THE TRUMAN PRESIDENCY
Two Cold War themes… 1) Conflict with the Soviets… 2) Conflict between Truman & Congress…
THE TRUMAN PRESIDENCY Objectives… Describe the post WW II domestic challenges & evaluate how HST handles these challenges.
“To Err is Truman” 1) The two major domestic challenges... facing the Truman Administration following WW II… Demobilization… Re-establish the peace time economy…
Demobilization Slogans: “Home Alive in 45” “No Boats, No Votes” Postcards to the Whitehouse... “Bring the boys home by X-mas” “Bring Daddy Home” Clubs
Heading home at last… Across Europe, Asia & the Pacific, America’s victorious GIs pack up, tear down & head home to restart their lives.
2) The economic problems associated with reconverting the economy? “To Err is Truman” 2) The economic problems associated with reconverting the economy? The challenge of economic reconversion… - 9M returning vets - War plants close - 35B in contracts cancelled - Fear of returning to the depression - Consumers are tired of economic sacrifice - Inflation: 16% in 1 week - Labor unrest
Social problems in the post war era… Fear of “blood lust” The divorce rate up Housing shortages
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act FDR signs the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act or “GI Bill of Rights” in 1944 For returning veterans… Education… college for vets - Medical treatment - Business loans - Housing loans
The "GI Bill" exceeded all expectations… 21M get educated 1947: GIs = 50% of college enrollment The American workforce… 450K engineers 238K teachers 91K scientists 67K doctors 22K dentists
4) Truman’s Twenty-one Point Program (1945-1946) Unemployment insurance Higher minimum wage Housing assistance National health insurance
The 1946 Mid-term Elections “Had enough???” The results… 5) What voter sentiments were reflected in the 1946 midterm election?
“No good, do-nothing Congress”- HST The 80th Congress The 80th Congress defeats most of Truman’s proposals for dealing with these problems. “No good, do-nothing Congress”- HST Republicans Democrats -Shrink New Deal -Extend New Deal
Summarize the opposing viewpoints of labor and management in the post war era.
6) Taft-Hartley Act AKA: “Slave Labor Bill” A reaction to labor unrest Limits the closed shop Requires an 80 day cooling off period for strikes Union leaders must swear they are not Communists Passed over Truman’s veto
THE TRUMAN PRESIDENCY Objective… Describe the factors that most influenced the outcome of the 1948 election?
7) Progressive: Henry Wallace The 1948 Election 7) Progressive: Henry Wallace Liberal New Dealer Truman’s fired him as Sec. of Commerce Accused of being “a tool of the communists”
7) Dixie-crat: Strom Thurmond The 1948 Election 7) Dixie-crat: Strom Thurmond Gov. of South Carolina Segregationist Runs in reaction to HST's civil rights policies
Senator Strom Thurmond served until age 100. He was 103 when he died in 2003
Democrat: Harry Truman The 1948 Election Democrat: Harry Truman Maintain/ expand New Deal Adopts civil rights policies to counter Wallace Desegregates the military Attacks the 80th “Do-nothing Congress”
Republican: Thomas Dewey The 1948 Election Republican: Thomas Dewey Gov. of NY Reverse the New Deal Attacks Truman for poorly managing the Communist threat.
Results of the 1948 Election Party/ Electoral College Pop Vote% HST: Dem… 303… 49.5% Dewey: Rep…. 189… 45.1% Thurmond: Dixiecrat 39… 2.4% Wallace: Prog… 0… .6% 8) What were the factors that most influenced the outcome of the 1948 Presidential election?
Truman’s Inauguration THE TRUMAN PRESIDENCY Objectives… Identify the policies associated with the Fair Deal and evaluate the success of these Fair Deal policies. Truman’s Inauguration
9) & 10) The Fair Deal What is the Fair Deal?... Success… Failure… -Social Security -Minimum wage -Housing subsidies -Urban housing Failure… -Civil rights -Taft Hartley repeal- -Health Insurance -Aid to education
HST & Civil Rights 1946: Forms Commission on CR: Recommend… Anti-lynching Law & End Poll Taxes 1948 HST desegregates the military Meets with CR leaders to discuss “racial terrorism” in America