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Truman and the Election of 1948

Explore the post-World War II challenges faced by Truman, including demobilization, labor unrest, the Taft-Hartley Act, GI Bill of Rights, Fair Deal, civil rights, and the surprising outcome of the 1948 election.

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Truman and the Election of 1948

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  1. Truman and the Election of 1948

  2. Postwar AdjustmentsDomestic • After the war 10million service men and women are demobilized • Economy changed from war production to consumer goods • Women leave workforce in large numbers 3million • Labor unrest- unions end wartime promise to stop strikes, wave of strikes occurs • After mine workers strike for 45days Truman proposes that the government be allowed to take control of essential industries that are struggling because of strikes • This alienates unions

  3. Taft-Hartly Act • Republicans in control of both houses of congress- want a conservative government • Lower taxes • Reduce government regulation • Support for business • Anti-Union reduce the powers of the Unions to aid businesses • Ends price controls passed during the war • Truman vetoes but is overridden • This regains unions trust in Truman

  4. GI Bill of Rights • Servicemen’s readjustment act 1944 (GI bill) Benefits offered by the government to help returning soldiers • Housing support and loans • Education funding • Job training • Business loans

  5. Fair Deal • Liberal programs similar to New Deal (Truman) • Hiked minimum wage • Provided more public housing, boadens social security • Was limited and refused by the Republican Congress 1946

  6. Truman and Civil Rights • The “serious gap between our ideals and some of our practices…must be closed” • War was fought for freedom- freedom should be available at home • Soldiers don’t like racism in the US • Postwar trend in US is against intolerance especially after Nazi racism came out at the Nuremburg Trials

  7. Civil Rights • 1948 Orders an end to segregation in the armed forces and civil services • This is a big step in early struggle for an end to discrimination

  8. Election 1948 • Southern Democrats leave the national party in response to Truman’s support for Civil Rights • Dixicrats- Strom Thurmond- South Carolina Senator runs for president • Dewey Runs for Republicans

  9. Thomas E. Dewey • Moderate republican candidate • Thought Truman had no chance of winning • Campaign was laid back and dull • Seemed to have the effort of someone who appreared to believe that he was already president

  10. Harry Truman • Spirited campaign • “whistle stop” train campaign • 201 stops • “a vote for republicans was a vote to turn back the new Deal” • Attacked “no good do nothing 80th congress” • Crowds become large and enthusiastic nickname is “give ‘em hell, Harry”

  11. Election • Elmo Roper, pollster stopped polling nearly 2months before the election • “my whole inclination is to predict the election of Thomas E. Dewey by a heavy margin, and devote my time and efforts to other things.”

  12. Election Results • Dewey’s win predicted, even Chicago Daily Tribune went to press with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” • Truman wins by a landslide!

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