American History: The Fair Deal, Essay Example

Did Truman’s Fair Deal successfully continue the policies of FDRs New Deal?

The main components of Harry Truman’s Fair Deal included submitting proposals to Congress to pass legislation to increase the amount that workers were paid by increasing the minimum wage, to take measures to reduce unemployment and to implement a national health insurance program. These initiatives were in line with some of the initiatives put forth by FDRs New Deal. However, Truman’s Fair Deal got as much push back from the Republican Congress as FDRs New Deal. In addition, the Cold War was in full swing, which created diversions and demands on the president and the attention of the country. Therefore, Truman’s Fair Deal was not very successful in continuing the policies of FDRs New Deal.

However, President Truman did try hard to continue the policies of FDRs New Deal, as well as implement similar policies and programs of his own to help the American working class people. For example, he vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act, which outlawed some significant rights of unions, boycotts and strikes. However, his veto was overruled by pro-business law.

What President Truman did do that was not an extension of the New Deal was make strides in advancing the case of civil rights in America. He did this by establishing the Committee on Civil Rights and ending segregation in the federal government, including the military. But, again, the Cold War took up much of his time, thinking and resources, so he was not able to do more with civil rights as he probably would have.