SSUSH21A, B & C Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Transcript of SSUSH21A, B & C Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
SSUSH21A, B & C
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Truman’s Domestic Policies
• 22 Jun 1944: Selective Service Readjustment Act.
More commonly known as the “G.I. Bill.”
Provided a variety of Benefits for WWII Veterans
Low Cost Mortgages for buying a home
Low Interest Loans for starting a business
Tuition Assistance to attend a Trade School, College or University.
• 23 Jun 1947: Taft-Hartley Act
Called the “Slave Labor Law” by labor union leaders
Outlawed “Closed Shops” (Union only employment)
States allowed to pass laws outlawing Union Shops
Prohibited “Featherbedding.” Limited work output to create extra jobs
Prevented Union Contributions to Political Campaigns
President Truman Vetoed, But Congress over-rode veto
• 26 Jul 1948: Executive Order 9981
Promoted by African American Civil Rights Leader A. Philip Randolph
Abolished Racial Discrimination in the Armed Forces
Led to the Desegregation of the U.S. Military
Last ALL Black Units in the U.S. Army finally eliminated in 1954
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Truman’s Domestic Policies
1948 Presidential Election
• Democratic Party split over Civil Rights & Cold War
• President Harry S. Truman was re-elected due to support from Laborers, Farmers, & African Americans
Dixie Right’s Party chose S.C. Gov. Strom Thurmond Progressive Party chose former VP Henry A. Wallace Republican Party chose N.Y. Gov. Thomas Dewey
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Truman’s Domestic Policies
• 1949: Truman’s new “Fair Deal” policies had 21 key points
Congress did not fully embrace or approve all his proposals
Congress Approved:
Raise the minimum wage to 75 cents an hour Increase Social Security to 75% Pass the National Housing Act of 1949
Congress Refused to Pass:
National Health Insurance Farmers Insurance and Subsidies Federal Aid for Public Schools Civil Rights Legislation
• National Housing Act of 1949
Provided Federal Funding for Slum Clearance and Urban Renewal
Increased authorization for Mortgage Insurance by the FHA
Extended Federal Funding to build over 800,000 low cost homes
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
1952 Presidential Election
President Harry S. Truman chose not to run again
Democrats chose Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois
Republicans chose General Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Although Adlai Stevens was an eloquent orator and intellectual politician:
• Dwight D. Eisenhower was America’s hero of WWII and Crusader against the Communism.
“Middle of the Road” =
His political ideologies were summed up by his two favorite phrases:
Politically Moderate
“Dynamic Conservatism” = Economically Active but Conservative
His Campaign Slogan was “It’s Time for a Change”
His Party’s Rally Cry became “I Like Ike!”
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Eisenhower’s Domestic Policies
• Although he continued most of the “New Deal” program of Roosevelt . . . .
He reduced funding for the Tennessee Valley Authority
He abolished the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (formed in 1938)
• 29 Jun 1956: Federal Highway Act
Interstate Highway System
41,000 miles of Highway
Auto Ownership in U.S. increased
Need to move Military rapidly
Influenced by the German Autobahn
• Other domestic improvements:
Minimum Wage went up from 75 cents to $1 per hour
Social Security Benefits were increased
Extended Unemployment Compensation
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
America’s Changing Society
White Collar Workers
(Sales, Management, and Banking)
Blue Collar Workers
(Labor, Farming, and Industry)
• Franchises developed across the United States
Local ownership of chain stores and restaurants
• Multi-National Corporations started developing
Expanding businesses to overseas locations
• Advertisement became the fastest growing industry
Influencing the rise of New Consumerism
“Keeping up with the Joneses”
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
America’s Changing Society
• 1945 – 1961: Baby Boom
Servicemen returned from WWII and the Korean Conflict
Man couples got married after putting it off due to the war deployments
U.S. Birthrate exploded with more than 65 Million babies being born
• 1945 – 1961: Growth of Suburbs
Mass produced Homes
Inexpensive and Affordable
Simple and Similar
• 1947 - 1967: Jewish Developer Bill Levitt
Built large suburban area in New York
Residential area was named Levittown
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
Poverty Amidst Prosperity
• 1945 – 1960: Urban Decay
Middle class white families moved to suburbs
Poor African American families left living in Ghettos
Changing demographics of residents caused a lack of needed Tax Dollars
Government tried Urban Renewal Programs to improve living conditions
To Eliminate Poverty
By Tearing Down Slums
Urban Improvement actually destroyed existing housing
Building Parks and Schools
Occasionally New Housing
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
America’s Poverty Stricken
• Impact of the Great Migration (20’s-40’s)
African Americans looking for work moved to cities in the north
Racial Discrimination and Economic Inequality led to lower incomes
51% less than white employees
Suburban growth and Urban Renewal left them behind in poor Ghettos
• Impact of the Bracero Program (1940’s)
U.S. brought nearly 5 million Mexicans into the country to work in agriculture
About 350,000 settled in the U.S.
Many became Migrant Farm Workers
Most lived in Poverty and Extreme Hardship in shacks or tents
Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower
America’s Poverty Stricken
• Impact of Native American Policies (1950’s)
U.S. Government initiated a new Termination Policy
Ended recognition of Native American Sovereignty on reservations
Granted Native Americans the same status of other U.S. Citizens
Expected to cause Native Americans to assimilate into society
No longer exempt from state laws or State & Federal Taxes
Increased poverty when already making less than African Americans
• Impact of Mine Closings in Appalachia
1.5 Million Appalachians migrated to the cities to find employment
Elderly and poor were left behind
Malnutrition and Infant Mortality increased