The Fair Deal was a list of 21 proposed reforms for the US that President Truman suggested during the time of the Cold War. He hoped that, if implemented, his Deal would help to progress the lifestyles of Americans, especially for returning soldiers, and bring the current country's postwar situation toward a peacetime economy. Truman wanted to continue to evoke and build upon the spirit of the New Deal, which was a set of reforms that the US' past president, FDR, had planned for the US around the Great Depression- another chaotic time for many Americans, especially in their lifestyle and economic conditions.
The main goal of the Fair Deal was to expand social security. This included starting programs that would focus on raising minimum wage and using the government's money to support funds that would help to provide and guarantee people with opportunities for higher education learning, farmer aid, housing, and health insurance. Additionally, the Fair Deal proposed civil right legislations to further stop any lynching, poll taxing, and racial discrimination (specifically targeted toward Blacks) in the workplace.
Funding for these reform programs required over $4 billion in tax increases. This meant raising the set prices of goods and laying off workers in order to get the money, which caused laborers to break out into strikes and demand for their jobs and higher pay. Congress did eventually raise the minimum wage amount and add in more social security benefits; however, Congress, which was primarily Republican, were against the majority of the components of Truman's Deal, so the Deal failed to provide Americans with Truman's proposed ambitions for various immense and positive social changes.
Interesting! We just talked about this today. It really interesting to see how people turned down this legislation when today it would of been put light upon with everyone being equal and all. I really like how you even put the price on how much money it would be to even get starting in funding this these reforms programs. How would have this Fair Deal benefited in the long run if it was not turned down ? Why didn't Roosevelt supporters give this legislation the same support as they did for the New Deal ?
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that this Fair Deal was very much like the New Deal, but with new parts to it that cover the new issues of that time. It covers racial issues and workers rights. Like many proposals for change in the US, it gets rejected by the checks and balances system. Good post!
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ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! I like the relevance to FDR and his New Deal. I think that it was very important that Truman stuck to helping the common man which helped him win a second term. In addition, you focused on the racial segregation and anti- lynching bills which were crucial to his Fair Deal. It is important to know that racial segregation was in fact catalyzed due to reforms in this Fair Deal.
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