Am His AP Review.pdf - yourhomework.com Home Page

Growth of Organized Labor – A labor/management conference agreed (after PH) to a nostrike/lockout pledge to guarantee war production. The NWLB was then created to overseeany disputes – unions were allowed, but workers couldn’t be forced into them either. It wasn’tall good, though, b/c when the NWLB tried to limit wage increases in 1943, workers struck bigtime, leading to the War Labor (Smith-Connally) Act (1943), which gave the presidentauthority to seize and operate plants w/strikes if needed for nat’l security, and gave the NWLBthe authority to settle disputes for the duration of the war. Growth of the Federal Gov’t – The gov’t increased both its size and power during the war, esp.the executive branch, which now also had to manage the labor supply and control inflation. Japanese Internment – Also as a result of the war, thousands of Japanese citizens were“relocated” to internment camps. Opportunities for African Americans – Although blacks were able to find jobs in the military andin cities (Executive Order No. 8802 outlawed discrimination in defense industries), they stillfaced major problems and race riots in the cities (1943). Membership in civil rightsorganizations increased as a result. Opportunities for Women – In addition to being more involved in the actual army/navy action,women took new war production jobs.- So there you have it. No more outlining of the book for me tonight, sorry. This will have to be a short one.Postwar America (1945 – 1961)*Truman’s First Term: Domestic Policies*- Truman had become President after FDR’s death, and was subsequently the one who had to face thepossible economic consequences of demobilization – as war contracts were cancelled and price controlsremoved, cutbacks in production led to layoffs and inflation.- Truman responded by decided to combat unemployment through expansion on the New Deal programslike unemployment compensation, minimum wage, farm supports, public works, and so on. He also broughtback the idea of FDR’s Economic Bill of Rights (everyone deserves a job).- It turned out, though, that while there was temporary high unemployment the economy remained stableand even boomed! Why? People had saved up during the war, and easy credit promoted buying. The onlybig problem was inflation, spurred by shortages of goods and housing.- However, inflation soon led to a decline in real income (purchasing power), so workers becamediscontented b/c they felt they weren’t sharing in the widespread prosperity. In 1946, unions responded byordering nationwide shutdowns and strikes.- This further limited production and created more inflation, so many people began to get very pissed at theunions, including Truman, who declared to Congress that if an industry vital to nat’l security refused to returnto work, all the workers would be drafted into the army. This really angered labor, though!- Another debacle occurred w/Truman’s handling of the OPA (price controls), which big business &consumers wanted lifted. When they did expire, however, inflation rose further. People blamed Truman,leading to the Republican majority in both houses in the 1946 elections.- Taft-Hartley Act (1947) Prohibited the closed shop (union only), permitted states to ban union-shopagreements, forbade union contributions to candidates in federal elections, forced union leaders to swear inaffidavits that they were not communists, and mandated an 80 day cooling off period before carrying outstrikes. This enraged labor, but helped Truman, who was vindicated in their eyes through his veto.- The Republican Congress also offended other groups, like farm organization, with their obliviousness topublic demands. Still, though, it seemed like they had a sure Presidential victory.*Truman’s Second Term: Domestic Policies*- Anyway, in the Presidential Election of 1948, in addition to the Republican candidate, Thomas Dewey(G-NY), Truman faced two other parties: (1) the Progressive Party, which advocated friendly relationshipsw/the USSR, racial desegregation, and the nationalization of basic industries and ran Henry Wallace, aNew Dealer who had been fired by Truman for criticizing US foreign policy and (2) the Dixiecrats, who ranStrom Thurmond of SC and consisted of anti-civil rights Southerners.- So, basically, most people felt that Truman was totally screwed. As a last ditch tactic, he called the allRepublican Congress into a special session and challenged it to enact all their plans. They did nothing in theend, giving Truman the opportunity to go around the country taking about the “do-nothing” Congress.- And Truman won! Why? Well, the US was doing well economically, at peace, and united on foreign policy.Plus, the ND coalition – blacks, union members, urban ethnics, and most of the South – still remained, andfarmers joined as they worried the Republicans would lower price supports.69