SSUSH21A, B & C Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

SSUSH21A, B & C 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

Truman s Domestic Policies 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 1948 Presidential Election Democratic Party split over Civil Rights & Cold War 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 President Harry S. Truman was re-elected due to support from Laborers, Farmers, & African Americans

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

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. His political ideologies were summed up by his two favorite phrases: Middle of the Road = Dynamic Conservatism = Politically Moderate Economically Active but Conservative His Campaign Slogan was It s Time for a Change His Party s Rally Cry became I Like Ike!

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

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 Advertisement became the fastest growing industry Influencing the rise of New Consumerism Multi-National Corporations started developing Expanding businesses to overseas locations Keeping up with the Joneses

1945 1961: Growth of Suburbs Mass produced Homes Inexpensive and Affordable Simple and Similar America s Changing Society 1947-1967: Jewish Developer Bill Levitt Built large suburban area in New York Residential area was named Levittown 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

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

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

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