Truman’s education and economic policies, he did make some progress. Congress raised the minimum wage from 40 cents to 75 cents. The Housing Act of 1949, replaced old run down buildings, with new homes for low income residents. Truman reached out to minorities. The military was desegregated in He was also the first president to meet with the NAACP.