WelcomeBaltimore Polytechnic Institute

April 27, 2011U.S. History

Mr. Green

The students will identify economic and social problems Americans faced after WWII by summarizing the postwar American period

Announcement: Chapter 18/19 Test May 13Drill: Read “Now and Then” on page 637 and

answer the following:1. What is the main idea of this feature?2. What examples are given to support the

main idea?

Agenda/Topics To Be Covered

Impact of the GI BillEncourage veterans to get an educationPaid part of their tuition1 year of unemploymentLow-interest, federally guaranteed loansHousing CrisisWilliam Levitt/Henry Kaiser –mass produce

homesSuburbs created with identical looking homesLaws created such as mowing, laundry,

fences

Postwar America Ch. 19 Section 1 pages 636-642

Redefining the FamilyWomen reluctant to give up independence6 million women worked during WWIIBy 1950, a million war marriages ended in

divorceEconomic ReadjustmentU.S. moved from a wartime economy to a

peacetime economyPrices increased when the O.P.A. ended price

controlsPrice controls reestablished to control inflationRemarkable RecoveryLiving on a budget, people finally spent moneyCold War increased defense spendingMarshall Plan-created foreign markets

Truman’s InheritanceThe buck stops hereTruman Faces Strikes4.5 million workers struck in 1946

steel, coal miners, railroad unionsTruman seized the mines, wanted the RRTruman threatened to draft the strikers and the union

gave in“Had Enough”Republicans won House/Senate in 1946Republicans passed Taft-Hartley in 1947 over

Truman’s veto

Economic Challenges

Truman supports Civil RightsFederal anti-lynching lawAbolition of poll taxBody to prevent racial discrimination in hiringCongress did not act on these

recommendationsJuly 1948 Truman integrated the armed forces

by executive order and ended discrimination in government hiring

Social Unrest Persists

Southern Democrats did not support Truman’s view on civil rights

formed Dixiecrats and nominated Strom Thurmond of SC

Truman was the underdog and won by going to the people

Fair DealNational health care-did not passCrop subsidy programIncreased minimum wage/extended SS coverageBuilt housing units for low-income families

1948 Presidential Election

Complete the Guided Reading sheet and submit prior to the end of class.

Independent Work

Summarize the events of the postwar period that contributed to social unrest in the United States.

Wrap-Up

1. Read Chapter 19 Section 2

Homework