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HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE FAIR DEAL? - Coggle Diagram
HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE FAIR DEAL?
BULIDING ON THE NEW DEAL
When Truman presented Congress with his 21-point programme it was clear he wanted to build on the New Deal by protecting the vulnerable in society.
In January 1949, Truman asked Congress in a speech for:
'Comprehensive housing legislation...[and]a national health programme... for all Americans'.
He believed that with the wages the workers were receiving couldn't secure the foundations of a healthy economy.
To pay for all this he wanted a four billion tax increase. This was rejected by both main parties.
FAIR DEAL - STATE UNION ADDRESS.
An increase in the minimum wage
Repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act
-Expansion of social security
Setting up of public works scheme
Healthcare programme
All of this will be payed through taxation.
SUCCESS!
Social security was extended to one million more Americans.
Minimum wage went up from $40-$75.
Farmers benefitted from measures of flooding control, rural electrification and soil conversation.
National Housing Act 1949 provided low income homes but only half of the 810,000 homes were built.
National Science Foundation encouraged research and development in science. It was motivated by the Cold War and was a boost to education.
REJECTIONS!
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE
Truman proposed a national health care insurance system based on a tax of four percent on the first $6300 of a person's income.
Congress did not like it because of the tax-raising measure and felt it was not the federal governments job to tell people how to plan their healthcare.
The American medical Association said it was 'SOCIALISED MEDICINE'.
A Hospital Construction Act was passed but didn't help the medicine side only the building side.
EDUCATION
American state schools were struggling and were in poor state.
Congress believed that it was a state issues and inferring would cause problems especially, in the south were segregation was still happening.
RELATION WITH CONGRESS AND CONCLUSION.
Relations with congress had improved but Conservative Democrats and Republicans still worked to together to block him.
Truman needed support in dealing with Communist Subversion and the Korean War. To get his support from Congress he had to give up the Fair Deal
Truman's Fair Deal was always likely to be blocked as many believed that the New Deal had done enough. BUT, he still managed to strengthen measures like social secuirty.