MYP Unit Question: How can the contributions of one person affect the direction of an entire nation?
Guiding Question: How did Culture and the Role of the President Shape Post-WWII America?
The 1940s
Harry Truman
Hong Yoon
Anurag Gudeti
Karunakar Samuel
Jan Moeller
Dane Bell
Business & the Economy
During the early 1940s, theUnited Stateswas facing many problems in the sense of the business and economical sense. When WWII started, there were many other reasons to fear that the country may lose even more money. FDR managed to squeeze the country through these problems, and after the war was over unemployment rates were lower than ever before, and wages were at record highs. All in all there was not much to fear in the economy or for businesses. Harry Truman decided to use a new bill called, the GI Bill. This bill would help soldiers who were returning from the war, find new jobs and get into college. The bill was created, because it was feared that when the soldiers retuned home, the unemployment rates would raise.
After the war was over, Americans were buying like never before. There was no reason to stop spending. The economy was doing great, businesses were booming, and people were making money like never before. Cars, refrigerators, and televisions were among the top items bought by consumers during this time.
Even though everything seemed good inAmerica, around the rest of the world, economic areas were being closed off to American trade. Bankers and politicians tried to agree on certain terms to try and get the other countries to start trade once again. Many different world organizations were opened to help regulate the world economy. To the misfortune ofAmerica, theSoviet Unionrefused to help in any way to contribute to the rebuilding of the world economy. Many eastern-European countries were closed off from the rest of the world behind theSoviet Union. It was called the “Iron Curtain”. Now the Cold War was ready to begin, and the economy and businesses would no longer be the same for many year
Education
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act, also known as theGI Bill of Rightsentitled returning soldiers to a college education. In 1949, three times as many college degrees were earned as in 1940. College was now available not only to the rich, but also the capable.
Fashion
Until the War Production Department restricted the amount of cloth used in the apparel of both men and women, the “zoot suit” was a popular fad among young, bold men, with the convertible suit, serving as both a formal or casual outfit, being popular among women. To give the illusion of the at-the-time unavailable silk stockings, women sometimes drew black lines on the back of their legs with eyeliner to appear like the seam in the back of stockings. As women slowly became integrated into the workforce, slacks became an acceptable attire as well.
After the war and its clothing restriction ended, Dior introduced the New Look- long, full skirts with tight waists. At this time, heels were heightened, hair was curled, and make-up became socially acceptable. Also, the women’s sweater became more popular.
Theatre and Film
Theater gradually shifted toward the bizarre and incomprehensible abstraction. Film production increased dramatically during the 1940’s. After the Office of War declared film an important part of American morale and propaganda movie production increased dramatically. As such, these movies focused on morals with the flatly-characterized villains being either the Japanese or the Germans. At this time, many activists were also fighting for Blacks to have better roles. This era of increased film production ended when the television was introduced in 1948.
Food & Drink
Everyone was crazy for M&M's in the 1940's. Also because the 1940's was right after World War II, food was scarce and also jobs were needed. Fast food became popular at this time because it was cheap and easier to buy than making your own food at home. Dunkin' Donuts also opened up in the 1940's as well as McDonald's, and pizza places. Most people wanted quick and fast food without wanting to make the food, wash the plates and since there were people willing to work for money because they needed jobs, fast food was the easiest way to get food.
Print Culture
World War II, which occurred between 1935-1945 dominated the print media. American newspapers and magazines focused on bringing news to almost every citizen of the United States. About thirty-seven American reporters were killed in the battlefield while trying to get their stories.
1940s was the golden age of the comic book. Comic strips were extremely popular and it offered entertainment to every citizen, especially the teenagers. Most of the comic books were about superheroes such as the Green Lantern and Captain America.
Also, unlike in other decades, young readers could find magazines, books, and comic strips written specifially for them. Golden books provided young childrens colorful picture books, Highlight magazine offered educational reading entertainment, and Seventeen gave advice to young women on their teenage life.
Sports & Games
- Jackie Robinson becomes the world's best player in Baseball by having the most home-runs at the time
- Felix "Doc" Blanchard wins the Heisman Trophy for his outstanding play in college football
- Eddie Arcaro wins the Triple Crown in 1941 with his horse Whirlaway
Music
In the 1940’s music was mainly guitar based, rock and roll. Jazz and the blues were really big at the time and most people listened to them on radios and they liked to dance to the music. R&B started becoming popular in the 1940's. African Americans were also given opportunities to play music. Rock and Roll was also liked by many pepople. Many people started exploring new types of genres in music and there was a variety of music that was liked by everyone.
"They Way We Lived"
From 1929 to 1941, The Great Depression put millions of American into poverty. Over 40% of all American families were living in poverty. The Great Depression prepared them to endure the restrictions of food, clothing, and other items that were needed to help the war in 1940’s. Some people grew their own vegetables in “victory” gardens to supply food and save money. Even after the Great Depression, people kept living frugally even with the new jobs and the extra money to spend.
The Depression caused many people to delay their marriage. Many couples rushed to marry before soldiers left for the war. When the soldiers returned from the war, many couples moved to the suburbs and began expanding their family size by having lots of children which caused the baby boom. By the mid-1940s, the economy was prospering. People could find jobs easily, families were growing, and people began spending more money on entertainment and personal belongings such as cars and houses.
However, the end of World War II divided the world in two parts: democratic and communist. Countries with different political views distrusted one another therefore creating a general fear among people. This period of distrust and fear was called the “Cold War”.
Government & Politics
There were many changes that occurred during World War II that had an effect on the operation of American government and the law. But the most dramatic change in American political life was the rising power of the military. World War II brought sixteen million Americans into military service. After the war, the government was afraid that the country was under threat from the Soviet Union and other Communist nations. Therefore, they established the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Council to fight against them.
Harry S Truman became president when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in April 1945. He was committed to fairness and justice at home and abroad. Truman also became a champion of civil rights by helping to end the racist jim crow system in the South. However, one of his first acts as president was deciding to drop atomic bombs on Japan. Even though some criticism were made, this decision was influenced mainly by the outraged public who could not forgive Japan for bombing Pearl Harbor. He also became well known for the "Truman Doctrine," which promised to fund anticommunists in Europe.
Law & Justice
In the 1940s the citizens in the United States started to become prosperous again, but risk of conflicts with other nations increased as well. In the previous years, in the time of the Great Depression Roosevelt had bent the courts to his thinking. The entry of the United States in to World War II brought new legal questions related to world morality and politics.
Rumors of wide spread ethic slaughter began to filter out of Europe and the Far East midway through World War II and people began to think of legal responses to the carnage. They knew that this war was brutal and bloody by nature, but ever since the mid 19th century the law of war had developed certain rules. Most nations gave medical treatment to even the wounded enemy soldiers who had been taken prisoner. Also it was avoided to kill regular citizen, which should have made war more civilized.
However later rumors grew that thousands of Jewish and Slavic civilians were shipped to concentration camps in Nazi Germany, which caused allied countries to call for the prosecution of the responsible. This was the first time in the history of modern war that unarmed civilians were attacked by armed forces in Europe. Similar crimes had occurred during the Japanese occupation of Asia, which resulted in war-crime trials in both nations. The trials were held by the international community, which was led by the United States, but the trials could do nothing to punish the war crimes adequately.
The law in the United States was now interpreted by an increasingly younger and liberal Supreme Court, which reflected the overall view of the American’s better. The Supreme Court outlined specific rights, possessed by an American individual, such as the freedom of speech, which allowed the freedom not to salute the flag, and the right to own property and jury regardless of the race.
Religion
People began going to churches much more often than before the Depression and before the war. More people started attending churches, Catholism and Bhuddism really grew in the 1940's. Because of immigration and the revival from the Depression and the war many people started becoming more religious and started going to church more often. People from other countries that immigrated regularly went to church before also went to their religion's church in the United States. The percent of people that went to church before the Depression and the war was 43 percent, in the 1940's, it became 55 percent because of these reasons.
During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (at home) included:
Political
After accusations from opportunists such as Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin and Congressman Richard M. Nixon of California, for not being attentive enough against the rise of Communism, the public built the impression that members of the Truman Administration were Communism sympathizers.
He had to try to get the American economy back on track, after a time of shortages, and numerous strikes.
While Truman’s popularity decreased, the Republican impact on the country rose, until they had the power to limit Truman’s actions. As a result he only passed one of his proposals under the Fair Deal.
Social
Balancing the historical role of Blacks in America with their new found rights (i.e. suffrage)
War production, while pulling the United states out of the depression, decreased the ideality of the "family farm"- men now saw an industrial job as being more suitable for the American lifestyle
After working through the war, women now felt stronger as a gender and more independent
Economic
Truman hoped that the Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supply (OPA) would continue to regulate production and prices in order to check runaway inflation. However, the OPA faced criticism from businessman who wanted to raise prices and from individuals who complained its limitations on consumer items. Truman vetoed the bill and when price controls imposed by the OPA ended on July 1, 1946, prices skyrocketed and the cost-of-living index rose 6 percent in one month. By 1947 the cost-of-living index had risen twenty-four points—twenty points more than it had risen in the previous year.
The biggest economic problem that Harry Truman administration faced was the demobilization of its 17 million troops. They feared that a rapid demobilization of the military would increase the unemployment, putting the nation back into depression. This problem was partially solved when the Serviceman’s readjustment act of 1944, commonly known as GI Bill was passed. Soldiers were forced to delay their entry into labor force and improve on their working skills. This eased the pressure on the economy and produced better-educated workforce
From 1946 to 1948, as unemployment increased and the American economy slowed down, strikes became common-place, and the Truman administration struggled with popular discontent with its economic policies.
During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (abroad) included:
Political
Truman had to make difficult decisions on how to treat German and Japanese war criminals in tribunals.
A large majority of American citizen never truly forgave Truman for the use of nuclear weapons in Japan.
He passed the Truman Doctrine to declare that the United States would only support Capitalism, to ensure that the US and other nations such as Greece and Turkey would not fall to Communism.
Social
An influx of immigrants due to the mass numbers fleeing Hitler's regime and the Holocaust, many artists and free-thinkers, created new thought in America
The social opposition of the Japanese and Germans affected all aspects of American life
Communism still created fear in Americans- any thought to be communists were ostricized and often punished legally
Economic
The nations of Europe faced terrible hardships. Some of the major cities in Germany and Great Britain were severely damaged during World War II. Also, factories, railroads, and major industries were damaged as well. In 1947, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall established a program called Marshall Plan to help the European countries to recover from the severe damage.
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) were also established to insure American access to colonial markets. These agreements were also designed to help Europe rebuild and resume trade with the United States.
The Soviet Union committed itself to a policy of economic self-sufficiency and independence.
Looking back at my presidential career, I had to wear several "hats." Wearing these different "hats," these were my most significant achievements and failures:
Commander-in-Chief
Truman became president in 1945 after Roosevelt’s death. This was during the World War II, and Truman was now responsible for ending it. There were many decisions to be made as Commander- in- Chief, like defending South Korea or having strict policies or using threats to bring the war to an end. In the end he dropped bombs in Japan forcing them to surrender, and he aided Europe to bring their war to an end and he stopped North Korea from invading. So in the end he proved himself to be a very successful Commander-in-chief through his various techniques of ending the war.
Chief Executive
During Truman’s two terms, his main goals were to preserve the economy, and reduce public anxiety from Communism. The Marshall Plan was a plan from the United States to rebuild the economy in Western Europe. This was supposed to aid the overall world-market and would eventually benefit the United States. As a way to fight Communism, Truman created the Truman Doctrine, to ensure that the United States would only aid capitalistic nations.
Chief Diplomat
Being the chief diplomat means promoting democratic principles and human rights around the world. Truman exemplified this quality through the Marshall Plan, which made it possible for war-torn countries to reassert themselves back into the world economy. Also, through the acceptance of the suffrage of blacks. Truman took a strong hold against those who threatened freedom with his fierce involvement in WWII (i.e. Hiroshima & Nagasaki) and in these ways exemplified his role as Chief Diplomat.
Ceremonial Head of State ( Kar)
As his term as Ceremonial Head of State, Harry Truman was one of the only Presidents that was able to relate to the people of his country. Also during his stint as President Truman would drive his own car around town without the presence of secret service. He did this because he thought that it would enable him to relate to the average person in America. Also Truman was greatly influenced by the army and by the soldiers returning from WWII. He would often spend time with the soldiers in order to deeply understand the pain and sorrow that they had due to war.
Manager of the Economy
Truman ensured that the economy in the United States would become prosperous again after the Great Depression, by using the GI Bill, which put returning soldiers threatened to be unemployed into college. In addition he focused on Western Europe with supporting the Marshall Plan, from which he hoped the United States could take advantage from trade when the European economies were ready.
Party Leader
Although Truman's stong belief in social/racial equality received much criticism, it is certainly a prime example of his representation of the democratic party. This, paired with the economic program, the Marshall Plan, asserted Truman as a strong leader of his party.
National Leader
Truman was especially aggressive in his role as a national leader. The bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was one of the most dramatic decisions any U.S. administration had ever made. It was justified as a method of protecting American values and lives. Also, Truman's strong attack on communism during the Cold War defended America's capitalist economic values, as well as the United States' guarrentee of social freedom (i.e. freedom of the press, freedom of speech, right to bear arms...etc.).
Favorite Quote About Me by a Famous Historian:
"By the actions he took, the institutions he built, the alliances he forged and the doctrines he set down, President Truman laid the foundations for America's victory in the Cold War," - George W. Bush
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Guiding Question: How did Culture and the Role of the President Shape Post-WWII America?
Post World War II was a good and bad time, FDR had just died, who everyone favored, but the WWII was a great recovery from the Great Depression. Truman was the vice president before FDR died and he then succeeded FDR’s position as president. Truman had much on his hands to help America solve all the problems they were facing at the time. Truman used his powers effectively by passing laws; making jobs and helping America become more modern and have less economic and political problems in many ways. After all these changes, Americans lives changed dramatically and culture evolved. A couple years after the WW II, America started to prosper and Americans were confident and secure about post WW II.
Culture during the 1940s differed extremely from the culture of the previous and following eras. The 1940s were ten years of spending and innovation. Though many Americans thought that money was the answer to everything, society and culture refused to just sit back and let the grains of time pass them by. New American traditions were created, and no one seemed to stop with the innovation. Dances such as the jitterbug or Lindy Hop made their debut. Every day it seemed like something new was being created. Unemployment was also disappearing in a society in which even the lower class people were finding jobs in all kinds of work environments. Futility was at all new lows similar to unemployment. The key to keeping such low rates of unemployment was the use of women and blacks to fill jobs. Although many Americans at the time were against the idea, they could not help but realize the outstanding numbers that were being produced by the American economy. Everyone seemed to be happy with where they were. No one in the world would want to live anywhere else but in America. With this many new immigrants were coming to America to find jobs in hope of a better life. Also many companies decided to come to America since the country was booming in all sectors. During the 1940s, “there was no place like America”.
Though he was extraordinarily involved in American society and the interests of the people, Harry Truman had a substantial influence in making sure that other countries were continuing their support of America and its economy. When FDR died Truman had to unexpectedly take on the role of President. Due to the fact that FDR rarely communicated with Truman, Truman was burdened with many things that he knew little about. On the issue of taking on all of these different issues, Truman stated, “I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me”. In addition to adding to the international markets and issues, Harry Truman had to also deal with the Social Security and housing. A 21 point system dealing with the expansion of Social Security was created. Soon following a full employment system was created. These programs were directed towards soldiers returning from WWII. Also public housing and slum clearance was put into action across the country. With the Cold War closely approaching, many Americans had no idea of the troubles that were developing across the world in Russia. President Harry Truman was in charge of making sure that these problems were kept to a minimum and that the American people stayed happy and content. There is no doubt that the role of Harry Truman was just as important as any other role played by government.
In conclusion, President Truman and culture had a big role in shaping the post World War II in America. He strengthened America economically and politically. He did this through a time where everyone needed help and there was little hope. But in the end he shaped the post WW II America to be a great prospering country and developed the culture by the new ideas created by him and the people of America.
Works Cited:
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