truman's domestic policy Flashcards
economic and social policy (truman's fair deal)
what four issues did truman have?
- the lack of support from a republican congress (1946-48)
- economy was set to decline because of the end of WW2
- industrial unrest and action
- mccarthyism
what did the GI bill provide for returning soldiers?
- $20 billion to returning troops
- 90% of mortgages
- one year of unemployment relief
- loans for college educaion
what did the baby boom do? 1945-50
- stimulated housing growth
- prompted the creation of housing sites and suburbs, e.g. levitown
what percentage of inflation was there between 1945-46?
25%
how many steel workers and coal miners were on strike in 1946?
- steel workers: 750,000
- coal miners: 340,000
how did the government react to the industrial strikes?
- the Taft Hartley Act: restricts activities and power of trade unions, unions had to give 80 days’ notice before undertaking a strike
who was mccarthy?
an outspoken republican who was instrumental in spreading the red scare throughout america
what did mccarthy claim?
- the US state department and the armed forces were infiltrated by communists
- the truman administration was too soft on communism
- truman was negligent in china
how many people did truman extend social security to because of the fair deal?
1 million more
what did minimum wage increase to?
45c to 75c per hour
how many more americans were employed under truman?
4 million more employed
what did poverty decrease to?
33% to 28% as a result of truman’s policies
what happened to truman’s education reforms?
they were blocked and prevented by individual states
what happened to african americans because of the national housing act?
conditions in ghettos worsened and their welfare did not increase
how many houses did truman get built, and how many did he promise?
156,000 built but 810,000 promised
