Chapter 26: Truman and the Cold War 1945-1952

Question 1

GI Bill of Rights/Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (1944)

Answer 1

Proved a powerful support during the transition of 15 million veterans to a peacetime economy
~More than half of the GI’s seized the opportunity afforded by the GI Bill to continue their education at the government’s expense
~Also received $16 billion in low interest government backed loans to buy homes and farms and to start businesses

Question 2

Baby Boom

Answer 2

A sign of the basic confidence of the post war era was an explosion in marriages and births
~Younger marriages and larger families resulted in 50 million babies entered the U.S. population
~Tended to focus on a woman’s attention on raising children and homemaking

Question 3

Levittown

Answer 3

A project of 17000 mass produced, low priced family homes on Long Island, New York
~Promoted the development of this post war suburbia

Question 4

Sunbelt

Answer 4

Refers to the states which had a warmer climate, lower taxes, and economic opportunities in defense related industries
~Many GI’s moved to these states ranging from Florida to California

Question 5

22nd Amendment

Answer 5

Limits a president to only two terms in office max

Question 6

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)

Answer 6

A pro-business measure taken by Congress
~Passed by Congress over Truman’s veto
~Its provisions included:
1. Outlawed the closed shop (a contract providing that workers joined a union before being hired)
2. Permitting states to pass “right-to-work” laws outlawing the union shop (a contract requiring workers to join a union after being hired)
3. Outlawing secondary boycotts
4. Giving the president the power to invoke an 80 day cooling off period before a strike endangering the national safety could be called

Question 7

Fair Deal

Answer 7

An ambitious reform program enacting by Truman
~Called on Congress to enact national health care insurance, federal aid to education, civil rights legislation, funds for public housing and a new farm program
~Most Fair Deal bills were defeated for two reasons
1. Truman’s political conflicts with Congress
2. The pressing foreign policy concerns of the Cold War

Question 8

The Cold War

Answer 8

Centered around the intense rivalry between two superpowers, the USSR and the U.S.
~Usually conducted by means of short armed conflict but in several instances, nuclear war was imminent

Question 9

UN Security Council

Answer 9

A 15 member security council given the responsibility for maintaining international security and authorizing peacekeeping missions
~The five major allies of wartime-the U.S., Great Britain, France, China, the USSR-were granted permanent seats and veto power in the council