Introduction
- Harry S Truman succeeded Roosevelt in April 1945 as president
- He rose to the challenge of the task and by sheer hard work courage and breezy individualism earned a worldwide reputation
Fair deal
- Soon after japan surrender – fair deal was submitted by Truman to the congress
- It was a domestic programme which was a reminiscent of the new deal of mid thirties
- It included –
- full employment legislation
- public housing
- farm price supports
- nationalization of atomic energy
- health insurance
- a permanent fair employment practices commission
- regional flood control
- hydroelectric projects
- federal aid to education
- Certain suggestions of Truman were accepted by the congress with modifications and certain others were ignored
- The chief accomplishments of Truman administration in the domestic sphere
- Maximum employment act 1946
- Democrats had pledged full employment after the war
- The administration introduced the full employment bill
- It was the responsibility of the federal government to maintain the nation’s economic health
- However the congress did not pass the proposed bill and instead a compromise bill known as the maximum employment act was passed in early 1946
- By this act prevention of large scale unemployment was made the fundamental national policy
- A council of economic advisers composed of three members was set up which was to report to the president on the economic state of the nation every three months
- It suggested a continuous effort to watch over the national economy and to prevent serious depression
- The atomic energy act 1946
- Passed in august 1946
- It ended military control and set up civilian commission with broad powers to control research and manufacture of fissionable materials
- Demobilization of military
- The clamour for demobilization was so great that USA faced the danger of having insufficient soldiers to occupy the defeated countries
- Hence in 1946 the first peace time draft was passed which allowed the conscription of men over 18 for one year
- G.I bill of rights
In 1944 the congress passed the servicemen’s readjustment act popularly known as the G.I bill of rights
It assisted the veterans in a variety of ways to find employment, education and medical care
Under the provision of this bill the veterans were provided
- Unemployment insurance of $20 per week for fifty two weeks
- Government guaranteed loans for business or home building purpose
- Free education in colleges or vocational schools
- It was a brilliant measure rendering several million young Americans better prepared to cope with life in an atomic age
