Comparing Truman And The Cold War
Truman and the Cold War
I. Postwar Domestic Adjustments A. Initial faltering economy – inflation rises, GDP down, strikes 1. Taft-Hartley Act – put limits on labor unions a. Outlawed closed shop, labor leaders take non-Communist oath 2. Sold war factories cheaply to private companies 3. G.I. Bill – paid for school for soldiers; home, farm, and small business loans B. GDP growth lasts next two decades – Americans – 6% of population controlled 40% of earth’s $ 1. Middle class doubles, home ownership increases 2. Not touched by war – America dominates ruined global landscape 3. Rising education level, better technology, workforce leaves agriculture 4. Move to suburbs – massive baby boom
II. Civil Rights - war …show more content…
Form Dixiecrats – States Right – nominated Governor Strom Thurmond of S. Carolina 2. Vice-President Henry Wallace enters election for Progressive Party – pro-Soviet platform 3. Harry delivers 300 “give ‘em hell Harry” speeches – Republican Dewey should have won a. Chicago Tribune ran newspaper – Dewey Defeats Truman – but…farmers, workers, blacks not interested with Republicans
III. Containment in Europe and the Middle East A. Truman Doctrine - $400 million for Greece and Turkey – help fight Communism 1. Bigger issue – protect any “free peoples” from outside Communist pressure a. Problem – any tyrant can claim Communist threat and get help B. Marshall Plan – 1) make capitalism attractive, resist Communism 2) help rebuild Europe 1. $12.5 billion – reverse of Versailles – helps nations rebuild – became economic miracle C. Berlin crisis – Berlin divided among four allied powers – France, England, Britain, Russia 1. Becomes East and West Berlin – Russia wants Eastern Europe as “satellite nation” 2. 1948 – Soviets cut off train/highway access – Allies respond w/ massive airlift a. Symbolic importance – America determined to protect interests D. NATO – 12 original say an attack on one is an attack on all – isolationists
I. Postwar Domestic Adjustments A. Initial faltering economy – inflation rises, GDP down, strikes 1. Taft-Hartley Act – put limits on labor unions a. Outlawed closed shop, labor leaders take non-Communist oath 2. Sold war factories cheaply to private companies 3. G.I. Bill – paid for school for soldiers; home, farm, and small business loans B. GDP growth lasts next two decades – Americans – 6% of population controlled 40% of earth’s $ 1. Middle class doubles, home ownership increases 2. Not touched by war – America dominates ruined global landscape 3. Rising education level, better technology, workforce leaves agriculture 4. Move to suburbs – massive baby boom
II. Civil Rights - war …show more content…
Form Dixiecrats – States Right – nominated Governor Strom Thurmond of S. Carolina 2. Vice-President Henry Wallace enters election for Progressive Party – pro-Soviet platform 3. Harry delivers 300 “give ‘em hell Harry” speeches – Republican Dewey should have won a. Chicago Tribune ran newspaper – Dewey Defeats Truman – but…farmers, workers, blacks not interested with Republicans
III. Containment in Europe and the Middle East A. Truman Doctrine - $400 million for Greece and Turkey – help fight Communism 1. Bigger issue – protect any “free peoples” from outside Communist pressure a. Problem – any tyrant can claim Communist threat and get help B. Marshall Plan – 1) make capitalism attractive, resist Communism 2) help rebuild Europe 1. $12.5 billion – reverse of Versailles – helps nations rebuild – became economic miracle C. Berlin crisis – Berlin divided among four allied powers – France, England, Britain, Russia 1. Becomes East and West Berlin – Russia wants Eastern Europe as “satellite nation” 2. 1948 – Soviets cut off train/highway access – Allies respond w/ massive airlift a. Symbolic importance – America determined to protect interests D. NATO – 12 original say an attack on one is an attack on all – isolationists