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President [[Harry Truman]], who assumed the presidency upon the death of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], had his approval ratings plummet to just 32%.<ref>http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/truman/essays/biography/4</ref> Truman's problems were ironically within his party coalition. Coal miners and railroad workers were going through a nationwide wave of strikes. Truman decided that the unions had gone too far, and had the government takeover the railroads. He announced that his administration would use the army as strikebreakers and deny seniority rights to strikers.<ref>http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5137/</ref> Truman lost the support of unions, which he desperately needed. He further alienated southern Democrats by calling for a Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) to prevent job discrimination against [[African American]]s.

President [[Harry Truman]], who assumed the presidency upon the death of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], had his approval ratings plummet to just 32%.<ref>http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/truman/essays/biography/4</ref> Truman's problems were ironically within his party coalition. Coal miners and railroad workers were going through a nationwide wave of strikes. Truman decided that the unions had gone too far, and had the government takeover the railroads. He announced that his administration would use the army as strikebreakers and deny seniority rights to strikers.<ref>http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5137/</ref> Truman lost the support of unions, which he desperately needed. He further alienated southern Democrats by calling for a Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) to prevent job discrimination against [[African American]]s.

After taking office, Truman wanted to build on the [[New Deal]], announcing a full employment program, a higher [[minimum wage]], a larger [[Social Security]] System, and a national health insurance system. The nation was divided over continued government intervention in the [[economy]]. High inflation and lack of consumer goods like bread, meat, and housing resulted in economic anxiety. Republicans blamed Truman for the country’s problems, and ran on the slogan "Had Enough? Vote Republican."

After taking office, Truman wanted to build on the [[New Deal]], announcing a full employment program, a higher [[minimum wage]], a larger [[Social Security]] System, and a national health insurance system. The nation was divided over continued government intervention in the [[economy]]. High inflation and lack of consumer goods like bread, meat, and housing resulted in economic anxiety. Republicans blamed Truman for the country's problems, and ran on the slogan "Had Enough? Vote Republican."

Republicans swept into power and put them in a position to thwart the Truman Administration's programs. [[Thomas Dewey]] was handedly reelected Governor of [[New York]], and become the Republican nominee for President in 1948. Truman's reelection chances looked bleak. A public opinion poll taken in December 1946 revealed that only 35 percent of those surveyed supported his handling of the presidency. However, Truman pulled a major political upset, winning reelection by attacking the "do nothing Republican Congress."  

Republicans swept into power and put them in a position to thwart the Truman Administration's programs. [[Thomas Dewey]] was handedly reelected Governor of [[New York]], and become the Republican nominee for President in 1948. Truman's reelection chances looked bleak. A public opinion poll taken in December 1946 revealed that only 35 percent of those surveyed supported his handling of the presidency. However, Truman pulled a major political upset, winning reelection by attacking the "do nothing Republican Congress."