WWII
American involvement in World War II led to an isolationist temperament. Despite victories in east and west, American society was willing to lick its wounds and regroup to the temporary exclusion of any further foreign entanglement. The continued crisis with Russia further secured American foreign involvement. The sudden influx of money and labor into an economy gauged for war was also stressful. Predictably, the United States encountered a post-war economic bust. The fabric of society also became torn by the resurgence of civil rights movements. Minorities looked to advance their campaign during the ensuing turmoil. Politicians of the post-war period ran a gauntlet of touchy issues. Nevertheless, Roosevelt's actions during this period established a stable environment to which Truman would fit nicely. Truman avoided these issues during his campaign and entered the White House with a plan of reconstruction for both the majority and minorities. The greatest domestic effect of World War II was its drastic influence on the economic and social lives of the American people. The immediate economic aftereffects of WWII dismissed the sullen outlook of the Great Depression and unemployment, deflation, and industrial turmoil had al
Instead of another general depression, the country witnessed a resurgence of consumer demand. Unfortunately, Truman's attempts for health and education were to no avail, and the civil rights proposals were also denied. In 1946, government spending fell drastically, and $35 billion war contracts were cancelled immediately following the war. Perhaps the most significant gain for minorities came under the guise of an unfortunate situation. Moreover, Truman's advances in civil rights was a small step towards desegregation. Things were beginning to turn around. Truman's proposal was a large step towards reconstruction. The States' Rights Party, led by Governor Strom Thurmond, opposed Truman's civil rights stance. The notion of upward mobility and the "ladder of success" became ingrained in the American psyche. Truman's marginal victory was undoubtedly a result of his defense of minorities. Beginning in 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) held widely publicized investigations to prove that the government had tolerated communist subversion. Truman's naivete coerced him to veto the Office of Price Administration. Congress removed all price-stabilizing measures, and therfore inflation again began to soar. Federal spending, established in 1939, allowed for the federal budget to undergo a tremendous increase ($9 billion to $100 billion). His reelection in 1946 had secured his place as a prominent and influential political figure.
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