1. Chapter 27 – Post War America
1945 – 1960
Intro and Section 1

2. Why It Matters:
After World War II, U.S. enjoyed economic prosperity (we had money and jobs)
Many lived in “Middle-Class”
House in the suburbs and had leisure time
Television was favorite entertainment
Prosperity did not reach many Hispanics, African Americans, or American Indians.

3. Economy
G.I. Bill – provided loans to veterans to help them attend college, buy homes, and start businesses.
Taft-Hartley Act – outlawed forcing business owners to hire only union members (closed shop).
States could have “right-to-work” laws.
Stopped “featherbedding”: limiting work output in order to create more jobs.

4. BUT REPUBLICANS SHOT IT ALL DOWN!
Truman’s Agenda: He tried but they wouldn’t listen! YOU JUST LISTEN TO MR. FALK
…and you won’t have to write notes from this slide!
Truman proposed:
Expansion of Social Security benefits
Raising minimum wage
Affordable public housing and slum clearance
Public Works & National Health Insurance
** Civil Rights Bill to get rid of poll taxes, make lynching a federal crime, no more discrimination
BUT REPUBLICANS SHOT IT ALL DOWN!

5. Election of 1948 & The Fair Deal
Truman wins election narrowly over Thomas Dewey – thanks to African Americans, laborers, and farmers.
Fair Deal – “Every individual has a right to expect from government, a fair deal.”
Minimum raised to 75 cents/hr.
Social Security to an extra 10 million people
National Housing Act of (800,000 low income homes)

6. Eisenhower
Korean War led to end of “Fair Deal”. Truman doesn’t run again for president.
Eisenhower, Republican, wins presidency behind slogan, “I like Ike!”
Conservatism: Many government programs had funding cut.
Federal Highway Act - $25 billion for 40,000 miles
Increased Social Security, Minimum Wage to $1, and got unemployment compensation for people.

7. Eisenhower Re-elected in 1956
Nation had gone from wartime to peacetime economy.
Prosperity for many began to show.

8. Assignment Chapter 27 – Section 2: Pages 814 – 819
Complete Questions #1 – 3, 7 on pg. 819 AND
WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BABY BOOM?
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POLIO VACCINE IN 1955?