RAH Day 5 Agenda 1948 Election, Fair Deal, Vital Center EU: Truman’s actions before and after the 1948 election demonstrated that the American people were.

RAH Day 5 Agenda1948 Election, Fair Deal, Vital Center

EU: • Truman’s actions before

and after the 1948 election demonstrated that the American people were drawn towards the vital center, a paradoxical midpoint between desiring government assistance while still remaining true to the nation’s fundamental conservative values.

Agenda:• Containment Review Quiz• Graphic Organizer on Domestic

issues• Discuss Election of 1948 and the

results• Determine why some provisions

in Truman’s Fair Deal passed and others failed.

• Identify the three pillars of the Vital Center and relate them to Gillon’s main paradox.

Containment Quiz Review

• Match each statement or quote with the containment policy/action it relates to

• A. Truman Doctrine• B. Marshall Plan• C. Berlin Airlift• D. Creation of NATO

• 1. “it must be the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”

• A. Truman DoctrineA. Truman Doctrine

• 2. This policy was “directed not against any country but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos”

• B. Marshall Plan

• 3. The Soviets felt that the true purpose of this policy was to draw Eastern European nations away from Soviet influence.

• B. Marshall Plan

• 4. Out of all the U.S. containment actions, this one most clearly signaled the United States’ complete shift from isolationism to internationalism

• D. Creation of NATO

• 5. In response to this policy, Stalin created the German Democratic Republic and formed his own economic and military pacts for Eastern European countries.

• D. Creation of NATO

• 6. This operation provided 2.5 million tons of provisions to millions of European citizens over the course of nearly a year.

• C. Berlin Airlift

• 7. According to most historians, this program was a rousing success which raised European industrial production by 200% between 1948 and 1952.

• B. Marshall Plan

• 8. Alliance with Western Europe pledging that “an armed attack against one or more…shall be considered an attack against them all”

• D. Creation of NATO

9. Truman chose this action in order to avoid beginning armed conflict with the Soviets, although he did utilize threats to finally end the Soviet blockade.

• C. Berlin Airlift

• 10.__This policy (rooted in the rhetoric of good vs. evil, free vs. unfree, and in the best interested of the American people) rallied the American public to their new status and defenders of the free world.

• A. Truman Doctrine

Economic Problems

• Soldiers returning home• Loss of jobs for those manufacturing military

goods• More People + Less Jobs= Bad News

Postwar America: Economic and Social Issues

• Paradox: Citizens expect President/Government to Citizens expect President/Government to

provide solutions to problemsprovide solutions to problemsvs.

Fear of expanding Federal Power and government intervention

Inflation• Problem: Individuals and companies rushed to spend

savings after War (had not spent much money over the last 17 years)->too much money for too few consumer goods leads to rising prices

• Truman: Limit inflation by continuing price controls and OPA

• Opposition: Conservatives wanted to eliminate wartime controls and let the market work itself out

• Results: Shortly after price controls ended, inflation rates grew even higher

• Connection: “Some economists and investors have warned that the government’s rescue plans and big stimulus spending will stoke inflation as the economy heals, setting off worries about the strength of the dollar and rising interest rates. “ NYT, August 15

Strikes• Problem: High Prices and job losses led labor unions to demand

higher wages. Nationwide railroad and mining strikes resulted in 1946

• Truman: Used government troops to take over the mines and railroads. Threatened to draft strikers into the army and nationalize businesses if workers/owners did not agree to terms. Asked Congress for permission to do so.

• Opposition: Liberals were angered by anti-union legislation because unionized workers were a main constituency of the Democratic party. However, conservatives in Congress passed over Truman’s veto of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, which limited labor unions.

• Results: Strike ended but it harmed Truman’s image. Democrats lost seats in 1946 election. Helped workers but also led towards union difficulties down the road.

• Connection: Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) proposed “Card Check.” which would make unionization automatic if more than 50% of employees sign the card.

Demobilization• Problem: When should servicemen return from overseas?• Truman: Wanted to maintain strong military presence

around the world• Opposition: Public wanted immediate demobilization. • Results: Seven million released from duty in less than a

year. G.I. Bill of 1944 allowed Vets to get college education, cheaper homes, start businesses, and receive unemployment benefits until they could find a job. Played a major role in the development of American society.

• Connection: War in Afghanistan: ““I and the American people cannot tolerate more troops without some commitment about when this perceived occupation will end” Senator Russ Feingold (D)

Healthcare• Problem: Many Americans in poor and rural areas

lacked healthcare. 15 million citizens without local hospital that meets minimum standards

• Truman: More hospitals and doctors, national standards, national insurance plan

• Opposition: American Medical Association claimed national insurance plan was socialized medicine

• Result: Health Standards came as part of an expansion of Social Security, but the bill for national coverage failed in Congress

• Connection: AMA still opposes universal healthcare reform (favors private insurers)

Fear of Communism• Problem: Heightened fear of communism/Soviets due to

Soviet atomic bomb, spies, and communist governments in Eastern Europe and China.

• Truman: Took a hard line against communism. Pushed through National Security Act and Federal Employee Loyalty Program

• Opposition: Radical liberals such as Henry Wallace felt he went too far and preferred cooperation with communists. Republicans lead the House Un-American Activities Committee(HUAC) and begin to investigate federal employees.

• Result: Unions purged communists from their ranks and anticommunist hysteria continued to grow past the 1948 election. Many federal employees lost their jobs.

• Connection: Fear of radical Islam

Civil Rights

• Problem: Blacks and other minorities felt deprived of their rights as citizens. Felt betrayed by a nation which purported to stand for freedom/democracy but denied rights to many of its citizens.

• Truman: Created committee on civil rights, Executive Order 9981 ending racial discrimination in military, made civil rights the backbone of his campaign

• Opposition: Strom Thurmond and the States’ Rights Party (Dixiecrats) supported segregation and prevented laws from being passed.

• Result: Truman successfully won Democratic nomination but the “Dixiecrat” party split off. Backbone of continuing Civil Rights legislation throughout the next 20 years

• Connection: Henry Louis Gates arrest, Gay marriage

Ideological Direction of Govt’

• Problem: Disagreement over U.S. pursuing liberal reforms or conservative values

• Truman: Pursued strategy of “militant liberalism” and strong anticommunism

• Opposition: Henry Wallace and Progressives advocated liberal reforms but also cooperation with Soviets, conservatives passed Taft-Hartley Act and frustrated Truman’s reforms

• Result: Democrats split heading towards 1948 election, Republicans seemed to have the upper hand after gaining control of Congress in the 1946 midterm elections.

• Connection: Obama ran on platform of change but faces criticism for being too liberal or being too centrist.

Democratic Party Split

• Democrats: Truman won the party ticket through a combination of militant liberalism and anticommunism

• Progressives: Very liberal, communist sympathies, cooperation with Soviets

• State’s Rights Democratic: Segregationist, against expansion of federal power

• Republicans: Split between moderates, such as candidate Thomas Dewey, and far right conservatives such as Robert Taft.

1948 Election1948 Election

• Republican Party: Thomas E. Dewey• Democratic Party: Harry Truman• Progressives: Henry Wallace• States’ Rights Democratic: Strom Thurmond

1948 candidates

Henry Wallace Progressive Party

1. very liberal 2. more New

Deal,3. cooperation

with USSR4. Civil rights

Harry Truman Democratic Party

1. liberal 2. Fair Deal,3. Containme

nt of USSR4. Civil Rights

Thomas Dewey Republican Party

1. conservative

2. Smaller gov’t lower taxes,

3. Confront USSR

4. Anti-union

Strom Thurmond States’ Rights Democratic Party

1. Socially conservative

2. Opposed to civil rights

3. Confront USSR4. Opposed to civil

rights

49.6%49.6%

WinnerWinner

2.4%2.4%

0% electoral vote0% electoral vote

45.1%45.1%

35.5% electoral 35.5% electoral votevote

2.4%2.4%

7.5% electoral vote7.5% electoral vote

1948 Election1948 Election

Essential Questions

1. Why was Truman’s Victory such a surprise? How was he able to defeat Dewey? (45-48)

2. What provisions of Truman’s Fair Deal succeeded? What parts failed? Why? (48-50) Complete Chart top of pg. 16 of packet

3. Describe the three “assumptions” or “pillars” of the Vital Center. How do they relate to Gillon’s paradox? Complete Chart bottom of pg. 16 of packet

PP 14 - Truman’s Fair Deal – Jan. 5, 1949Proposal Provisions Did it pass? Why?

Minimum wage increase

Increase wage to .75 cents

Passed people wanted it - just extended a New Deal policy people already liked

External rent controls

Temporary fixed price for 1947

Passed because of housing shortage post WWII

Displaced Person’s Act

400,000 refugees allowed in

Passed due to guilt and altruism

National Housing Act 1949

810,000 new low income housing units built with Fed $

Passed – housing pressure on localities and good for veterans

Increase in social security

80% increase in benefits and 10 ½ million more eligible

Passed – continuation of popular New Deal plan

PP 14 - Truman’s Fair Deal – Jan. 5, 1949Proposal Provisions Did it pass? Why?

Aid to education

Money to improve schools

Failed – too liberal and too costly

Crop subsidies

Money to help farmers Failed – too liberal

Repeal of Taft-Hartley act

End limits on organized labor

Failed – people still anti-strikes and anti-communist

Ntnl health plan

Federal gov’t to pay doctors

Failed, too liberal - called socialist

Civil rights Anti-lynching, end poll tax, protect blacks, end disc in work

Failed – Dixiecrats and most Republicans opposed

The Vital CenterEconomic Growth

Growth in the economy due to capitalist activity will lead to employment and productivity increases which will lead to socio-economic equality, the end of class divisions, create social harmony and provide money for social programs

Gov’t action to promote economic growth in the private sector will provide money through taxes for increased social welfare spending by gov’t – operationally liberal – philosophically conservative

Foreign affairs

Interventionist internationalism to contain communism and soviet power

Wanted the troops brought home, low taxes and a focus on domestic issues but needed to keep the commies down & out.Wanted smaller gov’t but blamed Truman for losing China and Korea

Prosperity With the economy doing well every boat would rise. The people will be consensual, standard of living will rise, farmers, workers, businesses will do better and everyone will be happy.

High expectations were unmet leading to increased social, class and race tensions as well as ideological divisions

Conclusion

• As a whole, briefly describe Harry Truman’s political beliefs and identify the main issues he fought for in office (All of Chapter 2)