Transcript Section 1 - Adjusting to Peace - Waverly

Exploring American
History
Unit X – Post War America
Chapter 27 – Section 1
Adjusting to Peace
Adjusting to Peace
The Big Idea
After World War II, Americans adjusted to new challenges
both at home and around the world.
Main Ideas
• As World War II ended, leaders began planning the future
of the postwar world.
• The United States and the Soviet Union went from being
allies to enemies after World War II.
• Americans adjusted to postwar life.
Harry S. Truman: One of America's Most Effective Presidents (02:58)
Main Idea 1:
As World War II ended, leaders began planning
the future of the postwar world.
Yalta
Conference
Potsdam
Conference
• Leaders met to
discuss
Europe’s
future.
• Allied leaders
divided
conquered
Germany into
four zones.
• Supported
creation of
international
peacekeeping
organization
• Agreed on free
elections for
countries
liberated from
German control
• Britain, France,
the United
States, and the
Soviet Union
would each
control one zone.
• Berlin also
divided into
four zones
War Crimes Trials
• The Nuremberg
trials put highranking Nazi
officials on trial.
• The International
Military Tribunal
of the Far East
put Japanese
officials on trial.
• Established that
individuals must
be held
responsible for
committing war
crimes, even when
acting on behalf of
a government
Yalta Conference -February 12, 1945 (02:42)
Military Leaders Face Trial for War Crimes (01:20)
The Nuremburg Trials and the Lessons of World War II (00:49)
The United Nations

In 1944, American, British, Soviet, and Chinese
representatives met to draft a plan for the United
Nations– an organization dedicated to resolving
international conflicts.

In 1945, representatives from 50 countries met
to write the UN Charter.

One of its first major actions was to divide
Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states.

May 14, 1948– Jewish leaders announced the
creation of nation of Israel.

Arab leaders protested and invaded.

Israeli forces drove Arabs back and a truce was
made.
The Birth of the United Nations and Post-War Recovery (01:51)
The Future of the Postwar World



Recall – What was the result of
the Potsdam Conference?
Analyze – What legal principle
was established at the
Nuremberg and Japanese
International Military Tribunals?
Evaluate – Why do you think
France was not represented at
the Yalta Conference?
The Future of the Postwar World


Explain – For what purpose
was the United Nations
founded?
Summarize – How did Israel
become an independent nation?
Main Idea 2:
The United States and the Soviet Union went from being
allies to enemies after World War II.
From Allies to Enemies

After the war, differences arose between United States and
Soviet Union.

Americans committed to capitalism and democracy

Soviets hoped to spread communism around the world.
The Iron Curtain

Stalin established Communist governments in Poland and Eastern Europe,
cutting them off from the rest of the world.


The term iron curtain came to be used to describe this division.
The phrase Cold War came to be used to describe the struggle for global
power between the Soviet Union and the United States.
The Cold War Begins (04:51)
U.S. Foreign Policy
Goal– containment, or preventing the Soviet Union from
expanding its influence around the world
Truman Doctrine– policy of providing aid to help foreign
countries fight communism
Marshall Plan– Western Europe received more than $13 billion
in U.S. loans and grants for European economic recovery
between 1948 and 1952.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization– a coalition of the United
States, nine Western European countries, Canada, and Iceland.
– Members promised to defend each other if attacked.
– Soviet Union responded by creating Warsaw Pact, a military
alliance with its Eastern European satellite countries.
The Truman Doctrine (02:37)
The Marshall Plan (03:05)
Berlin Airlift - June 30, 1948 (02:46)
From Allies to Enemies



Describe – What was the purpose of
the Truman Doctrine?
Make Inferences – How did the
Marshall fit with the goals of the
Truman Doctrine?
Evaluate – Why do you think Soviet
Leaders did not Eastern European
nations to accept aid from the
Marshall Plan ?
Main Idea 3:
Americans adjusted to postwar life.
Economy
Labor

Government urged women to give up their jobs once
veterans returned.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, or GI Bill of Rights,
offered veterans money for school, as well as loans for
houses, farms, and businesses.

Inflation rose as people rushed to buy products that were
limited during war.

More than 35 percent of non-farm workers were union
members in 1946.

With inflation on rise, many went on strike.

Labor unions became a major political problem.

Government worked to reduce power of labor unions.

Passed the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947 that outlawed closed shops,
or business that could hire only union members.
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G.I. Bill- Servicemen’s Readjustment Act
"That GI Bill was the best piece of
legislation ever passed by the US
Congress, and it made modern
America. The educational
establishment boomed. The
suburbs, starting with Levittown
and others, were paid by GIs
borrowing on their GI Bill at a
very low interest rate. Thousands
and thousands of small
businesses were started in this
country and are still there thanks
to the loans from the GI Bill. It
transformed our country." —
Historian Steven Ambrose
G.I. Bill of Rights

Revolutionary War



Veterans' benefits- life-long pensions for
disabled veterans and dependents of
soldiers killed in battle.
June 22, 1944- "Servicemen's
Readjustment Act of 1944," or"GI
Bill of Rights.”


War of 1812, the Mexican War,
the Civil War, the Indian wars,
and the Spanish-American War




Benefits- common type was
"mustering out" pay. Also land grants
to vets.
 Rehabilitation Act of 1919

veterans disabled in World War I a
monthly education assistance allowance

education and training
loan guaranty for a home, farm, or business
unemployment pay of $20 a week for up to 52
weeks
job-finding assistance
top priority for building materials for VA
hospitals
military review of dishonorable discharges

World War II veteran had to serve 90 days or
more after Sept. 16, 1940.

Total cost of the World War II education
program was $14.5 billion





$500 a year for tuition, books, fees, and other training
costs.
2,230,000 in college
3,480,000 in other schools
1,400,000 in on-job training
690,000 in farm training
G.I. Bill of Rights

Korean Conflict GI Bill

Public Law 550, the "Veterans Readjustment
Assistance Act of 1952, " was approved by
President Truman on July 16, 1952. To be
eligible for Korean GI Bill benefits, a veteran
had to:

Post-Korean - Vietnam Era GI
Bill

Home and farm loans, job counseling,
and an employment placement service
were other benefits provided to veterans,
who served between August 5, 1964,
and May 7, 1975. Veterans had to serve
more than 180 continuous days.

By 1984 Veterans were receiving about
$376/month for education- training,
books and tuition.


serve 90 days or more after June 27,
1950,

enter service before Feb. 1, 1955, and

receive an other than dishonorable
discharge.
Total cost of the Korean Conflict GI Bill
education and training program was $4.5
billion.

1,213,000 in institutions of higher
learning

860,000 in other schools

223,000 on the job

95,000 in institutional on-farm training

VA spent more than $42 billion during
this time to provide educational
assistance.

5.1 million in colleges
2.5 million in other schools
591,000 on the job

56,000 in on farm training


G.I. Bill of Rights

Current Montgomery GI
Bill--Active Duty (MGIB):






To help the members of the Armed Forces
adjust to civilian life after separation from
service
To give those who cannot afford a higher
education the chance to get one
To restore lost educational opportunities and
vocational readjustment to service members
who lost these opportunities as the result of
their active military duty
To promote and assist the All-Volunteer
Force program of the Armed Forces
To aid in the retention of personnel in the
Armed Forces
To enhance our Nation's competitiveness
through the development of a more highly
educated and productive work force

The following briefly summarizes
major MGIB provisions:







Served on active duty after June 30,
1985.
Must fulfill one's basic service
obligation.
Must have completed high school.
Received an honorable discharge.
Maximum entitlement is 36 months.
Additional "kicker" as determined by
DOD.
Generally must use benefits within
10 years following discharge.
Civil Rights after the War

African American veterans faced
segregation and prejudice at home.


Truman appointed Committee on Civil
Rights to investigate discrimination and
suggest solutions.


Helped lead a major effort to gain equal rights
Congress failed to act on the committee’s
report.
In 1948 Truman issued an executive
order to

End segregation in the armed forces, and

Ban discrimination in the hiring of federal
employees.
Executive Order 9981



Executive Order No. 9981 issued by
President Truman provided for
"equality of treatment and
opportunity in the armed forces
without regard to race, color,
religion, or national origin."
This was the first time that a
president used an executive order
to implement civil rights principles
and was a major victory for civil
rights advocates in the quest for full
citizenship.
Despite these orders, full
integration of African Americans in
the armed services was carried out
slowly. It was not until the end of the
Korean conflict that full integration
of the armed forces had been
achieved.
Taft-Hartley Act - 1947






When it was passed by Congress over
Truman’s veto, Truman denounced it as a
"slave-labor bill".
The act declared the closed shop illegal.
Permitted the union shop only after a vote
of a majority of the employees.
Forbade jurisdictional strikes and
secondary boycotts.
Forbade unions from contributing to political
campaigns and required union leaders to
affirm they were not supporters of the
Communist Party.
Gave the United States Attorney General
the power to obtain an 80 day injunction
when a threatened or actual strike that
he/she believed "imperiled the national
health or safety".
Election of 1948


President Truman faced many challenges for reelection.

Southern Democrats opposed his support for civil rights laws.

Republicans controlled Congress and felt their candidate, New
York governor Thomas Dewey, could beat Truman.
Truman took his case for reelection to the American people.

Traveled thousands of miles and gave hundreds of speeches

Defended his views and attacked Congress

In 1948 election, Truman won a surprise victory.

Urged Congress to support his plan for a package of domestic
programs called the Fair Deal

Congress approved some parts, including higher minimum wage
and expanded Social Security benefits.

Congress rejected other parts, including civil rights legislation.
Election of 1948 and Thomas E. Dewey

Election of 1948-World Issues,
shortages, strikes,

Democrat Candidate- Truman - IssuesRepeal Taft-Hartly, Act; Recognize Israel:
Strong Civil Rights legislation needed (an
issue that split the party); Anti-lynching;
Fair employment and end segregation in
military.

The upheaval at the July convention led
to Democratic splinter-party presidential
candidates: J. Strom Thurmond ran on
the State's Rights ticket, known more
familiarly as the "Dixiecrats," and Henry
Wallace ran on the Progressive Ticket(Convinced that liberals and Communists
could work together. Repeal the draft;
strong civil rights; cooperate with Russia;
ban the bomb.)

Republican Candidate- Dewey - Issues“Time for a change”; Approved some
New Deal policies; and wanted bipartisan foreign policy
The Election
By election day, the polls showed that Truman had managed to cut Dewey's
lead, but all media sources still believed Dewey would win by a landslide.
As the reports filtered in that night, Truman was ahead in the popular votes, but
the newscasters still believed Truman didn't have a chance.
By four the next morning, Truman's success seemed undeniable. At 10:14 a.m.,
Dewey conceded the election to Truman. The final results:
Popular
States
Electoral
Harry S. Truman:
24,105,812
28
303
Thomas E. Dewey:
21,970,065
16
189
Strom Thurmond:
1,169,021
4
39
Henry A. Wallace:
1,157,172
0
0
Fair Deal

New civil rights legislation

Federal housing programs

Unemployment insurance benefits

New tax cuts for the poor

Federal funding for education

A federal health care and health
insurance program
In the end, Truman's attempt to introduce
his Fair Deal was largely a failure. Few of
his initiatives became law. Congress
refused to create a national health care
program, did little to reform education
(with the exception of the G. I. Bill),
extended unemployment benefits only
slightly, and put off new civil rights
legislation.

Postwar America



Describe – What happened to the
American economy at the end of the
war?
Recall – What was another name for
the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act
and what was its purpose?
Predict – How do you think women
who had been employed in good
paying jobs during the war might
have felt about the government’s
request that they give up their jobs?
Postwar America



Recall – How did President Truman
end the 1946 mine and railroad
strikes?
Summarize – How did Truman
advance the civil rights movement?
Develop – Why do you think the
president decided to issue an
executive order to end segregation in
the armed forces?
Postwar America


Summarize – What was the
Fair Deal?
Evaluate – Why do you think
Truman used the term Fair Deal
for his domestic policy?