Chapter 29 Section 1The Challenges of Peace

Problems of demobilization

• 9 Million men and women discharged• Heroes Welcome

• Concern over economy• Decline• Similar to after WWI

• Wanted Jobs

• Congress Preparing for Peace:• GI Bill of Rights

• 1944

• Provided Pensions• Government Loans

• Attend College• Almost 8 Million• Colleges or Technical Schools

Economy• Employment Act:

• 1946

• Commits Government• Promoting

• Full Employment

• Production

• Council of Economic Advisers• Meet with President

• Postwar Depression:• Never Happens

• Consumer Goods• Produced in former military factories

• Americans Spending Money• Saved during war

• Worker Priorities• Veterans

The American Workplace

• Workplace Decisions:

• Protecting African Americans• Discrimination

• Rosie the Riveter• Retired

• Encourage Full-Time Homemakers• Women were Fired• Pressured to Quit

• Postwar Inflation:

• Wartime Price Controls • Lifted• Prices Soared

• “Horsemeat Harry”

• Labor Unrest:• Wartime Pledges – Not to Strike

• Workers Walk Off Jobs

Labor Unrest• Presidential Response:

• Truman Generally Supports Unions

• Unions could disrupt Economy

• Mine Workers Strike

• Sends Army to Control Mine

• Railroad Strike

• Draft Workers into Army

• Taft-Hartley Act:

• Congress Passes

• Bill Reduces Strength

• Organized Labor

• Gave Judges More Power in labor disputes

• Truman Vetoes

• Congress overrides

1948 Election• President Truman:

• High Inflation & Labor Unrest• Decrease Support

• Continues Strong Stand• Controversial Issues

• Civil Rights

• Committee on Civil Rights:• Examine Racial Issue

• Widespread Abuses

• Truman Leading Charge• Executive order banning racial discrimination

• Military and federal hiring

Democratic Convention• Split Democratic Party:

• Three Way Split• Truman – Democrats• Wallace – New Progressive Party• J. Strom Thurmond – States Right Party (Dixiecrats)

• Republicans Smell Victory• Nominate Thomas Dewey

• Governor of New York

• Truman Strategy:

• Using Railroads• Attacked Conservatism • Do nothing Republican Congress

• Radicalism Progressives

• Truman Wins

The Fair deal• President Truman

• Encouraged Congress• Fair Deal from Government

• New Reforms

• Fair Deal Promised• Full Employment• Higher Minimum Wage• Affordable Housing• Aid to Farmers• Expansion of Welfare

• Successes:• Social Security• Benefits Extended• Minimum Wage Raised• Demolished Slums• Rebuilt