POST WAR CONFIDENCE and anxiety

1945-1960

Focus Question: How did Social and economic changes after WWII affect Americans

Recovering from war

• War end = Many Defense Workers out of a job• Industry had to meet Peace Time Standards• Demobilization – soldiers and sailors return home (July

1946 – 3,000,000 total in armed forces)• Soldiers return home = need many jobs• G.I Bill of Rights – Variety of Benefits: 1 year

Unemployment pay, Financial Aid (College), Loans for homes/businesse

• Home Construction BOOMS and 8 Million Vets go to college

• BABY BOOM – 1957- 4.3 Million Babies Born (Greatest American Population Increase in History (27% Increase)

Peace Time Economy

• Consumer Buying Increases = PRICES SKY ROCKET (by 18%)• “ “ = Inflation (too much money

to spend on not enough goods)• US DOMINATES WORLD ECONOMY• America counted for 6% of World Population but accounted

for 50% of all goods/trade (Highest standard of living in the world…..Versace!!!)

• Technology = Productivity (computers)• Government Spending = Growth• Korean War = $ for Defense Department = Jobs• Marshall Plan = Increased foreign need for US products/goods • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmka2mydsD0

Truman overcomes huge obstacles

• Congress and Labor • Unions Demand increased wages = Employers Refuse =

Millions Strike• Taft-Hartley Act – law that restricted the power of Unions

resulting from Waves of Strikes (Congress overturned Truman’s initial Veto)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJZvlCRxYHI • Segregation• Truman establishes Civil Rights Committee (time for a change!)• Congress rejects proposals • Truman Desegregates the Military

Obstacles Continued

• Truman upsets Dewey • Democrats upset at attempts at Civil Rights

Reform/Republicans upset in General• Truman wins re-election bc of famous “whistle stop tour”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEPH162n3r8 • Truman Proposes THE FAIR DEAL• Intended to strengthen NEW DEAL programs• Congress shot down most of the reforms• Truman’s Legislative woes + stalling action during THE

KOREAN WAR = no re-election in 1952 (Eisenhower Won 52’ Election)

Eisenhower charts a middle path

• 1952 Election – Dominating victory for Eisenhower (WWII Hero)

• Wanted to balance between Liberal and Conservatives Parties

• He believed the Fed. Govt. had become too powerful but did not repeal any of the NEW DEAL programs (FDR) such as Social Security and Minimum Wage

• Began Federal Highway System (I-4) and federal spending on Education

• Eisenhower’s Presidency = Economic Prosperity and Peace (very popular in History)