The Postwar Boom!US History

2011-2012

America at home

• GI Bill of Rights• Encouraged Education• Paid half of tuition• Year’s worth of Unemployment Benefits• Low Interest Loans

• 1948 Election: “Give ‘em hell Harry!” (Democrat)• Dixiecrats: Southern Democrats nominating their

own candidate! (J. Strom Thurmond)

• Truman’s “Fair Deal”• Extension of New Deal; compulsory health

insurance, steady income for farmers----Shot down by Congress!

Registration Day at Harvard after the G.I. Bill of Rights

1948 Election

1. Truman was unpopular due to high inflation and labor unrest

2. He did take a strong stand on civil rights- The Committee on Civil Rights was formed to look at racial issues.

1948 ELECTION

He banned racial discrimination in the military and in federal job hiring.

Anti-lynching laws, anti-poll tax measures

1948 ELECTION

Southern Democrats were outraged by the African American demand for equal rights as well as Truman’s actions.

E. The Fair Deal

•He promised Americans a continuation to FDR’s New Deal with a series of new reforms :•Full employment•Higher minimum wage•National Health insurance•Construction of affordable housing• Increased aid to farmers•Expansion of welfare benefits (and to

more people)

F. 22nd Amendment1. Proposed March 24, 1947

2. “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of the President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”

American dream of the 50’s

• Baby Boom• 40s-60s

• 1957: baby born every 7 seconds: 4, 308,000 (year)

• Leisure in the 50s• 40 Hour Work Weeks

• Several Weeks Vacation

• Labor Saving Devices

• Recreational Activities

• TV and Avid Readers

• Do-It-Yourself, Cooking, etc.

American dream of the 50s

• Automobiles• Automania led to the

“Interstate Highway Act 1956”—Route 66

• Nationwide highway network

• Drive-In Movies

• Restaurants

• Shopping Malls

• More Wrecks/More Stress!

American dream of the 50s

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)• I Love Lucy

• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

• Howdy Doody Show

• Rock ‘n’ Roll• Chuck Berry

• Elvis Presley

• “The King”

• Jazz• Miles Davis