Post-War Suburbs and Truman's Presidency: Notes on the GI Bill, Housing Shortage, and Domestic Issues
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 27.1-.2 Notes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wAa3V1EVQI
Returning Home from War • GI Bill of Rights (1944): offer loan interest loans in addition to education assistance, many people purchase homes with this $$$ • 1945-46 housing shortage, lots returning home want to buy houses • William Levitt and Henry Kaiser work to mass-produce homes (standardized) • Result is the “suburbs” • Creates a new lifestyle • Move away from cities, status symbol
Truman’s Presidency • “The Buck Stops Here”, the Fair Deal (extension of New Deal) • Two major issues to deal with: restoring US economy after war, and rising threat of communism • Affluent Society (most Americans prosper) but….. • End of price controls leads to rising inflation • Strikes (no longer at war unions demand more rights) • Truman supports Civil Rights, order integration of military • Truman’s Fights with Congress, over turn many New Deal programs and ignore his domestic plans.
Election of 1948 • Republicans win control of House in 1946 ready for 1948 • Democrats wanted Eisenhower but go with Truman • Dixiecrats nominate Strom Thurmond • Progress Party: Henry Wallace • Republicans: Thomas Dewey • Truman wins by narrow margin
Election of 1952 • Democrats nominate Adlai Stevenson • Republicans nominate: Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower (VP Richard Nixon) • Checkers Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9LcAJOsFGg • Power of TV • Ike wins and Republicans Win control of Congress
Ike Is…. • Ike is: • Least experienced Pres of 20th C • Pursued modest domestic policy, intensifies commitment to containment • 1st Republican in 20 years • Most of administration from business community • Cabinet is mostly corporate lawyers and business men • Believes in limiting federal activities and encouraging private business • Opposes new social programs • Works to reduce deficit and balance budget • His last year in office (1960) government has $1 billion surplus
Good Times Are Here • 1950 Economy Booms! • By 1960 income doubles, almost doubles again by 1970. • Middle Class expands • Changes for Women (economically and socially)
Interstate Highway Act • The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act (Public Law 84-627), was enacted on June 29, 1956, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggtH05LFF3k
Babies….lots of Babies • Post war baby boomPeaks in 1957 • Effects: • Changes in trends • Youth Acts like Youth • Role of women https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azvdwHySVjI • Dr. Benjamin Spock • “The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care” • Jonas Salk invents the polio vaccine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xVXenFoCb8
Sub-Culture of 1950’s • Beat Movement • Beatniks • Against Conformity of 1950s • Made up of authors, artists, poets, musicians, etc. • Alan Ginsberg, poem Howl • Jack Kerouac, On the Road • Describes nomadic search across America for authenticity American disagrees with Beats view of world • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPupRsmrrHg
The Other America • White Flight • Inner Cities and the Urban Poor • National Housing Act tries to solve problem