THE POSTWAR BOOM THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE

THE POSTWAR BOOM THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 1950 S John Naisbitt

Learning Objectives: Section 1 - Postwar America n 1. Identify economic and social problems Americans faced after World War II. 2. Explain how the desire for stability led to political conservatism. 3. Describe causes and effects of social unrest in the postwar period. 4. Contrast domestic policy under presidents Truman and Eisenhower.

n The Truman and Eisenhower administrations lead the nation to make social, economic, and political adjustments following World War II.

SECTION 1: POSTWAR AMERICA n n After WWII, returning vets faced a severe housing shortage In response to the crisis, developers used assemblyline methods to massproduce houses Developer William Levitt bragged that his company could build a home in 16 minutes for $7, 000 Suburbs were born With the help of the GI Bill, many veterans moved into suburbs

SECTION 1 Postwar America Readjustment and Recovery The Impact of the GI Bill • 1944 GI Bill of Rights eases veterans’ return to civilian life • Pays partial tuition, unemployment benefits; provides loans Housing Crisis • 10 million returning veterans face housing shortage • Developers use assembly-line methods to massproduce houses • Build suburbs—small residential communities around cities Continued. . . NEXT

SECTION 1 continued Readjustment and Recovery Redefining the Family • Tensions from changed gender roles during war increase divorce rate Economic Readjustment • Over 1 million defense workers laid off; wages drop for many workers • Price controls end; 25% increase in cost of scarce consumer goods • Congress reestablishes price, wage, rent controls Remarkable Recovery • People have savings, service pay, war bonds; buy goods long missed • Cold War keeps defense spending up; foreign aid creates markets NEXT

REDEFINING THE FAMILY n n A return to traditional roles after the war was the norm Men were expected to work, while women were expected to stay home and care for the children Conflict emerged as many women wanted to stay in the workforce Divorce rates surged

n n MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS A – What problems did Americans face after World War II? n n Housing shortages, employment readjustment to family life, rising inflation and lower wages and shortages.

REMARKABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY n n Experts who predicted a postwar depression were proved wrong as they failed to consider the $135 billion in savings Americans had accumulated from defense work, service pay, and investments in war bonds Americans were ready to buy consumer goods

n B – What factors contributed to the American postwar economic boom? n n n The GI Bill – offered veterans low-interest loans and education benefits, wage, price, and rent controls; The Cold War military build up and foreign aid programs, such as the Marshall Plan; Personal savings and desire for consumer products.

DESPITE GROWTH, ISSUES PERSIST n n One persistent postwar issue involved labor strikes In 1946 alone, 4. 5 million discontented workers, including Steelworkers, coal miners and railroad workers went on strike

SECTION 1 Meeting Economic Challenges President Truman’s Inheritance • Harry S. Truman can make difficult decisions, take responsibility Truman Faces Strikes • 1946, higher prices, lower wages lead 4. 5 million to strike • Truman seizes mines, threatens to take over railroads • Threatens to draft workers; unions give in “Had Enough? ” • Republicans win Senate, House; ignore Truman’s domestic policy • Congress passes Taft-Hartley Act, overturns many union rights NEXT

TRUMAN TOUGH ON STRIKERS n n n Truman refused to let strikes cripple the nation He threatened to draft the striking workers and then order them as soldiers to return to work The strategy worked as strikers returned to their jobs

n C – What actions did President Truman take to avert (avoid) labor strikes? n Truman threatens to draft striking workers, keep them on the job as soldiers and to take control of the railroads and mines.

SECTION 1 Social Unrest Persists Truman Supports Civil Rights • African Americans, especially veterans, demand rights as citizens • Congress rejects civil rights laws; Truman issues executive orders: - integrates armed forces; ends discrimination in government hiring The 1948 Election • Southern Democrats—Dixiecrats—protest civil rights, form own party • Truman calls special session; asks Congress for social legislation • Congress refuses; Truman goes on “whistlestop campaign” Continued. . . NEXT

SOCIAL UNREST PERSISTS n n n President Truman: African Americans felt they deserved equal rights, especially after hundreds of thousands served in WWII Executive Order 9981 issued on July 26, 1948 n n Desegregating the armed forces Additionally, Truman ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of governmental employees

n D – How did Truman use his executive power to advance civil rights? n Truman issued an executive order integrating the military after Congress refused to act.

THE 1948 ELECTION Dewey n n n The Democrats nominated President Truman in 1948 The Republicans nominated New York Governor Thomas Dewey Polls showed Dewey held a comfortable lead going into election day

SECTION 1 continued Social Unrest Persists Stunning Upset • Truman defeats Thomas E. Dewey in close political upset • Democrats regain control of Congress, lose some Southern states The Fair Deal • Truman’s Fair Deal is ambitious economic program, includes: - higher minimum wage, flood control projects, low -income housing • Congress passes parts of Fair Deal Continued. . . NEXT

TRUMAN WINS IN A STUNNING UPSET n Truman holds a now infamous Chicago Tribune announcing (incorrectly) Dewey’s victory n Truman’s “Give ‘em hell, Harry” campaign worked Truman won a very close race against Dewey

To protest Truman’s emphasis on Civil Rights, the South opted to run a third candidate, South Carolina Governor Strum Thurmond

REPUBLICANS PLAN FOR 1952 ELECTION n n By 1951 Truman’s approval rating sank to an all-time low of just 23% Why? Korean War, rising tide of Mc. Carthyism, and a general impression of ineffectiveness The Republican (right) were chomping at the bit in the ’ 52 election

n E – What were some of Truman’s achievements as president? n n n He led the US to final victory in WWII, dealt with labor disputes, Supported social programs Civil rights legislation.

SECTION 1 Republicans Take the Middle Road I Like Ike! • Truman’s approval rating drops over Korean War, Mc. Carthyism - decides not to run for reelection • Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower runs against IL governor Adlai Stevenson • Newspapers accuse VP candidate Richard M. Nixon of corruption - defends self in televised “Checkers speech” • Eisenhower wins; Republicans narrowly take Congress Continued. . . NEXT

STEVENSON VS. IKE 1952 ELECTION n Stevenson Ike The Democrats nominated intellectual Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson while the Republicans nominated war hero Dwight David Eisenhower

“I LIKE IKE” n n Eisenhower used the slogan, “I Like Ike” for his presidential campaign Republicans used Ike’s strong military background to emphasize his ability to combat Communism worldwide

SECTION 1 continued Republicans Take the Middle Road Walking the Middle of the Road • Eisenhower conservative about money, liberal on social issues • Ike tries to avoid civil rights movement, which is gaining strength • On economy, works for balanced budget, tax cut • Pushes social legislation, new Dept. of Health, Education, Welfare • Popularity soars; is reelected in 1956 NEXT

IKE’S VP SLIP-UP n n n Nixon and his dog Checkers One potential disaster for Ike was his running mate’s alleged “slush fund” Richard Nixon responded by going on T. V. and delivering an emotional speech denying charges but admitting to accepting one gift for his children – a dog named Checkers The “Checkers speech” saved the ticket

IKE WINS 1952 ELECTION