H Truman - Full employment bill and labour relations Flashcards
When did Truman become president?
In April 1945, following the death of FDR.
What was Truman responsible for?
A series of policies at home and abroad which brought about post-war construction.
Describe Truman’s entry into presidency.
He had little experience and was not seen as FDR’s obvious successor.
What did Truman believe the USA was the world’s best hope for?
Peace and prosperity. He believed that this hope could be realised if the USA developed a political and social system that was an example to the rest of the world.
What did Truman realise about the American people?
Not all Americans lived in prosperity. He aimed to widen the scope of the New Deal, proposing, in 1945, wide-ranging reforms of housing and health care.
What was Truman’s immediate concern?
The matter of employment. In 1945, he introduced the Full Employment Bill to Congress.
What did the Full Employment Bill declare?
It declared employment to be a right and required the government to ensure that jobs were available.
What did the Full Employment Bill also include?
- It increased the dole
- Included a higher minimum wage
- Farm price supports
- Public works programme
However was the Full Employment Bill a complete success?
No, Congress was to water down many of Truman’s proposals.
What had WW2 brought about in the economy? What did this lead to?
Inflation. This encouraged union leaders to call strikes demanding wage rises.
What did Truman do in November 1945 against the strikes?
He called a special labour-management conference in an attempt to prevent further strike action but the conference ended without agreement.
What happened in April and May 1945?
April - the United Mine Workers came out on strike for a pay increase.
May - the railroads were hit by strikes.
What firm action did Truman take against the strikes in 1945?
He announced that he would conscript the railroad workers and have the army run the railroads.
What legislation did Truman want to introduce against the strikes?
Legislation that would restrict the right to strike against the government and would impose severe penalties on those that broke the law.
What was the result of Truman’s firm stance on the strikes?
His firm stance proved unnecessary because the rail strike was called off. He had demonstrated the continued hostility of the Federal government to labour and strike action.
