Ch 14 Sec 1Post-War
America
Truman & IKE
Presidencies
1945-1960
Essential Questions
 What
economic and social
problems did Americans face
following WWII?
 How did the GI Bill helps Vets?
 How sucessful President Truman
Legislative program?
 How did IKE signal a more
conservative direction for the
country?
Challenges for Truman
 President
Truman took over for
FDR after his death in April 1945
 Truman was seen as determine
and confident yet he had a
tremendous job ahead
 Major challenges were
demobilizing the troops and
reconverting the economy to a
peace time economy
“To Err is Truman”
Demobilization delays hurt Truman,
“Bring Daddy Home” and “No Boats
No Votes”
 Truman lashed out at detractors and
had trouble convincing Americans he
was sincere
 Truman took responsibility for the
good and bad…”The buck
stops here!”
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The Impact of the GI Bill
Not only did the Servicemen’s
Readjustment Act pay for part of
college tuition but it also gave them
one year of unemployment benefits
while they were job hunting and low
interest government loans (Buy
homes or start businesses)
 By the summer of 1946, 10 million
men and women were released from
the armed forces
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Economic Readjustment
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After the war the US cancelled $35 billion
in defense contracts
In March 1946 some 3 million Americans
were seeking work
During the war the OPA had halted
inflation
Price Controls ended in June 1946 and
prices skyrocketed (Ex. Sugar, Meat,
Coffee, Beans, Rent and New Homes)
Congress eventually reestablished price
controls on prices, wages, and rents
Truman not agreeing vetoed the bill
Truman Faces Strikes
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Facing higher prices and lower wages 4.5
million discontented workers including steel
workers, coal miners, automobile workers,
maritime workers and railroad workers went on
strike in 1946
US ports were closed for two weeks
General Motors and US Steel struck for months
Truman threatened to draft striking workers, he
authorized the federal government to seize the
coal mines, and he threatened to take control of
the railroads as well
Many issues were in court, many strikers gave
in and worked with compromise contracts
“Had Enough?”
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Disgusted by shortages of goods, rising
inflation, and labor strikes Americans
were ready for a change in 1946
By 1946 Truman’s approval rating was
32%
Republicans won both Houses of
Congress in the mid-term elections of
1946 (80th Congress)
They set to turn back the New Deal
They passed the 22nd Amendment limiting
the President to two terms
The Taft - Hartley Act
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The law set out to undo many of the labor
gains on the Wagner Act of 1935
Union had 15 million members, 40% of
the workforce, and tremendous power
The law outlawed the closed shop,
secondary boycotts, and the use of union
dues for political activities
An 80 day cooling off period to be called
by the President was enacted
Union leaders had to swear under oath
they were not Communists
Formation of Unions was made more
difficult (Truman vetoed the bill entirely)
Truman Supports Civil Rights
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In 1946 Truman created a Commission on
Civil Rights
Truman was the first US President to
propose an anti-lynching law, a ban on
poll taxes as a voting requirement, and a
permanent civil rights commission
In July 1948 his issued an executive order
banning segregation and discrimination in
the armed forces
Truman ordered an end to discrimination
in the hiring of federal employees
Jackie Robinson
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In 1947 Jackie
Robinson joined
the Brooklyn
Dodgers
He received death
threats to himself
and his family, but
he was determined
to stay
By 1950 he was an
all-star and one of
the most popular
The Election Of 1948
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Some Democrats wanted IKE in 1948
Despite the inflation and Labor unrest Truman
was nominated for the Democrats
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Henry A. Wallace an old New Dealer ran for the
Progressive Party
Truman sent spending measures for Education
and Housing that he knew the Republicans
would kill, Truman called them “The Do Nothing
Congress”
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Southern Democrats angry about Truman’s Pro
Civil Rights Position broke away and formed the
Dixiecrats
The Election of 1948 II
 Truman
(D)
 Dewey (R)
 S. Thurmond
(States’
Rights)
 Wallace (P)
Major Upset of 1948
Truman rallied the New Deal coalition,
through vigorous campaigning and a
whistle stop train tour
 He got support of organized labor,
African-Americans, Jews and New Deal
Liberals
 “Give’em Hell Harry!”
 He ran as the savior
of the New Deal
Dewey was ahead in
the polls
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Truman’s Fair Deal
Truman wanted an extension to
FDR’s New Deal
 “…every individual has the right ot
expect from our Government a Fair
Deal.”
 Truman wanted a system of health
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insurance, crop subsidy system, civil
rights advances and Federal
Education Aid
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All measures were defeated by
Southern Dem. and Rep.
Fair Deal Victories
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The Housing Act of 1949- $2.8 billion for
slum clearance and low-rent housing
projects
The Minimum Wage Act of 1949 – 40
cents to 75 cents per hr.
Social Security Amendments of 1950Extend coverage to new workers, provide
pensions for the self-employed, and
increase benefits
Civil Rights- Many measures were
defeated, but through executive order
Truman appointed the first black Fed.
Truman’s Downfall
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Despite these victories Truman’s approval
rating sank to 23% in 1951
Frustration over Truman’s handling of the
Korean War contributed ( Ex Firing of Mac
Arthur)
Rising Tide of McCarthism/Loyality Issues
Wages and Prices being frozen during the
Korean War
Some political kick backs in the
administration
Truman decide not to run in 1952,
Americans looked to the positive political
change of IKE
The Eisenhower
Years
1952-1960
I Like IKE!
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First Campaign Commercial -1952
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I like IKE! IKE for President…
IKE’s Presidency-Modern Republicanism
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IKE’s Policies were known as “modern
Republicanism” or “dynamic conservatism”
“Conservative when it comes to money and
liberal when it comes to human beings”
Ike’s favored big business and his cabinet
reflected that, although he accepted the New
Deal
Ike aided corporate America and tried to end
government competition with business (Ex.
TVA)
IKE cuts in spending allowed the economy to
slow due to lack of tax revenue ( No
increase/decrease)
IKE’s Accomplishments
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IKE tried to say above party politics – “Middle
of the road” Does not dismantle the New Deal
Real Wages increased 20% during the 1950’s
which allowed economic prosperity
Per-capita income and Real Purchasing power
increased
IKE reacted on the issue of Civil Rights with
the crisis at Little Rock Central High School in
1957 although he did not assume leadership
on civil rights
The Minimum Wage Act of 1955 – Raised the
minimum wage from 75 cents to $1
Social Security was expanded to cover farmers
and state and local government employees
IKE’s Accomplishments II
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Funding was increased for public housing although the
focus was on the suburbs not revitalizing the inner
cities ( Racial Gap) FHA
The Department of Health, Education and Welfare was
backed by IKE (Secretary Oveta Culp Hobby)
The Federal Highway Act of 1956 - $32 billion and
41,000 miles of new interstate highway ( Largest Public
Works Project in history)
The National Defense Education Act of 1958- $280
million in grants to state universities and $300 million
in low cost tuition loans ( Post-Sputnik)
Low inflation steady growth brought economic
Prosperity to most Americans
Popular IKE wins Re-election
Ch 14 Sec 2 The Affluent
Society
Housing and Redefining the
Family
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Due to a major housing shortage William
J. Levitt and other builders developed
mass produced house in the suburbs and
the new homes were $7,000
Nearly 8 million women went to work
during the war and made all family
decisions, when the men came home
tensions rose, 1 million marriages ended
Yet America experienced an increase in
the birthrate or a “baby boom” was
underway
 By
The Suburban Life
the early 1960’s every large city
was surrounded by suburbs
 Of the 13 million new homes built in
the 1950’s 85% of them were in the
suburbs
 William J. Levitt improved building
techniques to mass produce homes
 Materialism in Suburbia- “Keeping up
with the Joneses”
 The Baby Boom reached its peak in
Lonely Crowds and Organizational Men
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By 1956 the majority (51%) of Americans held
white collar jobs instead of blue collar jobs
Many large corporations bought companies in
different industries and formed diversified
conglomerates (Ex. ITT bought Avis, Sheraton
Hotels, Hartford Fire Ins., and Continental
Banking) Others: ATT, Xerox and GE
Franchises offered similar products at different
locations, they were independently owned yet
they received free advertising (Ray Kroc
McDonald’s)
The Organizational Men by William H. Whyte –
Companies pushed teamwork, cooperation,
loyalty which led to the age of conformity
Advances in Medicine and
Child Care
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Dr. Jonas Salk Polio Vaccine
Antibiotics like penicillin were distributed
 Advances in Surgery - Open Heart
Surgery
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Common Sense Book of Baby and Child
Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock sold 10
million copies during the 1950’s
 Dr. Spock stressed not to spank or scold
but hold meetings, and he advocated
women stay home with the kids
Technology of the 1950’s
The first commercial nuclear power plant
was built in Shippingport, Pa
 The first electric digital computer was
tested at the University of Pa. in 1946
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(ENIAC)
In 1947 scientists at Bell Labs invented
the transistor to replace vacuum tubes
 Huge machines could now fit on a desk
 Computers were used to calculate the
1950’s Census
 Agribusiness- Large corporate farms with
machinery dominating agriculture (Fears
of DDT)
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Automania
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New Car sales rose from 6.7million in 1950 to
7.9 million in 1955, total cars on the road
jumped from 40 million in 1950 to over 60
million in 1960
New suburbs made cars necessary new
amenities and styles made them attractive
The Interstate Highway System encouraged
long haul trucking and travel to mountains,
lakes, beaches, historical sights and
amusement parks (Ex Disneyland 1955)
Drive-ins, Motels, Restaurants, and malls
boomed, but accidents, noise, and pollution
were problems
Jobs and Businesses left the inner cities, the
The Affluent Society
The GNP increased from $205 billion in
1940 to $500 billion in 1960
 By the mid 1950’s 60 of Americans were
members of the middle class
 Consumerism – the buying of material
good came to be equated with success
 Americans bought not only electric
kitchen appliances but TVs, tape
recorders, and Hi-Fi record players
 Manufactures used “planned
obsolescence” so encourage more
purchases
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Credit and Advertising
In 1950 Diners Club issued the first credit
card, American Express was issued in
1958
 Large items were bought on the
installment plan (Ex Cars, Homes)
 Total debt grew from $73 billion to $179
billion
 Ads were on TV, Radio, and Billboards, in
Magazines and newspapers
 By 1955 $9 billion was spent on
advertising
 Ad Executives appealed to people’s desire
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Mass- Culture of the
1950’s & Discontents
Television : Tube of Plenty
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By 1950, 9% of Americans had TVs, by 1954
55% had TVs, and by 1960, 90% had TVs
In 1956 the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) was created to license
stations and regulate programming
Edward R. Marrow introduced on screen
reporting (See it Now, Person to Person)
Popular Shows: Playhouse 90,Your Show of
Shows, The Mickey Mouse Club, Howdy Doody
Show, the Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Father
Know Best, Leave it to Beaver, The Adventures
of Ozzie and Harriet, Donna Reed Show and the
Ed Sullivan Show
TV of the 1950’s
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The three main networks ABC, CBS, and
NBC grew directly from radio
organizations
I Love Lucy
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Chocolate Factory
 Critics
Television Part II
objected to TV’s effect on
children, its stereotypical portrayal
of women and minorities
Male characters outnumbered female
characters three to one
 African Americans and Latinos rarely
appeared on TV at all
 TV omitted reference to poverty,
diversity, and the civil rights struggle
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 TV
shows about the Western Frontier
were popular (Ex. D. Crocket and
Television Scandal
Radio and Movies of the 1950’s
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Many radio stars made the jump to TV
such as: Jack Benny, George Burns,
Gracie Allen and Eddie Cantor
Radio Stations broadcast local news,
weather, music and community issues
 To compete with TV, Hollywood Movies
introduced Stereophonic sound in 1952
 By 1954 more than 50% of movies were
in color
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3-D, Smell-O-Vision and Aroma-Rama
were all novelty gimmicks of Hollywood
in the 1950’s
Popular Male Stars of the 1950’s
Popular Female Stars of the
1950’s
Hollywood Icons of the
1950’s
Youth Culture- Conformity of the
1950’s
Middle Class society wanted to imitate
those around them “Teenager” was 1st
used
 Middle Class Youth was dubbed “the
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Silent Generation”
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Middle Class Youth didn’t worry about the
problems of the world they joined
fraternities and sororities, organized
parties, pursued entertainment and had
fun
Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll
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African- Americans began adding electronic
instruments to traditional blues music to create
rhythm and blues (DJ – Allen Freed)
Early artists were Richard Pennimen, Chuck
Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets, then Elvis
Teenagers loved the music because it talked
about love, cars, and the problems of being
young ( Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly and the
Big Bopper were popular)
Adults condemned the music saying it would
lead to immorality and delinquency
R+R sales were $189 million in 1950, but grew
to $600 million in 1960
American Bandstand
The Teenager of the 1950’s
By 1965, 85% of the nations teens were
in high school compared to 10% in 1900
 Manufacturers targeted teens with
cosmetics, clothing, radios, phonographs,
and cars
 Teens were torn between the youth
culture and assuming the pressures of
adult responsibility
 Many blamed rock and roll for an increase
in juvenile delinquency but the numbers
were exaggerated
 The Wild One (1954) and Rebel Without a
Cause ( 1955) signified some rebellion
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Pockets of Non-Conformity
 Centered
in San Francisco, LA and
NYC Greenwich Village the beat
movement expressed the social nonconformity of artists, poets, and
writers (The Beat Generation)
 Beatniks lived nonconformist lives
and sought higher consciousness
through Buddhism, music and drugs
 Beat Writers: Alan Ginsburgh (Howl,
1956)
 Jack Kerouac (On the Road, 1957)
The Beats
Ch 14 Sec 4 The Other Side
Of American Life
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“The ghettos are killing us; not only our
dreams but our very bodies
The Other America
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“The
Country is celebrating one hundred years
of freedom one hundred years too soon.”
(James Baldwin on 100 yrs. of emancipation)
 40 million Americans lived in poverty in the
1950’s
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“White Flight” caused decaying inner cities
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The Other America: Poverty in the United States
in 1962 by Michael Harrington
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Urban Renewal was attempted but limited in
scale, more like urban removal
The Racial Gap
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African –American music had inspired the birth
of Rock and Roll and was the basis of it
Influential Non-Rock and Roll Singers were Nat
“King “Cole, Lena Horne, Ray Charles
Influential Jazz Musicians were Mile Davis,
Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker and Dizzy
Gillespie
African American radio show were broadcast on
separate stations
In the early 1950’s record labels would not sign
black artists, and white versions of early
rhythm and blues hits were released
Hispanics
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5 million Mexicans had come to the US
through the Bracero Program
Farms and Ranchers, temporary contract
workers, 350,000 stayed in the US
Long hours, little pay, prejudice,
substandard housing and exposure to
pesticides
Native Americans
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Post WWII policy of bringing native
Americans into mainstream society
called the termination policy was a
failure.
Relocation from reservations to
urban centers was not a good idea or
policy
Juvenile Delinquency
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Anti-Social or criminal behavior in
young people, 45% increase in
juvenile crime rate between 19481953.
Many blamed TV, Movies, racism, no
parents, rising divorce rate.