1. The G.I. Bill
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the G.I. Bill of Rights or just the G.I. Bill, is the name for a piece of legislation passed through congress during the spring of 1944.
President Roosevelt signed the bill on June 22nd, only a short time after the invasion of Normandy.

2. A Threat from the Past
The G.I. Bill came about because of a threat from the past.
With the mistakes of World War I fresh in her memory, America looked to the future return of her men in uniforms and worried that history would repeat itself. One organization in particular rose to the challenge.

3. A Threat from the Past https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJrA1evtPa8
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4. The American Legion
An organization of veterans dedicated to supporting their own.
The Legion as a whole was instrumental in raising support for the bill and pushing it through Congress.

5. The American Legion
Several of its members were key figures in the bill's conception and passage: Harry Walter Colmery, Warren Atherton, and John Henry Stelle.

6. The American Legion
Colmery drafted the G.I. Bill and lobbied for it extensively.
Atherton held the office of “National Commander” during the time of the Bill's induction to Congress and ardently supported the bill.
Stelle chaired the Legion's G.I. Bill committee.

7. The Return Home
16 million veterans had to be reassimilated into American culture and had to find a way to make a living.
Many veterans decided to get jobs, get married, buy houses, and raise families.
Other veterans, however, decided they might be interested in going to school.

8. Approximately 8 million said “Yes.”

9. Benefits of the Bill
In order to be able to fulfill these desires, the veterans turned to the new G.I. Bill.
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10. The Learners
Each learner who took advantage of the G.I. Bill had been through two significant events that drastically impacted their lives: the Great Depression and World War Two.

11. Learner Needs
Now that the war was over, veterans needed a job and a place to live. The G.I. Bill helped provide the resources necessary so that veterans could establish themselves.
For some veterans, this meant returning to school so that they could have a better chance in landing a job in the struggling market.

12. Ultimate Impact
The World War II legislation saw 2,232,000 veterans go to college (Olsen).
Some even returned to high school.
Colleges met the increasing demand by increasing supply.
Before the war, the mean number of colleges being created each year was 18 colleges. After the war, the mean number was 32 colleges (Adams).

13. Ultimate Impact
Doubled the ratio of homeowners and created the Middle Class.
Sparked explosive growth of “suburbia” (Michels).
“Increased federal aid was made possible, especially for construction, scholarships and 2 more G.I. Bills.” (Olson)

14. G.I. Bill and Adult Education
The veterans had gone through a transformational learning experience.
The G.I. Bill met veterans where they were at.
Though not an educational institution in itself, the bill provided the resources necessary for veterans to access an educational institution.