8.3 A- Truman and Eisenhower

Why were fears of a faltering economy after WWII proven wrong?

Because of a pause in military production after the war, many believed that the economy would go into a recession. However, increased consumer spending warded it off.

GI Bill

law passed in 1944 to help returning veterans buy homes and pay for higher educations

Limitations of the GI Bill

many blacks and Latinos were denied opportunities to start up new businesses, buy new homes, go to the same colleges and universities as whites, and (through job assistance) gain access to jobs that weren't for menial, unskilled workers.

Taft Hartley Act

Prevented "closed shop" policies

Closed Shop

An agreement in which a company agrees to hire only union members

Right- to- work laws

A state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs.

Union Shops

A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment.

What was Truman's Legislative agenda?

1- Expand social security benefits 2- raise the minimum wage 3-propose construction of public housing 4-ensure full employment via federal spending 5-create a system of national health insurance 6-implement environmental and public works planning 7-pass protections for African Americans' right to vote, abolish poll taxes, and make lynching a federal crime

Executive order 9980

elimination of discrimination within the federal government

Executive Order 9981

end discrimination in the armed forces

Strom Thurmond

headed the State's Rights Party (Dixiecrats); he ran for president in 1948 against Truman

Henry Wallace

A former Democratic who ran on the New Progressive Party due to his disagreement on Truman's policy with the Soviets. He caused the Democratic party to split even more during the election season.

Thomas Dewey

Republican presidential nominee in 1948 who was thought to win because of the split democratic party and Truman's low popularity

What did the "do- nothing congress" actually get done?

1- Passed aid program to greece and turkey

2- Created department of defense

3- Created national security council

4- Created CIA

5- Set up the Air Force as a seperate branch of the military

6- Passed 22nd Amendment

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

Fair Deal passed Legislation

1- raised minimum wage to 75c an hour

2- Increased social security benefits

3- Extended Social security to more people

4- Passed national housing act