1. RAH Day 6 Agenda Goal – To understand that Truman’s domestic policies and the American political culture are examples of paradox. 1.Questions from homework? 2.Complete Graphic organizer of Truman’s Administration p 13-14 1.Identify the problems facing the US after WWII 2.How did HST address these problems? 3.How did opposition to HST reflect a central Paradox? 3.How did foreign events affect domestic politics? 4.Why did some Fair Deal programs pass & others fail to pass? Complete pp 14 5.Explain Schlesinger’s view of the American political culture - Define the Vital Center – identify the 3 assumptions 6.How is the vital center consistent with the major Paradox? How does it relate to the political spectrum? Did the beliefs of the “Vital Center” work in reality? 7.PP 15 Cold War in Asia? 8.NSC-68 – Why is this report important? How does it compare to Kennan regarding the perception of USSR’s goals and how the US should deal with the USSR? complete PP 15 9.Korean War – Was MacArthur right? Would you have fired MacArthur?

2. Chapter 2 - Inflation Problem – very high inflation due to vast sums of money in hands of many Americans who had not bought much for the previous 17 years – High demand + low supply + removal of price controls = high inflation Solution – reintroduce Price controls until supply could catch up to demand. Opposition – let the market work itself out – no price controls – too communistic Result – temporary OPA price controls stemmed inflation from ’47 to ’50, when most controls were removed – the key is that supply caught up to demand.

3. Chapter 2 - Demobilization Problem – 12 million men were in uniform overseas – we wanted them brought home. But what will happen to jobs, income, homes, families? Solution – implement 1944 GI Bill (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act) so vets could get unemployment payments, college tuition, low interest loans for houses and businesses. Brought most troops home by 1946. National Housing Act of 1949 to build 800k housing units Opposition – wanted troops home even faster and wanted taxes cut Result – GI Bill was the most influential domestic policy of the last 50 years leading to 8 million new college students, white collar jobs, new inventions, migration to suburbs, huge increase in house building, ½ of women lost their jobs,

4. Chapter 2 - strikes Problem – over 5000 strikes in 1946 – workers felt they had delayed getting raises during the war, and post-war was the time for raises. Lots of defense workers lost their jobs. Energy, steel and transportation were shut down due to strikes Solution – threatened owners with nationalization and the workers with the draft if they did not negotiate and agree. On May 25, 1946 asked Congress for permission to draft Rail workers. Opposition – Passed 1947 Taft-Hartley anti-union act over Truman’s veto Result – strikes were mostly ended, workers got better raises and began the “benefits” of healthcare and pensions that are affecting us today, but paradoxically these union victories also began a slow decline in unionization and hurt industries by the 1980s and today.

5. Chapter 2 - healthcare Problem – most Americans paid for healthcare out of pocket, but medicine was becoming more expensive, making good health difficult to obtain for the poor and working class. Solution – HST proposes a national insurance program for all Americans along the lines of the British system Opposition – disliked the NHS and called it socialist and against American values of free enterprise and self-reliance Result – NHS was shot down, leading to the current private health system we have today.

6. Chapter 2 – fear of communism Problem – most Americans had grown fearful of the spread of communism and Soviet power. This was caused by the Soviet acquisition of the bomb, as well as spy rings, and communist takeovers in Eastern Europe, China, Solution – HST proposes through executive order 9835 to create the Federal Employee Loyalty Program top investigate and remove those deemed to be disloyal (connected to communists or accused of such) Opposition – the House under Republican control operates the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the rise of McCarthy in the US Senate with his Subcommittee on Investigations Result – 3000 federal employees were fired or resigned, hundreds or thousands of people were accused or communist-leanings were hinted at, and thus lost their jobs, friends and families through a general process of blacklisting. A few were even imprisoned for not answering questions or “lying”

7. Chapter 2 – ideological direction of gov’t Problem – post-WWII with the tremendous success of the war, the war-time economy and the New Deal during GD, there came a conflict over whether the New Deal should continue, expand, or be repealed. Abroad – should US come home (neo-isolationism) or lead the world (intervention or internationalism) Solution – HST proposes expanding the New Deal and leading the world through multi-lateral institutions like the UN and to intervene to stop communism. Opposition – two sets – liberals wanted to go farther in expanding New Deal and conservatives wanted to cut taxes and shrink the federal government. FP – some wanted to be heavier-handed with USSR and others wanted to cooperate, while others wanted to return to isolationism Result – moderate expansion of existing New Deal policies, but no new domestic programs. The US was a world leader just as Truman suggested – spreading US influence militarily (Korea, bases in Germany, support for France in ’Nam) diplomatically (new embassies opening throughout world), economically (Marshall Plan, Truman Doctrine, IMF, World Bank)

8. Chapter 2 – Civil Rights Problem – Blacks, Latinos, Natives, Women were all essentially2nd class citizens after the war, even though they all worked and sacrificed equally during the war. They wanted the equality principle they had fought for during the war to be enacted after the war Solution – HST proposes a civil rights commission to investigate civil rights issues, Executive Order 9980 desegregated the federal bureaucracy and EO 9981 desegregated the US military, proposed anti-lynching laws, civil rights laws Opposition – conservatives and southern democrats (Dixiecrats) opposed any desegregation and prevented all of the civil rights laws Truman proposed from being passed into law Result – the military and the federal workforce was desegregated and the civil rights commission continued to investigate and report on the conditions of civil rights in the US, but no laws were passed until 1957

9. Truman and paradox Cold War 1.Americans wanted the troops home from WWII but wanted to stop the spread of Communism and Soviet power abroad. 2.The Implied threat of atomic bombs was meant to keep the USSR at bay, but pushed the USSR to obtain the a-bomb. 3.To prevent war, more and more dangerous, powerful weapons were created and deployed – so that they would not be used. 4.Wanted taxes lower and the government to focus on post-war domestic problems, but politically blamed Truman for the loss of China to communism and for being weak on the commies in Korea. Post-war domestic issues 1.elected conservative Republicans to lower taxes and shrink the power of the federal government – but blamed Truman for high inflation and wanted solutions to housing, employment, wages and to stop crippling strikes. 2.Wanted government to stay out of the economy so that business could be business and the economy would boom – so that the government would have more money to spend on social programs.

10. 1948 Election Democrats split over : –civil rights plank in the national platform that HST pushed for. Therefore, with civil rights as an issue, souther Demos left to support the States’ Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrats) –direction of government – the old New Deal coalition wanted more federal programs and expanded New Deal – When Truman was unable to get that done and seemed less liberal than they wanted, former VP and Commerce Secretary Henry Wallace fronted the Progressive Party

11. 1948 candidates Henry Wallace Progressive Party 1.very liberal 2.more New Deal, 3.cooperation with USSR 4.Civil rights Harry Truman Democratic Party 1.liberal 2.Fair Deal, 3.Containment of USSR 4.Civil Rights Thomas Dewey Republican Party 1.conservative 2.Smaller gov’t lower taxes, 3.Confront USSR 4.Anti-union Strom Thurmond States’ Rights Democratic Party 1.Socially conservative 2.Opposed to civil rights 3.Confront USSR 4.Opposed to civil rights 49.6%Winner 2.4% 0% electoral vote 45.1% 35.5% electoral vote 2.4% 7.5% electoral vote

12. PP 14 - Truman’s Fair Deal – Jan. 5, 1949 ProposalProvisionsDid it pass? Why? Minimum wage increase Increase wage to.75 cents Passed people wanted it - just extended a New Deal policy people already liked External rent controls Temporary fixed price for 1947 Passed because of housing shortage post WWII Displaced Person’s Act 400,000 refugees allowed in Passed due to guilt and altruism National Housing Act 1949 810,000 new low income housing units built with Fed $ Passed – housing pressure on localities and good for veterans Increase in social security 80% increase in benefits and 10 ½ million more eligible Passed – continuation of popular New Deal plan

13. PP 14 - Truman’s Fair Deal – Jan. 5, 1949 ProposalProvisionsDid it pass? Why? Aid to education Money to improve schoolsFailed – too liberal and too costly Crop subsidiesMoney to help farmersFailed – too liberal Repeal of Taft-Hartley act End limits on organized labor Failed – people still anti- strikes and anti-communist Ntnl health plan Federal gov’t to pay doctors Failed, too liberal - called socialist Civil rightsAnti-lynching, end poll tax, protect blacks, end disc in work Failed – Dixiecrats and most Republicans opposed

14. The Vital Center Economic Growth Growth in the economy due to capitalist activity will lead to employment and productivity increases which will lead to socio- economic equality, the end of class divisions, create social harmony and provide money for social programs Gov’t action to promote economic growth in the private sector will provide money through taxes for increased social welfare spending by gov’t – operationally liberal – philosophically conservative Foreign affairs Interventionist internationalism to contain communism and soviet power Wanted the troops brought home, low taxes and a focus on domestic issues but needed to keep the commies down & out. Wanted smaller gov’t but blamed Truman for losing China and Korea ProsperityWith the economy doing well every boat would rise. The people will be consensual, standard of living will rise, farmers, workers, businesses will do better and everyone will be happy. High expectations were unmet leading to increased social, class and race tensions as well as ideological divisions

15. List evidence that Schlesinger is right, that there is a vital center in American politics. Are the beliefs held by the “Vital Center” successful in achieving their goals? Did the beliefs of the “Vital Center” work in reality?

16. Chapter 3 – cold war in asia SituationExplain the situation by1950US response Civil War in China Fall of China leads US to support France in Vietnam with military and financial assistance Jiang Jieshi and his nationalist Guo Min Dong gov’t was fighting against Mao Zedong’s Chinese Communist Party. Truman did not want to see communism spread and Jiang had a lot of support in US congress. Jiang failed – Mao takes China Up to 3 billion dollars to support Jiang, but he is too corrupt and dictatorial to win. Jiang and guo mindong leave mainland China to go to Taiwan. US does not recognize Chinese Communists as government of China. Vietnam France wanted to return to empire by taking back Vietnam from the Japanese. Ho Chi Minh, our Vietnamese ally during WWII, was leading the fight with his Viet Minh party against French forces. US wanted to maintain French support for NATO in Europe so US allowed France to attempt to retake ‘Nam. Ho asked for US assistance, was denied to looked to USSR for support. By ’50 Us began funding French effort. USSR gets A- bomb Soviets test their first a-bomb in 1949 US is afraid it will lose military superiority so Truman authorizes money to research and build H- bomb.

17. Chapter 3 – Kennan v NSC-68 Kennan in long telegramPaul Nitze’s NSC-68 Assessment of Soviet Threat USSR is a RIVAL for global influence. It wants to slowly weaken the US and expand its influence at the expense of the US. Soviets want to take over the world and spread their evil ideology while destroying the US. Soviets want absolute control in their own sphere Want to destroy the non-soviet governments in the world Proposed response Long, slow, patient, multi- faceted pressure to counter Soviet moves through diplomacy, politics, economics and military means, but without rattling US sabres. CONTAINMENT Very rapid and massive buildup of US conventional, and nuclear forces. Need a big military shield to deter or defeat Soviet aggression and protect the global post-war system Continue to expand capitalism Tone of writing Calm, patient concern, but confident of success and reasonable Aggressive, worried, tough and immediate.

18. What were they accused of? How were they affected by the accusations? Were the accusations fair? The Hollywood Ten Being supporters and promoters of communism in films and not answering Congress’ questions They lost their jobs and went to jail for contempt of Congress No because being a communist cannot be illegal in the US due to the 1 st Amendment Alger HissAt first spying for the USSR, but later lying to congress about being a spy He went to jail for 5 years for the perjury charge At first no, the evidence was fishy. But we now know he was a minor spy Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Stealing nuclear secrets The were executedOn the surface, not really, but the evidence now is fairly overwhelming The Cold War Comes Home

19. What motivated McCarthyism? Why did it succeed at first?Why did it fall out of favor? Motivated by personal desire for political power Fear : of communists in US, fear of being accused of being a communist, fear of the consequences of accusations like blacklisting, loss of elections, social stigma. Politically expedient : Congress saw that supporting McC could help w/ reelection and opposition would result in election loss. Ike did not oppose McCarthy (for the above reasons) McCarthy was seen in the Army-McCarthy hearings for who he really was, a brutish lout with no real evidence. Once the public saw him for real, and Ike had come out against him, he was finished politically. McCarthyism

20. Fear and Suspicion of Communism in the US Soviets Get A- Bomb Expansion of Communism Espionage Rings HUAC hearings ( 1946-1954 McCarthyism 1950-54 Blacklisting FELP 1947“Witch” Hunts China Korea E. Europe Alger Hiss Rosenbergs Fear and Suspicion