Post WWII in USPost WWII in US

US and Troops Post WWIIUS and Troops Post WWII US went through major shift US went through major shift

Wartime to “Peacetime” economyWartime to “Peacetime” economy

President Truman faced pressure to “bring President Truman faced pressure to “bring the boys home” although he believedthe boys home” although he believed

this was dangerous this was dangerous

Truman wanted to decrease number of Truman wanted to decrease number of troops slowly and keep alert to new threatstroops slowly and keep alert to new threats

(primarily COMMUNISM)(primarily COMMUNISM)

Troops Back to US and Troops Back to US and Booming Economy = ?Booming Economy = ?

Troops begin to “riot” and forced Truman to Troops begin to “riot” and forced Truman to reduce troop numbers quickly reduce troop numbers quickly

1946 – 12 million to 3 million troops 1946 – 12 million to 3 million troops

worldwide for US troopsworldwide for US troops

BABY BOOMBABY BOOM is partially created due to high is partially created due to high number of troops returning in late 1940snumber of troops returning in late 1940s

and number of people moving to and number of people moving to

suburbs willing to have larger familiessuburbs willing to have larger families

Population GrowthPopulation Growth

During the Great Depression, the birthrate During the Great Depression, the birthrate had dropped to an all-time lowhad dropped to an all-time low

The birth rate exploded as millions of The birth rate exploded as millions of postwar Americans began families (Baby postwar Americans began families (Baby Boom)Boom)

The death rate was also declining due to The death rate was also declining due to peacetime and new medical breakthroughspeacetime and new medical breakthroughs

US Prepares for Troop ReturnUS Prepares for Troop Return

Servicemen’s Readjustment ActServicemen’s Readjustment Act

((GI BILL OF RIGHTSGI BILL OF RIGHTS)) - - Provided hospitals for sick, woundedProvided hospitals for sick, wounded

- Payment to veterans without work- Payment to veterans without work

- Preference for jobs with US govt.- Preference for jobs with US govt.

- - Free Tuition, Books, and College Free Tuition, Books, and College

ExpensesExpenses

8 Million veterans of WWII used GI BILL 8 Million veterans of WWII used GI BILL OF RIGHTS at a cost of $14 billionOF RIGHTS at a cost of $14 billion

US Prepares for Troop ReturnUS Prepares for Troop Return

Congress also passed Congress also passed Employment ActEmployment Act

in 1946in 1946 Developed Council to advice Developed Council to advice

President / Congress how to create jobsPresident / Congress how to create jobs

for WWII veterans (contrast to WWI)for WWII veterans (contrast to WWI)

BETWEEN BETWEEN GI BILL, EMPLOYMENTGI BILL, EMPLOYMENT

ACT, COLD WARACT, COLD WAR THERE WERE FEW JOB THERE WERE FEW JOB

SHORTAGES IN US FOLLOWING WWII SHORTAGES IN US FOLLOWING WWII

LABOR STRIKESLABOR STRIKES

#1 problem following WWII was strikes#1 problem following WWII was strikes

Labor anxious to raise wages which Labor anxious to raise wages which were kept down because of war effort were kept down because of war effort

* Major strikes in railroad and * Major strikes in railroad and coal industriescoal industries

TRUMAN REACTS TO STRIKESTRUMAN REACTS TO STRIKES

Harry Truman reacted by asking Congress to Harry Truman reacted by asking Congress to declare declare “state of national emergency”“state of national emergency” whenever whenever a strike endangered national safetya strike endangered national safety

Workers who continued to strike would lose all Workers who continued to strike would lose all benefits and seniority and be drafted into ARMY benefits and seniority and be drafted into ARMY

““Give ‘em Hell Harry”Give ‘em Hell Harry” nickname from this nickname from this

TAFT-HARTLEY ACTTAFT-HARTLEY ACT

• Attitude towards labor by Attitude towards labor by Congress is similar to Truman’sCongress is similar to Truman’s

• TAFT-HARTLEY ACTTAFT-HARTLEY ACT - took - took away power of unions and limited away power of unions and limited their power in hiring and electionstheir power in hiring and elections

Harry Truman Harry Truman President (1945 – 1952)President (1945 – 1952) President Post WWIIPresident Post WWII Believed the federal government held the Believed the federal government held the

responsibility of ensuring social welfare of responsibility of ensuring social welfare of AmericansAmericans

His His liberalliberal program of social reform was program of social reform was rejected by Congress, but he was elected rejected by Congress, but he was elected to his first stand-alone term in 1948to his first stand-alone term in 1948

(Truman replaced Roosevelt after his death) (Truman replaced Roosevelt after his death)

TRUMAN’S FAIR DEALTRUMAN’S FAIR DEAL

Truman tried to extend New Deal Truman tried to extend New Deal ideas (spend $ on govt. ideas (spend $ on govt. programs) with his programs) with his Fair DealFair Deal (basically failed as Congress (basically failed as Congress more concerned with Defense more concerned with Defense spending - Communist threat)spending - Communist threat)

Truman and Civil RightsTruman and Civil Rights Truman tried to develop Civil RightsTruman tried to develop Civil Rights LegislationLegislation

- 1946 set up Committee on Civil Rights- 1946 set up Committee on Civil Rights and report showed many civil rights issues and report showed many civil rights issues in US which govt should deal with in US which govt should deal with

1948 Truman introduced bill which would1948 Truman introduced bill which would eliminate eliminate poll taxes, lynching, and establishpoll taxes, lynching, and establish Fair Employment hiring practicesFair Employment hiring practices

Southern Senators helped sidetrack this bill and it Southern Senators helped sidetrack this bill and it died in Congressdied in Congress

Truman and Civil RightsTruman and Civil Rights Truman reacted to 1948 bill dying byTruman reacted to 1948 bill dying by

using his power as Commander in Chiefusing his power as Commander in Chief

by by desegregatingdesegregating the US armed forces the US armed forces

Truman also begins appointing African Truman also begins appointing African Americans and Hispanics to key military Americans and Hispanics to key military positionspositions

Truman and “Do Nothing Truman and “Do Nothing Congress”Congress”

Truman failed at having much of FAIR DEAL Truman failed at having much of FAIR DEAL passed so he called Congresspassed so he called Congress

“ “Do Nothing”Do Nothing”

Congress actually effective - passedCongress actually effective - passed1) Truman Doctrine1) Truman Doctrine

2) Marshall Plan2) Marshall Plan3) National Security Act 3) National Security Act 4) Joint Chiefs of Staff4) Joint Chiefs of Staff5) CIA5) CIA

Truman and ‘Do Nothing” Truman and ‘Do Nothing” Congress Congress

All items passed focused on foreign policy All items passed focused on foreign policy and defense but very little for social and defense but very little for social programs, education which is whyprograms, education which is why

Truman called Truman called “DO NOTHING”“DO NOTHING”

Republican (defense, foreign policy) vsRepublican (defense, foreign policy) vs

Democrat (social programs, domesticDemocrat (social programs, domestic

policy) emerges from Post WWIIpolicy) emerges from Post WWII

Domestic Policy and Post WWIIDomestic Policy and Post WWII

RepublicansRepublicans gain control of both houses in gain control of both houses in Congress in 1946 primarily due to emphasis on Congress in 1946 primarily due to emphasis on defense and response to Democratic dominancedefense and response to Democratic dominance

during 1930s and WWIIduring 1930s and WWII

Republicans attempt to limit size of govt. Republicans attempt to limit size of govt. (Conservative type thinking)(Conservative type thinking)

Begin to attack New Deal ideas and Social Begin to attack New Deal ideas and Social Programs linked to the governmentPrograms linked to the government

Congress lowers income tax (over Truman’s veto)Congress lowers income tax (over Truman’s veto)

Domestic Policy and Post WWIIDomestic Policy and Post WWII Congress passes 22Congress passes 22ndnd amendment amendment which limits President to 2 termswhich limits President to 2 terms

Also establishes current order of powerAlso establishes current order of power1) President1) President2) Vice President2) Vice President3) Speaker of House3) Speaker of House4) Senate Leader4) Senate Leader5) Secretary of State5) Secretary of State

““Ike” – Dwight D. EisenhowerIke” – Dwight D. Eisenhower Truman’s popularity fell drastically during Truman’s popularity fell drastically during

his term (1948 – 1952)his term (1948 – 1952) Former General Dwight D. Eisenhower Former General Dwight D. Eisenhower

was elected the next Republican president was elected the next Republican president (1952 – 1960) (1952 – 1960)

Ike opposite to Truman in almost every Ike opposite to Truman in almost every way, Eisenhower was a restrained way, Eisenhower was a restrained president and desired a limited role of the president and desired a limited role of the presidency in national affairs presidency in national affairs (Conservative)(Conservative)

The Thriving Peacetime The Thriving Peacetime Economy after WWIIEconomy after WWII

The years following World War II saw one The years following World War II saw one of the longest sustained economic of the longest sustained economic expansions in the history of the U.S.expansions in the history of the U.S.

The The automobileautomobile industry played a key role industry played a key role in the expansion with millions of cars in the expansion with millions of cars quickly produced and the steady quickly produced and the steady construction of the construction of the interstate highway interstate highway systemsystem (1956 Act passed by Congress) (1956 Act passed by Congress) and and defense industriesdefense industries boosted the boosted the economy (Cold War - Arms Race)economy (Cold War - Arms Race)