Retreat from the New Deal

If you had to point to one major reason why the democrats lost in the

midterm elections of 2010, what would it be?

What is a backlash in political elections?

• Election of

2010• Election of 2008• Election of 2006• Election of 2000• Election of 1994• Election of 1976• Election of 1948

When citizens punish the incumbent government by voting against them

What factors contribute to a backlash?

• Economy– Depression or Recession– Taxes

• Civil Rights– GITMO

• Morals/Religion– Christian Coalition

• Security/Foreign Policy– Iraq War

• Perceived Corruption– Nixon

Today we will be able to identify that, following WWII, Americans turned away from the New Deal

and towards conservatism by analyzing the results of the

election of 1946/1948.

We will also be able to explain that, despite this political shift,

Truman was able to win the election of 1948 to the surprise of

political experts.

Where on the political spectrum did FDR, Truman, New Deal Policies, and

Congress fall in 1945?

FDR

Truman

The New Deal

Congress

Where on the political spectrum do communism and unions fall?

FDR

Truman

The New Deal

Congress

Communism Unions

Where on the political spectrum do conservatives fall?

FDRTruman

The New Deal

Congress

Communism Unions Conservatives

Backlash

Describe Truman’s plan for America?• New Deal

• Public housing

• National Health Insurance

• Discrimination

• Civil Rights– Desegregated

military

What hindered Truman?• Inflation

– 15% annually in late 40s

He tried to stop inflation. How?

Books

• Shortages– Marshall Plan

• Labor unrest• "To Err is

Truman" • Approval ratings

– 87% in 1945 – 32% in 1946

Backlash of 1946• Slow economy

– still regulated by price controls from WWII.

• Republicans (Nixon) pushed Truman to remove the price controls.

• Truman did– Result = prices soared

– Strikes increased

• Red Scare• Republicans campaigned under

slogan, “Had Enough?”

Truman

What were the results of the 1946 congressional elections?

1947 Democrat Republican

House 188 246

Senate 45 51

1946 Democrats

Republican

House 243 190

Senate 57 38

2008 Democrats Republican

House 257 178

Senate 58 40

Election of 1946

2010 Democrats Republican

House 193 242

Senate 51 47

The 80th Republican Dominated Congress called The “Do Nothing”

Congress?Truman’s most political

astute move.

See books and explain how the address to Congress and the move to call them the “Do Nothing” congress was politically brilliant.

What was the Taft-Hartley Bill?•Limited unions bargaining power, ability to strike, and requirements for union membership.

•Passed the House and Senate

•Truman vetoed the bill calling it “Slave Labor”

•Congress voted to override the presidents veto.

Who were the candidates for president in the election of 1948?

• Thomas Dewey– Republican Governor of NY– polished, well spoken

• Truman– Incumbent – Blunt, gruff– 35% approval rating – Encouraged not to run

• Strom Thurmond– Dixiecrats

• Broke away from democrats over “states rights”

• IE. Civil Rights intruding on “Southern Way of Life”

• Henry Wallace– Progressive party

• socialist

Election of 1948

Why is important that Thurmond and Wallace ran for president? Who does it

hurt?

Truman takes to the Rails

Truman’s Campaign Strategy• Exposed the “Do Nothing Congress”

– Had rejected civil rights, new deal reforms, and many others.

• Gave over 230 speeches– 32 thousand miles

• Republicans have no real plan• Dewey’s Pollster stopped making

phone calls a month before election• Dewey

– Only gave 16 speeches– Vague on issues (platitudes)

• Still…polled one week from election day 50 experts all predicted a Dewey victory

What were the results?

• Truman won

• Chicago Tribune (conservative paper) assumed Dewey won and printed headline early

Election Results