Truman Domestic Truman Domestic PoliciesPolicies

McElhaneyMcElhaney

APUSHAPUSH

Postwar domestic adjustments Postwar domestic adjustments The Taft-Hartley Act The Taft-Hartley Act Civil Rights and the election of Civil Rights and the election of

1948 1948

Servicemen's Servicemen's Readjustment Act, 1944 Readjustment Act, 1944 (GI Bill)(GI Bill)

Taft-Hartley Act, 1947Taft-Hartley Act, 1947 Fair DealFair Deal Racial issues after WWIIRacial issues after WWII Desegregation of MilitaryDesegregation of Military Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson Jim Crowe SouthJim Crowe South Truman and Early Civil Truman and Early Civil

RightsRights Civil Rights and the Civil Rights and the

Election of 1948Election of 1948 Truman and IsraelTruman and Israel Thomas E. DeweyThomas E. Dewey J. Strom ThurmondJ. Strom Thurmond ““Dixiecrats”Dixiecrats”

Henry WallaceHenry Wallace Alger HissAlger Hiss Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy House Un-American House Un-American

Activities Committee Activities Committee (HUAC)(HUAC)

Julius and Ethel Julius and Ethel RosenbergRosenberg

Hollywood TenHollywood Ten Dalton TrumboDalton Trumbo Edward R. MurrowEdward R. Murrow Waldorf StatementWaldorf Statement McCarren Internal McCarren Internal

Security Act, 1950Security Act, 1950 Dennis v. United StatesDennis v. United States, ,

19511951

Postwar Postwar DomesticDomestic AdjustmentsAdjustments

US After WWII 10 million service men and women US After WWII 10 million service men and women were were demobilized.demobilized.

Fear of economic recession-Fear of economic recession- many believed that many believed that there would be a rise in unemployment (true but there would be a rise in unemployment (true but not too bad)not too bad)

The The economy changedeconomy changed from War production to from War production to consumer goodsconsumer goods

Women leftWomen left the work force in large numbers, 3 the work force in large numbers, 3 millionmillion

Labor unrestLabor unrest: Unions ended their war time promise : Unions ended their war time promise to end strikes and a wave of strikes occursto end strikes and a wave of strikes occurs

United Mine workers go on strike, after 45 days United Mine workers go on strike, after 45 days Truman proposes government be authorized to take Truman proposes government be authorized to take control of essential industries crippled by strikes control of essential industries crippled by strikes and draft strikers. and draft strikers. (Truman alienates unions(Truman alienates unions))

The Taft-Hartley ActThe Taft-Hartley Act Republicans take controlRepublicans take control of both houses of of both houses of

CongressCongress in 1946 and seek to return to a in 1946 and seek to return to a conservative governmentconservative government:: Lower taxesLower taxes Reduced government regulationReduced government regulation Support for businessSupport for business Anti-Union – reduce the power of unions to aid Anti-Union – reduce the power of unions to aid

businessbusiness End price controls passed during the warEnd price controls passed during the war

Taft, a conservative Republican Senator Taft, a conservative Republican Senator sponsored actsponsored act Authorized President- 80 day cooling off period for Authorized President- 80 day cooling off period for

strikes in essential industriesstrikes in essential industries Banned shops closed to non-union membersBanned shops closed to non-union members

Truman Vetoes but is overriddenTruman Vetoes but is overridden

““GI Bill of Rights”GI Bill of Rights”

Servicemen's Readjustment Act, Servicemen's Readjustment Act, 1944 (GI Bill) Benefits offered by 1944 (GI Bill) Benefits offered by the government to help the government to help returning soldiers- Subsidiesreturning soldiers- Subsidies

Housing support and loansHousing support and loans Education fundingEducation funding Job trainingJob training Business loansBusiness loans

Fair DealFair Deal

Liberal programs of Truman similar Liberal programs of Truman similar to New Dealto New Deal

Limited and refused by Republican Limited and refused by Republican Congress 1946Congress 1946

Truman and Civil RightsTruman and Civil Rights

The “serious gap between our ideals The “serious gap between our ideals and some of our practices… must be and some of our practices… must be closed.”closed.”

1948 Orders 1948 Orders End to Segregation in End to Segregation in the Armed Forcesthe Armed Forces

And And Civil ServiceCivil Service

Truman and Civil RightsTruman and Civil Rights Supports the trend in post war America Supports the trend in post war America

against intolerance- Lesson of against intolerance- Lesson of discrimination of the Nazis- rings loud discrimination of the Nazis- rings loud and clear- and clear- Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials began, the began, the truth of Nazi racism comes outtruth of Nazi racism comes out

War was fought for freedom- freedom War was fought for freedom- freedom should be available at homeshould be available at home

Some former soldiers don’t like racism in Some former soldiers don’t like racism in USAUSA

American society is developing American society is developing conditions conditions for change emergefor change emerge

Emergence of the Civil Emergence of the Civil Rights MovementRights Movement

Anti-Semitism begins to decline-social Anti-Semitism begins to decline-social clubs, universities, industriesclubs, universities, industries

New Deal included African Americans New Deal included African Americans in jobs and relief programs (not in jobs and relief programs (not perfect, but not excluded)perfect, but not excluded)

During War During War FDR desegregated War FDR desegregated War IndustriesIndustries

African Americans in the North African Americans in the North experience more integration- experience more integration- Jackie Jackie Robinson- Brooklyn Dodgers-Robinson- Brooklyn Dodgers- signed signed

The South is Segregated The South is Segregated and had limited signs of and had limited signs of

changingchangingNAACP: “It’s not Russia that threatens the United NAACP: “It’s not Russia that threatens the United

States so much as Mississippi.”States so much as Mississippi.” Jim Crow SouthJim Crow South= segregated South= segregated South

Institutionalized, legal Institutionalized, legal discriminationdiscrimination, limiting African , limiting African Americans in Americans in public sphere- Schools, restaurants, public sphere- Schools, restaurants, hotels, restrooms, hotels, drinking fountains, movie hotels, restrooms, hotels, drinking fountains, movie theatres theatres

Separate but Equal practices- ruled constitutional with Separate but Equal practices- ruled constitutional with Plessey v. FergusonPlessey v. Ferguson 1892- Supreme Court ruled that 1892- Supreme Court ruled that separate public facilities was OK.separate public facilities was OK.

State laws designed to limit African Americans-specifically State laws designed to limit African Americans-specifically votingvoting

Overturned with the Overturned with the Brown vs. Board of Education 1954Brown vs. Board of Education 1954 1945-50 Reduction in lynching1945-50 Reduction in lynching Increase in black votingIncrease in black voting

Incremental Civil Rights for Incremental Civil Rights for

African AmericansAfrican Americans 1946 Morgan v. Virginia-1946 Morgan v. Virginia-

segregation in public interstate segregation in public interstate travel was unconstitutionaltravel was unconstitutional

1950- Shelley v. Kraemer-1950- Shelley v. Kraemer- restrictive restrictive covenants in housing- not selling covenants in housing- not selling property to members of certain property to members of certain groups violated the Constitutiongroups violated the Constitution

Early Civil Rights Early Civil Rights OrganizationOrganization

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Precursor to Precursor to Southern Christian Southern Christian

Leadership ConferenceLeadership Conference (SCLC will (SCLC will be active in the 1950s and 60s Civil be active in the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights Movement)Rights Movement)

Civil RightsCivil Rights

Truman desegregated the Military Truman desegregated the Military and Federal Civil Serviceand Federal Civil Service

Big step in the early struggle for an Big step in the early struggle for an end to discriminationend to discrimination

Election 1948Election 1948 Southern Democrats leave national party Southern Democrats leave national party

in response to Truman's support for Civil in response to Truman's support for Civil RightsRights

DixicratsDixicrats Strom Thurmond- South Carolina Senator, Strom Thurmond- South Carolina Senator,

runs for presidentruns for president Dewey runs for the RepublicansDewey runs for the Republicans Truman appeared to lose- but appeals Truman appeared to lose- but appeals

directly to the people citing the “Do directly to the people citing the “Do nothing Republican Congress” and Wins nothing Republican Congress” and Wins the Electionthe Election

Essay: How do you account for the Essay: How do you account for the appeal of McCarthyism in the appeal of McCarthyism in the United States in the era following United States in the era following the Second World War?the Second World War?

TopicsTopics Legacy of the war- Legacy of the war-

Appeasement- causes Appeasement- causes sensitivity to sensitivity to international issues international issues

Soviet Expansion in Soviet Expansion in EuropeEurope

Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia

Chinese Revolution- Chinese Revolution- Mao and ChiangMao and Chiang

Berlin Crisis- AirliftBerlin Crisis- Airlift Soviet obtaining the Soviet obtaining the

Atomic Bomb 1949Atomic Bomb 1949 Clause Fuchs-Soviet Clause Fuchs-Soviet

Spy named Whittiker Spy named Whittiker Chambers– Alger HissChambers– Alger Hiss

Communism is seen Communism is seen as a threat to US way as a threat to US way of lifeof life

Republicans use the Republicans use the fear of Communism to fear of Communism to criticize the New criticize the New Deal, Truman Deal, Truman Administration “Soft Administration “Soft on communism”on communism”

Fear of nuclear war Fear of nuclear war by American publicby American public

1947 Federal Employee 1947 Federal Employee Loyalty ProgramLoyalty Program

Truman implemented a program to Truman implemented a program to end criticism of his administration end criticism of his administration being “Soft on Communism”being “Soft on Communism”

Review complaints of disloyaltyReview complaints of disloyalty Program investigated thousands and Program investigated thousands and

found nothing substantial- however found nothing substantial- however pushed people out of the governmentpushed people out of the government

Invaded people’s private livesInvaded people’s private lives Significance:Significance:

Another Cold War domestic reactionAnother Cold War domestic reaction

Another Red ScareAnother Red Scare

After WWII Americans became After WWII Americans became concerned with the threat of concerned with the threat of Communism’s expansionCommunism’s expansion

Resulted in search for spies and Resulted in search for spies and communists in then United Statescommunists in then United States

House Un-American Activities House Un-American Activities CommitteeCommittee (HUAC)(HUAC) began during the began during the war and became pre-occupied with the war and became pre-occupied with the hunt for American “subversives”hunt for American “subversives”

““Are you now or were you ever a Are you now or were you ever a communist?"communist?"

HUAC under TrumanHUAC under Truman The “The “Hollywood TenHollywood Ten”” HUAC believed that some writers and HUAC believed that some writers and

producers in Hollywood were making movies producers in Hollywood were making movies sympathetic to communism and were trying to sympathetic to communism and were trying to manipulate the American publicmanipulate the American public

10 Screenwriters10 Screenwriters were found in contempt for were found in contempt for refusing to answer questions and give refusing to answer questions and give information- they were sent to Prison-information- they were sent to Prison-

Subsequent actors, producers and writers will Subsequent actors, producers and writers will be investigated and if they have any connection be investigated and if they have any connection to communism or sympatric to communism, to communism or sympatric to communism, they will be banned from the movie industry- they will be banned from the movie industry- “Blacklisted”“Blacklisted”

Dalton TrumboDalton Trumbo was the most famous of this was the most famous of this group.group.

Hollywood TenHollywood Ten

Dalton TrumboDalton Trumbo Short Article Short Article click for more infoclick for more info

Nixon and HUACNixon and HUAC In the Early Period- In the Early Period- Richard NixonRichard Nixon becomes becomes

famous for his efforts to find communists in famous for his efforts to find communists in the US- he was a Congressman from Californiathe US- he was a Congressman from California

He gains fame from his prosecution and He gains fame from his prosecution and investigation of investigation of Alger Hiss-Alger Hiss- a State a State Department official who was giving Department official who was giving information to the Soviets through a spy information to the Soviets through a spy named named Whittaker Chambers. Whittaker Chambers. Chambers Chambers was a Time magazine editor who received was a Time magazine editor who received immunity for information.immunity for information.

Hiss was never found guilty of spying but Hiss was never found guilty of spying but for perjury to the committee.for perjury to the committee.

““Tricky Tricky Dick”Dick”

First gains fame as First gains fame as membermember

Of HUACOf HUAC Pursues- Alger HissPursues- Alger Hiss Then VP for Then VP for

EisenhowerEisenhower

McCarthyism 1950McCarthyism 1950 The greatest image of The greatest image of Red ScareRed Scare 1950’s is 1950’s is

Joseph McCarthy-Joseph McCarthy- Republican Senator from Republican Senator from Wisconsin.Wisconsin.

He is associated with bullying, intimidating, He is associated with bullying, intimidating, and harassing witnesses and harassing witnesses

Launched a crusade to find communists in the Launched a crusade to find communists in the USUS

He claimed there were 200 Communists in the He claimed there were 200 Communists in the State DepartmentState Department

He finds public support for his attacks and He finds public support for his attacks and used TV and Radio to gain supportused TV and Radio to gain support

He is popular for a short timeHe is popular for a short time

McCarthy 1950McCarthy 1950 He said: He said: “I have here in my hand“I have here in my hand a list a list

of 205 (employees) known to the of 205 (employees) known to the Secretary of State as being members of Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department.”the policy of the State Department.”

This fed into the fear of communism and This fed into the fear of communism and to the political attacks on Truman for to the political attacks on Truman for being “soft on Communism”being “soft on Communism”

He spent the next two years raising He spent the next two years raising malicious and reckless attacks malicious and reckless attacks

McCarthy AttackedMcCarthy Attacked George Marshall-George Marshall- great hero of WWII great hero of WWII

FDR’s chief of staff.FDR’s chief of staff. Should be understood as a reaction against Should be understood as a reaction against

Democrat controlled governmentDemocrat controlled government His movement appealed to Republicans and His movement appealed to Republicans and

those affected by Communist take over in those affected by Communist take over in Eastern Europe (ethnic groups, Catholics)Eastern Europe (ethnic groups, Catholics)

Legislation associated with the Legislation associated with the “Witch “Witch Hunt”Hunt”

Internal Security Act-Internal Security Act- said communist said communist organizations had to register, members organizations had to register, members were ineligible for government and defense were ineligible for government and defense jobsjobs

McCarthyismMcCarthyism Much of his Much of his

accusations were accusations were untrueuntrue

People were ruinedPeople were ruined McCarthyism is McCarthyism is

known as known as unprincipled abuse unprincipled abuse of rights and of rights and

Smear attacks on Smear attacks on character and character and loyaltyloyalty

Lesson From History: What Lesson From History: What to do with political bullies:to do with political bullies:

Edward Edward MurrowMurrow, , See It NowSee It Now (9th March, 1954) (9th March, 1954)

““The line between investigating and persecuting is a The line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one and the junior Senator from Wisconsin very fine one and the junior Senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly.has stepped over it repeatedly.

We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep into our own history and our doctrine if we dig deep into our own history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not men who feared to write, to speak, to fearful men, not men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes which were for the associate, and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. moment unpopular.

This is no time for men who oppose Senator This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthty's methods to keep silent. We can deny our McCarthty's methods to keep silent. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result.”responsibility for the result.”