REPOPULATING AMERICAN REPOPULATING AMERICAN SOCIETYSOCIETY Summer, 1946: Summer, 1946:

– U.S. Armed Forces are “demobilized”U.S. Armed Forces are “demobilized”– 10 Million military personnel released10 Million military personnel released

What are the pros & cons?What are the pros & cons?– Pros?Pros?

Larger WorkforceLarger Workforce More More “CONSUMERS”“CONSUMERS” for American for American

productsproducts U.S. economy can “expand” U.S. economy can “expand”

(explain)(explain)– Cons?Cons?

How will the nation integrate these How will the nation integrate these people into daily life, the workforce, people into daily life, the workforce, etc.?etc.?

Where will they live?Where will they live?

NEW PROBLEMSNEW PROBLEMS 1945: WW II ENDS: U.S. Gov’t. 1945: WW II ENDS: U.S. Gov’t.

cancels $35 Billion in war contractscancels $35 Billion in war contracts– Result? Result?

19451945: : 1 million defense workers 1 million defense workers unemployedunemployed

Unemployment increases: Veterans & workers Unemployment increases: Veterans & workers have nowhere to go immediatelyhave nowhere to go immediately

19461946: : 3 million unemployed3 million unemployed (height of (height of postwar unemployment)postwar unemployment)

Failing Marriages:Failing Marriages:– Traditional gender roles challenged by warTraditional gender roles challenged by war– Men & women find new roles during / after Men & women find new roles during / after

warwar– Example? WW II: 6 mil. women enter Example? WW II: 6 mil. women enter

workforceworkforce– New economic power for women ; causes New economic power for women ; causes

more male-female tensionmore male-female tension– 1950: 1 million marriages divorced1950: 1 million marriages divorced

DEALING WITH PROBLEMSDEALING WITH PROBLEMS Problem #1: Bringing veterans Problem #1: Bringing veterans

back into the society.back into the society.– What do they need?What do they need?

Need to be familiarized w/societal Need to be familiarized w/societal changeschanges

Need to be given new skills so they can Need to be given new skills so they can find jobsfind jobs

Need $ to start new livesNeed $ to start new lives

– Answer? Answer? Gov’t. anticipated this potential problemGov’t. anticipated this potential problem Result? Result?

– 1944: 1944: G.I. BILL OF RIGHTSG.I. BILL OF RIGHTS: See p. 796: See p. 796 How does this help? How does this help?

NEW PROBLEMS NEW PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)(Cont’d.) Civil Rights: DefineCivil Rights: Define

– Why?Why? Large #s of African-American war veteransLarge #s of African-American war veterans Greater demand for equal rightsGreater demand for equal rights

– What part of the U.S. will resist this What part of the U.S. will resist this demand most strenuously?demand most strenuously? Why?Why?

DEALING WITH PROBLEMSDEALING WITH PROBLEMS

PROBLEM #2: Where will former PROBLEM #2: Where will former vets. (& families) live?vets. (& families) live?– Solution? Solution?

Affordable housingAffordable housing

– Where?Where? Birth of Birth of “SUBURBS”“SUBURBS” (define) (define) 11stst One: One: LEVITTOWN, NEW YORKLEVITTOWN, NEW YORK Describe: See p. 797Describe: See p. 797 Advantage?Advantage?

LEVITTOWN, NEW YORKLEVITTOWN, NEW YORK

PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)PROBLEMS (Cont’d.) PROBLEM #3: HIGH UNEMPLOYMENTPROBLEM #3: HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT

– Prediction: Economy would continue to Prediction: Economy would continue to deterioratedeteriorate

– Reality: Not true ; Why not?Reality: Not true ; Why not? Americans had learned how to save $ since Americans had learned how to save $ since

Depression hit.Depression hit. 1940s: $135 billion in savings, war bonds, etc.1940s: $135 billion in savings, war bonds, etc. So… More Americans had more $ to spendSo… More Americans had more $ to spend

– Result? Result? Demand for “Consumer” goods increasesDemand for “Consumer” goods increases

– ““ConsumerConsumer” Goods:” Goods: Household appliancesHousehold appliances CarsCars Etc.Etc.

– MARSHALL PLAN helps create new trading MARSHALL PLAN helps create new trading partners for U.S. Economypartners for U.S. Economy

– U.S. Economy / businesses recover & U.S. Economy / businesses recover & expandexpand

PROBLEMS (Cont’d.)PROBLEMS (Cont’d.) PROBLEM #4: Civil RightsPROBLEM #4: Civil Rights

– Solution?Solution?1946: Truman forms 1946: Truman forms Committee on Civil RightsCommittee on Civil Rights

1947: Committee 1947: Committee recommends widespread legal recommends widespread legal changes in U.S. laws to ensure changes in U.S. laws to ensure civil rightscivil rights

1948: Truman orders racial 1948: Truman orders racial integration of all U.S. integration of all U.S. Armed ForcesArmed Forces

1948 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN1948 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Who?Who?

– Democrats: TrumanDemocrats: Truman– Republicans: Thomas E. Dewey (NY)Republicans: Thomas E. Dewey (NY)

Problems?Problems?– Yes: Why?Yes: Why?– Many Southern Democrats are upset w/TrumanMany Southern Democrats are upset w/Truman– Why? Truman’s interest in Civil RightsWhy? Truman’s interest in Civil Rights

So What?So What?– ““Dixiecrats”Dixiecrats” form State’s Rights Progressive form State’s Rights Progressive

PartyParty– Nominate Gov. Strom Thurmond (SC)Nominate Gov. Strom Thurmond (SC)

Result?Result?– Truman wins anywayTruman wins anyway

Effect?Effect?– The U.S. may be more ready for changes than The U.S. may be more ready for changes than

many thoughtmany thought

Sen. Strom Thurmond, South Sen. Strom Thurmond, South CarolinaCarolina

19481948

PresidentialPresidential

ElectionElection

ResultsResults

EISENHOWER BECOMES PRESIDENTEISENHOWER BECOMES PRESIDENT When?When?

– 19521952– Republicans now take powerRepublicans now take power

Why?Why?– Democrats had a low approval rating in 1952Democrats had a low approval rating in 1952– Dissatisfaction w/Korean WarDissatisfaction w/Korean War– People don’t think Democrats are hard People don’t think Democrats are hard

enough on Communistsenough on Communists Other issues?Other issues?

– 22ndnd Red Scare: McCarthyism Red Scare: McCarthyism – Growing power of Federal governmentGrowing power of Federal government

So What?So What?– Eisenhower promises more stabilityEisenhower promises more stability– Eisenhower has credibility (war record, Eisenhower has credibility (war record,

leadership)leadership)– People trust / like EisenhowerPeople trust / like Eisenhower

Result?Result?– Eisenhower wins 55% of vote Eisenhower wins 55% of vote

1952 ELECTION 1952 ELECTION RESULTSRESULTS

MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUESMORE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES

1954: 1954: Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education– Where? Topeka, KansasWhere? Topeka, Kansas– Why? Integration of public schoolsWhy? Integration of public schools– Result? Sup. Court orders Result? Sup. Court orders

integrationintegration 1957: 1957: Little Rock IncidentLittle Rock Incident

– Where? Little Rock, ArkansasWhere? Little Rock, Arkansas– Why? Resistance to integrating 9 Why? Resistance to integrating 9

African-Amer. Students into Little African-Amer. Students into Little Rock Central H.S.Rock Central H.S.

– Result? Ike uses U.S. Army troops to Result? Ike uses U.S. Army troops to integrate integrate

Little Rock Central H.S. Little Rock Central H.S.