1. The Truman Years at Home

2. The Post War Economy A return to Depression? –Only the War had ended it –15,000,000 soldiers return –Less demand –Memories of post-WW I Some fear between 8 & 20 million unemployed Very efficient transformation to peace –90% reconverted by 1946 Govt helped High employment Wartime savings meant demand kept up Major problem is inflation –15% in 1946 The Fears The Reality

3. Post War American Attitude Victorious in War Number 1 in economic & military power Only country with A- Bomb Fulfillment of “City Upon a Hill” & “Manifest Destiny”?

4. Truman’s Fair Deal His domestic policy Based on FDR’s “New Deal” –Truman a Roosevelt Democrat Truman gets little of what he wants from Congress

5. Truman’s Fair Deal Minimum wage raised from 40 – 75 cents Expand Social Security Full employment bill (all to have jobs) Government health coverage Anti-racial discrimination laws Public Housing More government $ for education

6. Truman’s Fair Deal Minimum wage raised Expand Social Security Full employment bill (all to have jobs) Government health coverage Anti-racial discrimination laws Public Housing More government $ for education

7. Jackie Robinson, 1947

8. Truman and Civil Rights Wanted civil rights legislation –Congress refused Executive Order 9981 –Desegregated the military in 1948

10. Post War Labor Unions During War –Many no strike agreements –Mostly full employment & high wages Post War –Wages decreased –High inflation –Led to a rash of strikes Just like 1919

11. Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 Passed over Truman’s veto –A “slave labor bill” Limited the strength of labor unions –Outlawed the “closed shop” Closed shop—jobs in which one must join a union to get hired –60 day “cooling off period” before any strike –Gave President the power to halt a strike for the sake of “national security”

12. The Election of 1948 Truman (D) against Thomas Dewey (R) Strom Thurmond runs as “Dixecrat –Pro-segregation party –Takes Democratic votes from South

14. THE RED SCARE

15. Post-War Red Scare Fear that communists were taking over America –Not just in foreign countries Fear of Soviet Union & Stalin –Suspicion that spies were at work to subvert America

16. The House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) Created in 1947 To investigate reports of communist infiltration –Of government –Of Hollywood Hearings accused hundreds –Ruined many lives & careers Truman set up a “loyalty program”

17. The Red Scare Alger Hiss Sen. Joe McCarthy Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

18. Alger Hiss Government official accused of being a communist agent No proof found –But given five years for lying under oath (perjury)

19. Ethel & Julius Rosenberg Couple accused of being communist spies Charged with giving Russians H-Bomb secrets Executed in 1953 –Much doubt about their guilt

20. Senator Joseph McCarthy Insane anti-communist Senator from Wisconsin Led Senate hearings to expose communists Claimed he had a list of “known communists” Destroyed many lives Finally discredited & died of alcoholism in 1957

22. The “Hollywood Ten”—movie folk accused of Communist Party ties