The 1950s

 

    Presidents of the 1950's

 

       

Harry Truman(1945-1953)

 

 

      President Truman took presidency when the Allied armies were winning in the war in Germany; preparing to invade Japan. Prior to taking presidency, Truman was a democrat from Missouri. He was the vice president to Franklin D. Roosevelt, but only for 83 day when FDR died. President Truman's vice president was Alben W. Barkley. 

 

      During WWII, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to get the Japansese leaders to surrender. He essentially transferred the U.S. from wartime to peace time after WWII.

 

     President Truman created a number or programs to help the nation during the Cold War. To face communism in Western Europe, he created the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. During the Cold War, communisim gained control over Eastern Europe. The Truman Doctrine was created to spend as much money necessary to strengthen its war-torn-allies. His idea was that it would greatly reduce the danger of communism  in Greece and Turkey. It consisted of a $3,750,000 loan from Congress to the U.K. This program guaranteed American aid to free nations resisting sabotage. American finally turned away from isolationism and neutrality. The Marshall Plan proposed that the war-damaged nations of Europe join in a program of mutual aid for economic recovery. Truman believed that stabilized and improved economies would halt the expansion of communism. It ended up sending supplies to Great Britain, France, Italy, and West Germany. 16 countries received some $13 billion in aid. It was essentially established to "rebuild" Europe. The Communist party had lost much of its appeal.

President Truman also established a foreign aid program which created principles of U.S. interest in the economic growth of developing nations. This was known as the Point 4 Program.Congress authorized approximately $35 million. This program even promoted improved agricultural production and technology progress in underdeveloped areas.

 

    President Truman had a domestic policy consisisting of the Serviceman's Readjustment Act, and the "Fair Deal". The Service man's Readjustment Act was a G.I. Bill created to help the veterans of WWII. It established hospitals, made low-interest mortgages, and granted tuition and expenses for veterans attending college/schools. Approximately 9 million veterans received $4 billion. This was a successful program for the veterans of WWII. The "Fair Deal" proposed for a nationwide system of health insurance and system to prove a steady income for farmers. This program aided education, wages, and health insurance. The "Fair Deal" proved relief for America, and boosted the economy.

 

 

 

                                         Dwight D. Eisenhower(1953-1961)

 

 

      President Eisenhower was a republican, and took presidency in 1953. His vice-president was Richard Nixon. He managed Cold War tensions with  the Soviet Union under the looming threat of nuclear weapons. He also ended the war in Korea in 1953 by signing an armistice. During the 1950's, America's economy was doing well. During WWII, America earned good wages and saved money. By the end of the war, most people had increased their wealth, so consumers were ready to spend. This was known as Eisenhower's Prosperity.

 

      President Eisenhower had a few different  foreign policies during his presidency. It consisted of a policy of containment. This was to prevent the extension of communism. A term known as the "iron curtain" was an imaginary line seperating Europe into two separate sections during the Cold War. The U.S. also created the policy of massive retaliation. This was a strategy in reaction to communist governments invading or threatening to invade weaker nations. If the U.S. or its interests were attacked or threatened, the U.S. would retaliate with full force and means. The Domino Theory was a theory established by President Eisenhower in which countries on the edge of communism were a row of dominoes waiting to fall one after another; nations one by one would turn into communist nations. Another policy created by Eisenhower was the Eisenhower Doctrine. This was a warning to counter balance the support in Egypt. It said that the U.S. would defend the Middle East against an attack by any communist country. Esentially, it was an important military alliance in act for the U.S.

 

   Dwight Eisenhower established a few domestic policies during his terms. He created the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Highway Act of 1956, he Brown v. Board of Education, and the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The Departnment of Health, Education, and Welfare was created to improve health, education and social security. It was derived from the Federal Securities Act. This policy allowed for the reorganization of government in order to acheive greater efficiency and a better economy. The Highway Act of 1956 was a law, and public works project. It provided $25 billion for 41,000 miles in construction over 10 years. This was the largest public works project at the time. The Brown v. Board of Education case argued over unequal education opportunities between blacks and whites. This supreme court case ended public school segregation in the end, and won more civil rights for the United States as a whole. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first civil rights legislation since reconstruction. It consisted of the right to prosecute individuals that deny another citizen's right to vote.