1. Lesson Objectives: Section 1 - Postwar America
Standard Addressed: Students analyze the economic boom and social transformation of post–World War II America.
CH 19-SEC 1
Lesson Objectives: Section 1 - Postwar America
1. Identify economic and social problems Americans faced after World War II.
2. Explain how the desire for stability led to political conservatism.
3. Describe causes and effects of social unrest in the postwar period.
4. Contrast domestic policy under presidents Truman and Eisenhower.

2. A BULLDOG ALWAYS
CARES
Commitment
Attitude
Respect
Encouragement
Safety

3. THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 1950S
THE POSTWAR BOOM
THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 1950S
John Naisbitt

4. QUIZ!
Fill in your
ID NUMBER!
First & Last Name
CH-19-1

5. REDEFINING THE FAMILY
Tensions from changed gender roles during war increase divorce rate
A return to traditional roles after the war was the norm
Men were expected to work, while women were expected to stay home and care for the children

6. Conflict emerged as many women wanted to stay in the workforce
Divorce rates surged

7. A – What problems did Americans face after World War II?
MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
A – What problems did Americans face after World War II?
Housing shortages,
employment readjustment to family life,
rising inflation and lower wages and
shortages.

8. Economic Readjustment
Over 1 million defense workers laid off; wages drop for many workers
Price controls end; 25% increase in cost of scarce consumer goods
Congress reestablishes price, wage, rent controls
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9. social, economic, and political adjustments
The Truman and Eisenhower administrations lead the nation to make social, economic, and political adjustments following World War II.

10. Postwar America Readjustment and Recovery The Impact of the GI Bill 1
SECTION
Postwar America
Readjustment and Recovery
The Impact of the GI Bill
1944 GI Bill of Rights eases veterans’ return to civilian life
Pays partial tuition, unemployment benefits; provides loans
Continued . . .
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12. Guided Reading: Postwar America
1. Problem: Millions of veterans thrown out of work as they return to civilian life
Solution offered by the Truman administration and Congress
GI Bill of Rights
Free education,
Unemployment benefits,
Low-interest loans

14. Housing After WWII, returning vets faced a severe housing shortage
Homeless Japanese Men After World War II Built Community Housing From Old Buses.
1946- Neighbors chat outside one of the metal Quonset huts put up after the WWII to house about 8,000 veterans and their families.

15. With the help of the GI Bill, many veterans moved into suburbs
Housing
In response to the crisis, developers used assembly-line methods to mass-produce houses
Developer William Levitt bragged that his company could build a home in 16 minutes for $7,000
Suburbs were born
With the help of the GI Bill, many veterans moved into suburbs

16. Guided Reading: Postwar America
2. Problem: Severe housing shortage
Solution offered by developers such as William Levitt
Massed produced, standardized homes built using assembly-line methods

17. Housing Crisis 10 million returning veterans face housing shortage
Developers use assembly-line methods to mass-produce houses
Build suburbs—small residential communities around cities

18. Financial support to clear out slums and build low-income housing units;
Increased funding for public housing

19. Guided Reading: Postwar America
2. Problem: Severe housing shortage
Solution offered by Congress under the Truman and Eisenhower administrations
Financial support to clear out slums and build low-income housing units;
Increased funding for public housing

20. REMARKABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
People have savings, service pay, war bonds; buy goods long missed
Experts who predicted a postwar depression were proved wrong as they failed to consider the $135 billion in savings Americans had accumulated from defense work, service pay, and investments in war bonds

21. REMARKABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Americans were ready to buy consumer goods
Cold War keeps defense spending up; foreign aid creates markets

22. B – What factors contributed to the American postwar economic boom?
The GI Bill – offered veterans low-interest loans and education benefits, wage, price, and rent controls;
The Cold War military build up and foreign aid programs, such as the Marshall Plan;
Personal savings and desire for consumer products.

23. Guided Reading: Postwar America
3. Problem: Runaway inflation
Solution offered by the Truman administration and Congress
Reestablishment of wartime controls on prices, wages, and rents

24. DESPITE GROWTH, ISSUES PERSIST
One persistent postwar issue involved labor strikes
In 1946 alone, 4.5 million discontented workers, including Steelworkers, coal miners and railroad workers went on strike

25. TRUMAN TOUGH ON STRIKERS
Truman refused to let strikes cripple the nation
He threatened to draft the striking workers and then order them as soldiers to return to work
The strategy worked as strikers returned to their jobs

26. Guided Reading: Postwar America
4. Problem: Labor strikes that threaten to cripple the nation
Solution offered by the Truman administration
Threatened to draft strikers

27. C – What actions did President Truman take to avert (avoid) labor strikes?
Truman threatens to draft striking workers, keep them on the job as soldiers and to take control of the railroads and mines.

28. Continued . . .
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30. Meeting Economic Challenges
“Had Enough?”
Republicans win Senate, House; ignore Truman’s domestic policy
Congress passes Taft-Hartley Act, overturns many union rights
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31. Social Unrest Persists
African Americans, especially veterans, demand rights as citizens
Congress rejects civil rights laws; Truman issues executive orders:
- integrates armed forces; ends discrimination in government hiring
Continued . . .
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32. SOCIAL UNREST PERSISTS
President Truman: Supports Civil Rights
African Americans felt they deserved equal rights, especially after hundreds of thousands served in WWII
Executive Order 9981 issued on July 26, 1948
Desegregating the armed forces
Additionally, Truman ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of governmental employees

33. D – How did Truman use his executive power to advance civil rights?
Truman issued an executive order integrating the military after Congress refused to act.

34. Social Unrest Persists
The 1948 Election
Southern Democrats—Dixiecrats—protest civil rights, form own party
Truman calls special session; asks Congress for social legislation
Congress refuses; Truman goes on “whistlestop campaign”
Continued . . .
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36. THE 1948 ELECTION
Dewey
The Democrats nominated President Truman in 1948
The Republicans nominated New York Governor Thomas Dewey
Polls showed Dewey held a comfortable lead going into election day

37. Stunning Upset Truman defeats Thomas E. Dewey in close political upset
Democrats regain control of Congress, lose some Southern states
Continued . . .
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38. To protest Truman’s emphasis on Civil Rights, the South opted to run a third candidate, South Carolina Governor Strum Thurmond

39. E – What were some of Truman’s achievements as president?
He led the US to final victory in WWII, dealt with labor disputes,
Supported social programs
Civil rights legislation.

40. REPUBLICANS PLAN FOR 1952 ELECTION
By 1951 Truman’s approval rating sank to an all-time low of just 23%
Why? Korean War, rising tide of McCarthyism, and a general impression of ineffectiveness
The Republican (right) were chomping at the bit in the ’52 election

41. STEVENSON VS. IKE 1952 ELECTION
The Democrats nominated intellectual Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson while the Republicans nominated war hero Dwight David Eisenhower
Ike
Stevenson

42. “I LIKE IKE”
Eisenhower used the slogan, “I Like Ike” for his presidential campaign
Republicans used Ike’s strong military background to emphasize his ability to combat Communism worldwide

43. Nixon and his dog Checkers
IKE’S VP SLIP-UP
One potential disaster for Ike was his running mate’s alleged “slush fund”
Newspapers accuse VP candidate Richard M. Nixon of corruption
Richard Nixon responded by going on T.V. and delivering an emotional speech denying charges but admitting to accepting one gift for his children – a dog named Checkers
The “Checkers speech” saved the ticket
Nixon and his dog Checkers

44. IKE WINS 1952 ELECTION

45. Republicans Take the Middle Road
Eisenhower conservative about money, liberal on social issues
Ike tries to avoid civil rights movement, which is gaining strength
On economy, works for balanced budget, tax cut
Pushes social legislation, new Dept. of Health, Education, Welfare
Popularity soars; is reelected in 1956
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47. Guided Reading: Postwar America
5. Problem: Discrimination and violence
Solution offered during the Truman administration
Federal anti-lynching law;
integration of armed forces
Establishment of a permanent body to prevent racial discrimination in hiring;
Abolition of poll tax as a voting requirement;
Passage of federal legislation to eliminate discrimination in voting;

48. QUIZ!
Fill in your
ID NUMBER!
First & Last Name
CH-19-1