Eisenhower
American Franchise
• Economic prosperity with new luxuries for Americans after World War II. Linked with Eisenhower’s administration.
• Introduction of television and other technologies. Remembered as happy and carefree time for most Americans.
• Inter State Highway built with congressional approval 1956
• Eisenhower is first republican to gain consecutive wins in southern states, a trend that continues to this day
• Significant demographic changes. Migrations from cities to suburban areas
• “Baby boomer” generation for births between 1946-1964
• Blacks who migrated north were able to vote and became key supporters of Eisenhower; in the south they were unofficially blocked from voting by literacy tests and poll taxes
• 1950s sparked the controversial debate of Civil Rights.
• Consistent with his usual style of governing, Eisenhower took an indirect approach and non-obligatory approach to the desegregation of school. He did not fully support the Supreme Court decision in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case to desegregate schools immediately.
• Wary of taking action during controversial first admission of black student in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Legacy and Impact
Eisenhower’s legacy and the overall opinion of him by analysts have changed throughout the last forty years. Initially recognized as a “do-nothing” president, his legacy and contribution has been reevaluated with the publication of primary documents showing Eisenhower’s authority and involvement not otherwise thought at the time. His “hidden hand strategy” allowed him to use presidential authority and make decisive decisions from the background. Major failures or inactivity in foreign policy by Eisenhower included setting the plan for the Bay of Pigs and allowing Fidel Castro to take over Cuba. Eisenhower is criticized for not suppressing General McCarthy and the...
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