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Published byJocelyn Harrington Modified over 9 years ago
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19.1 – Postwar America
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Readjustments 9/45 – 8/46 – 10m+ released from military GI Bill – helps return to civilian life – Education, unemployment, access to loans (homes & farms) Big # of returning veterans = housing crisis – Leads to mass-produced houses – cookie cutters – Move to the suburbs
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Readjustments (c.) Family – Tensions caused by war = rising divorce rate – Women reluctant to leave jobs & return home Economy – Transitions back to peacetime levels – Millions laid off & unemployment increases – Prices skyrocket: supply < demand – Incomes fall as production falls
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Recovery Economists predict a postwar depression = doesn’t happen – Consumer’s needs War & rationing led to savings = money to spend Economy booms: Home & Car sales explode Demand > Supply = new jobs Cold War & Marshall Plan keep defense spending high = even more jobs
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Challenges War brought turmoil = conservative swing Harry Truman takes over for FDR Challenges – 1) Communism – 2) Returning economy to strong peacetime role Many workers face higher prices & lower wages = strikes – Truman threatens to draft workers = unions give in 1946: Republicans gain control of both houses
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Civil Rights Truman supported civil rights – Creates a civil rights commission Congress refuses to pass commission’s measures 7/1948: Truman orders the integration of the armed forces Also ends the discrimination in the hiring process of government positions African Americans could not be banned from neighborhoods
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1948 Election Many blamed Truman for inflation & strikes Dixiecrats form in protest of Truman – Nominate Strom Thurmond Democratic party in disarray Republican: Thomas E. Dewey Truman works hard to get re-elected (“whistlestop campaign”) Truman upsets Dewey & Democrats control Congress
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The Fair Deal Extension of the New Deal – Proposed a compulsory health insurance & crop- subsidy for farmers Measures defeated by Congress Successes: – Minimum wage is raised, social security is extended, low-income housing projects approved
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The Middle Road Truman’s popularity fell due to the Korean War & threat of communism Republicans nominate Dwight D. Eisenhower for 1952 (wins) “Modern Republicanism” – Money = Conservative; Humans = Liberal – Avoids controversy Ike struggles w/ civil rights = new era – Brown v. Board of Education – Rosa Parks incident
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