Us Chronology

1945

Franklin D Roosevelt dies in office, Harry S Truman becomes president- Upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, then-Vice-President Harry S. Truman is sworn in as President on April 12, 1945. Truman finished out Roosevelt’s term and ran successfully for re-election in 1948.

United Nations charter signed- While this document is often misconstrued as a constitution it is, in fact, an agreement between states and not a compact among the individual peoples to create a government. It was signed at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco California, 1945 by 50 of the 51 original member countries

Strike Wave Begins- The first cycle of the great strike wave of 1945-46 has come to a close. The main bodies of the auto, steel, electrical, rubber, packinghouse, oil, telephone and numerous other unions have signed agreements with the corporations. It is now possible to assess this great class action as a whole, even though 75,000 workers are still forced to continue their strike against the Westinghouse corporation and the country’s half million miners are again battling for improved conditions.

1946

Employment Act creates Council of Economic Advisors- a United States federal law, its main purpose was to lay the responsibility of economic stability onto the federal government.

Benjamin Spock publishes Baby and Child Care- Its revolutionary message to mothers was that "you know more than you think you do." Spock was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to try to understand children's needs and family dynamics.

Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech- Before this speech, the U.S. and Britain had been concerned with their own post-war economies and had remained extremely grateful for the Soviet Union's proactive role in ending World War II. It was Churchill's speech, which he titled "The Sinews of Peace," that changed the way the democratic West viewed the Communist East.

1947

Americans for Democratic Action founded- an American political organization advocating liberal policies. The group was established by prominent Democratic Party leaders in 1947 in order to combat what those leaders perceived to be an acceptance of, or even an alliance with, American communists. The ADA's leaders considered communism to be both morally wrong and a threat to the United States.

Marshall Plan announced- The Marshall Plan was the primary plan of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger foundation for the allied countries of Europe, and repelling communism after World War II.

1948

State of Israel founded- The Declaration of Independence of Israel, was the official announcement that a new Jewish state, named the State of Israel, had been formally established in parts of what was known as the British Mandate for Palestine and on land where, in antiquity, the Kingdoms of Israel, Judah and Judea had once been

1949

Truman announces Fair Deal- Truman’s Fair Deal recommended that all Americans have health insurance, that the minimum wage is increased, and that, by law, all Americans be guaranteed equal rights.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) created- NATO’s purpose is to enhance the stability, well-being, and freedom of its members through a system of collective security. Members of the alliance agree to defend one another from attack by other nations or by terrorist groups. NATO has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Berlin Blockade Ends- the Soviet Union ends its blockade