Chapter 27 Postwar America Section 1 Truman & Eisenhower

Return to Peacetime Economy Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill) – helped the economy by providing loans to veterans to attend college, set up businesses, and buy homes.

Inflation and Strikes Increased spending led to higher prices for goods, which then led to rising inflation. Workers went on strike for increased wages. Pres. Truman, fearing an energy shortage, forced miners to return to work after a month-long strike.

Republican Victory 1946 – Republicans wanted change and elected Republicans in both houses of Congress.

Republican Changes Taft-Hartley Act – (passed in 1947) cut the power of organized labor Outlawed the closed shop, or practice of forcing business owners to hire only union members States could pass right-to-work laws outlawing union shops, or shops where new workers were required to join the union Prohibited featherbedding, the limiting of work output in order to create more jobs.

Truman’s Domestic Program Some of Truman’s many proposals included: Expansion of Social Security benefits Raising minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents Broad civil rights bill

Election of 1948 As the election approached, it looked as if Truman would not be reelected. Truman criticized, “Do-Nothing Congress” because it hadn’t enacted any of his proposals. Truman won and Democrats regained both houses of Congress

Election of 1948

The Fair Deal Truman’s domestic agenda was known as the Fair Deal. Congress did not support all Truman’s ideas. Congress passed Minimum wage increase Social Security expansion Congress refused to pass National health insurance Civil rights legislation

The Eisenhower Years Truman decided not to run for reelection. Eisenhower’s slogan – “It’s time for a change!” Won by a landslide. Vice President was Richard M. Nixon.

Ike as President Political beliefs were midway b/w conservative and liberal. “Dynamic Conservatism” – the balancing of economic conservation with some activism.

Conservative Ike Ended gov’t price and rent controls. Vetoed a school construction bill. Cut aid for public housing Supported tax reductions

Activist Ike Pushed for passage of the Federal Highway Act, which provided $25 billion for a 10-year project to construct 40,000 miles of interstate highways. Authorized the construction of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway.

Election of 1956

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