Exploring American History

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Exploring American History

• Unit X Post War America
• Chapter 27 Section 1
• Adjusting to Peace
• Lecture

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Adjusting to Peace

• The Big Idea
• After World War II, Americans adjusted to new
  challenges both at home and around the world.
• Main Ideas
• As World War II ended, leaders began planning the
  future of the postwar world.
• The United States and the Soviet Union went from
  being allies to enemies after World War II.
• Americans adjusted to postwar life.

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Main Idea 1As World War II ended, leaders began
planning the future of the postwar world.

• Yalta Conference
• Leaders met to discuss Europes future.
• Supported creation of international peacekeeping
  organization
• Agreed on free elections for countries liberated
  from German control

• Potsdam Conference
• Allied leaders divided conquered Germany into
  four zones.
• Britain, France, the United States, and the
  Soviet Union would each control one zone.
• Berlin also divided into four zones

• War Crimes Trials
• The Nuremberg trials put high-ranking Nazi
  officials on trial.
• The International Military Tribunal of the Far
  East put Japanese officials on trial.
• Established that individuals must be held
  responsible for committing war crimes, even when
  acting on behalf of a government

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The United Nations

• In 1944, American, British, Soviet, and Chinese
  representatives met to draft a plan for the
  United Nations an organization dedicated to
  resolving international conflicts.
• In 1945, representatives from 50 countries met to
  write the UN Charter.
• One of its first major actions was to divide
  Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states.
• May 14, 1948 Jewish leaders announced the
  creation of nation of Israel.
• Arab leaders protested and invaded.
• Israeli forces drove Arabs back and a truce was
  made.

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The Future of the Postwar World

• Recall What was the result of the Potsdam
  Conference?
• Analyze What legal principle was established at
  the Nuremberg and Japanese International Military
  Tribunals?
• Evaluate Why do you think France was not
  represented at the Yalta Conference?

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The Future of the Postwar World- answers

• Recall Germany and its capital were divided
  into four zones
• Analyze Individuals are responsible for war
  crimes, even if they are following government
  orders
• Evaluate France was occupied during the war
  leader of the French resistance in Britain,
  Charles de Gualle, had not been elected.

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The Future of the Postwar World

• Explain For what purpose was the United Nations
  founded?
• Summarize How did Israel become an independent
  nation?

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The Future of the Postwar World- answers

• Explain to resolve international conflicts.
• Summarize British occupied Palestine was
  divided by the U.N. General Assembly into
  separate Arab and Jewish states. Jewish leaders
  announced the creation of Israel in May, 1948

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Main Idea 2The United States and the Soviet
Union went from being allies to enemies after
World War II.
From Allies to Enemies

• After the war, differences arose between United
  States and Soviet Union.
• Americans committed to capitalism and democracy
• Soviets hoped to spread communism around the
  world.

The Iron Curtain

• Stalin established Communist governments in
  Poland and Eastern Europe, cutting them off from
  the rest of the world.
• The term iron curtain came to be used to describe
  this division.
• The phrase Cold War came to be used to describe
  the struggle for global power between the Soviet
  Union and the United States.

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U.S. Foreign Policy
Goal containment, or preventing the Soviet Union
from expanding its influence around the world
Truman Doctrine policy of providing aid to help
foreign countries fight communism
Marshall Plan Western Europe received more than
13 billion in U.S. loans and grants for European
economic recovery between 1948 and 1952.

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization a coalition
  of the United States, nine Western European
  countries, Canada, and Iceland.
• Members promised to defend each other if
  attacked.
• Soviet Union responded by creating Warsaw Pact,
  a military
• alliance with its Eastern European satellite
  countries.

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From Allies to Enemies

• Describe What was the purpose of the Truman
  Doctrine?
• Make Inferences How did the Marshall fit with
  the goals of the Truman Doctrine?
• Evaluate Why do you think Soviet Leaders did
  not allow Eastern European nations to accept aid
  from the Marshall Plan ?

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From Allies to Enemies- answers

• Describe to provide aid to countries that were
  trying to fight communism.
• Make Inferences Massive aid helped ensure
  recovery would be democratic and capitalistic
  that countries would ally themselves with the
  United States, not with the Soviet Union.
• Evaluate Did not want these countries to ally
  with the United States.

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Main Idea 3Americans adjusted to postwar life.

• Government urged women to give up their jobs once
  veterans returned.
• The Servicemens Readjustment Act, or GI Bill of
  Rights, offered veterans money for school, as
  well as loans for houses, farms, and businesses.
• Inflation rose as people rushed to buy products
  that were limited during war.

Economy

• More than 35 percent of non-farm workers were
  union members in 1946.
• With inflation on rise, many went on strike.
• Labor unions became a major political problem.
• Government worked to reduce power of labor
  unions.
• Passed the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947 that outlawed
  closed shops, or business that could hire only
  union members.

Labor
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G.I. Bill- Servicemens Readjustment Act
                                                       "That GI Bill was the best piece of legislation ever passed by the US Congress, and it made modern America. The educational establishment boomed. The suburbs, starting with Levittown and others, were paid by GIs borrowing on their GI Bill at a very low interest rate. Thousands and thousands of small businesses were started in this country and are still there thanks to the loans from the GI Bill. It transformed our country." Historian Steven Ambrose
                                                       "That GI Bill was the best piece of legislation ever passed by the US Congress, and it made modern America. The educational establishment boomed. The suburbs, starting with Levittown and others, were paid by GIs borrowing on their GI Bill at a very low interest rate. Thousands and thousands of small businesses were started in this country and are still there thanks to the loans from the GI Bill. It transformed our country." Historian Steven Ambrose
"That GI Bill was the best piece of legislation
ever passed by the US Congress, and it made
modern America. The educational establishment
boomed. The suburbs, starting with Levittown and
others, were paid by GIs borrowing on their GI
Bill at a very low interest rate. Thousands and
thousands of small businesses were started in
this country and are still there thanks to the
loans from the GI Bill. It transformed our
country." Historian Steven Ambrose
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G.I. Bill of Rights

• Revolutionary War
• Veterans' benefits- life-long pensions for
  disabled veterans and dependents of soldiers
  killed in battle.
• War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the
  Indian wars, and the Spanish-American War
• Benefits- common type was "mustering out" pay.
  Also land grants to vets.
• Rehabilitation Act of 1919
• veterans disabled in World War I a monthly
  education assistance allowance

• June 22, 1944- "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of
  1944," or"GI Bill of Rights.
• education and training
• loan guaranty for a home, farm, or business
• unemployment pay of 20 a week for up to 52 weeks
  
• job-finding assistance
• top priority for building materials for VA
  hospitals
• military review of dishonorable discharges
• World War II veteran had to serve 90 days or more
  after Sept. 16, 1940.
• Total cost of the World War II education program
  was 14.5 billion
• 500 a year for tuition, books, fees, and other
  training costs.
• 2,230,000 in college
• 3,480,000 in other schools
• 1,400,000 in on-job training
• 690,000 in farm training

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G.I. Bill of Rights

• Korean Conflict GI Bill
• Public Law 550, the "Veterans Readjustment
  Assistance Act of 1952, " was approved by
  President Truman on July 16, 1952. To be eligible
  for Korean GI Bill benefits, a veteran had to
• serve 90 days or more after June 27, 1950,
• enter service before Feb. 1, 1955, and
• receive an other than dishonorable discharge.
• Total cost of the Korean Conflict GI Bill
  education and training program was 4.5 billion.
• 1,213,000 in institutions of higher learning
• 860,000 in other schools
• 223,000 on the job
• 95,000 in institutional on-farm training

• Post-Korean - Vietnam Era GI Bill
• Home and farm loans, job counseling, and an
  employment placement service were other benefits
  provided to veterans, who served between August
  5, 1964, and May 7, 1975. Veterans had to serve
  more than 180 continuous days.
• By 1984 Veterans were receiving about 376/month
  for education- training, books and tuition.
• VA spent more than 42 billion during this time
  to provide educational assistance.
• 5.1 million in colleges
• 2.5 million in other schools
• 591,000 on the job
• 56,000 in on farm training

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G.I. Bill of Rights

• Current Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty (MGIB)
• To help the members of the Armed Forces adjust to
  civilian life after separation from service
• To give those who cannot afford a higher
  education the chance to get one
• To restore lost educational opportunities and
  vocational readjustment to service members who
  lost these opportunities as the result of their
  active military duty
• To promote and assist the All-Volunteer Force
  program of the Armed Forces
• To aid in the retention of personnel in the Armed
  Forces
• To enhance our Nation's competitiveness through
  the development of a more highly educated and
  productive work force

• The following briefly summarizes major MGIB
  provisions
• Served on active duty after June 30, 1985.
• Must fulfill one's basic service obligation.
• Must have completed high school.
• Received an honorable discharge.
• Maximum entitlement is 36 months.
• Additional "kicker" as determined by DOD.
• Generally must use benefits within 10 years
  following discharge.

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Civil Rights after the War

• African American veterans faced segregation and
  prejudice at home.
• Helped lead a major effort to gain equal rights
• Truman appointed Committee on Civil Rights to
  investigate discrimination and suggest solutions.
• Congress failed to act on the committees report.
• In 1948 Truman issued an executive order to
• End segregation in the armed forces, and
• Ban discrimination in the hiring of federal
  employees.

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Executive Order 9981

• Executive Order No. 9981 issued by President
  Truman provided for "equality of treatment and
  opportunity in the armed forces without regard to
  race, color, religion, or national origin."
• This was the first time that a president used an
  executive order to implement civil rights
  principles and was a major victory for civil
  rights advocates in the quest for full
  citizenship.
• Despite these orders, full integration of African
  Americans in the armed services was carried out
  slowly. It was not until the end of the Korean
  conflict that full integration of the armed
  forces had been achieved.

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Taft-Hartley Act - 1947

• When it was passed by Congress over Trumans
  veto, Truman denounced it as a "slave-labor
  bill".
• The act declared the closed shop illegal.
• Permitted the union shop only after a vote of a
  majority of the employees.
• Forbade jurisdictional strikes and secondary
  boycotts.
• Forbade unions from contributing to political
  campaigns and required union leaders to affirm
  they were not supporters of the Communist Party.
• Gave the United States Attorney General the power
  to obtain an 80 day injunction when a threatened
  or actual strike that he/she believed "imperiled
  the national health or safety".

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Election of 1948

• President Truman faced many challenges for
  reelection.
• Southern Democrats opposed his support for civil
  rights laws.
• Republicans controlled Congress and felt their
  candidate, New York governor Thomas Dewey, could
  beat Truman.
• Truman took his case for reelection to the
  American people.
• Traveled thousands of miles and gave hundreds of
  speeches
• Defended his views and attacked Congress
• In 1948 election, Truman won a surprise victory.
• Urged Congress to support his plan for a package
  of domestic programs called the Fair Deal
• Congress approved some parts, including higher
  minimum wage and expanded Social Security
  benefits.
• Congress rejected other parts, including civil
  rights legislation.

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Election of 1948 and Thomas E. Dewey

• Election of 1948-World Issues, shortages,
  strikes,
• Democrat Candidate- Truman - Issues- Repeal
  Taft-Hartly, Act Recognize Israel Strong Civil
  Rights legislation needed (an issue that split
  the party) Anti-lynching Fair employment and
  end segregation in military.
• The upheaval at the July convention led to
  Democratic splinter-party presidential
  candidates J. Strom Thurmond ran on the State's
  Rights ticket, known more familiarly as the
  "Dixiecrats," and Henry Wallace ran on the
  Progressive Ticket- (Convinced that liberals and
  Communists could work together. Repeal the
  draft strong civil rights cooperate with
  Russia ban the bomb.)
• Republican Candidate- Dewey - Issues- Time for a
  change Approved some New Deal policies and
  wanted bi-partisan foreign policy

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The Election By election
day, the polls showed that Truman had managed to
cut Dewey's lead, but all media sources still
believed Dewey would win by a landslide. As
the reports filtered in that night, Truman was
ahead in the popular votes, but the newscasters
still believed Truman didn't have a chance.
By four the next morning, Truman's success seemed
undeniable. At 1014 a.m., Dewey conceded the
election to Truman. The final results
Popular States Electoral Harry S.
Truman 24,105,812 28 303 Thomas E.
Dewey 21,970,065 16 189 Strom
Thurmond 1,169,021 4 39 Henry A.
Wallace 1,157,172 0 0
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Fair Deal

• New civil rights legislation
• Federal housing programs
• Unemployment insurance benefits
• New tax cuts for the poor
• Federal funding for education
• A federal health care and health insurance
  program
• In the end, Truman's attempt to introduce his
  Fair Deal was largely a failure. Few of his
  initiatives became law. Congress refused to
  create a national health care program, did little
  to reform education (with the exception of the G.
  I. Bill), extended unemployment benefits only
  slightly, and put off new civil rights
  legislation.

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Postwar America

• Describe What happened to the American economy
  at the end of the war?
• Recall What was another name for the
  Servicemans Readjustment Act and what was its
  purpose?
• Predict How do you think women who had been
  employed in good paying jobs during the war might
  have felt about the governments request that
  they give up their jobs?

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Postwar America- answers

• Describe it remained strong inflation rose.
• Recall G.I. Bill of Rights to ease the
  transition for returning veterans.
• Predict Glad they could return home, happy that
  men were returning distressed by the loss of
  independence, resentful of the governments
  intrusiveness.

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Postwar America

• Recall How did President Truman end the 1946
  mine and railroad strikes?
• Summarize How did Truman advance the civil
  rights movement?
• Develop Why do you think the president decided
  to issue an executive order to end segregation in
  the armed forces?

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Postwar America- answers

• Recall Placed mines under government control
  threatened to draft railroad workers into the
  army.
• Summarize Ended segregation in the military
  banned discrimination in the hiring of federal
  employees.
• Develop May not have had enough congressional
  support to have law passed order was quicker
  than trying to have a law passed.

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Postwar America

• Summarize What was the Fair Deal?
• Evaluate Why do you think Truman used the term
  Fair Deal for his domestic policy?

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Postwar America- answers

• Summarize Higher minimum wage national health
  plan expanded Social Security, etc
• Evaluate Wanted to associate himself with
  reforms of Theodore Roosevelts Square Deal and
  FDRs New Deal.