The Truman Presidency
The Dymaxion House was designed
over the course of Harry Truman’s political carrier. His time in the United
States government greatly influenced the success and development of Buckminster
Fuller’s design by increasing his potential clientele, funding housing
production, developing the mass production industry, and more.
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| President Harry Truman |
Harry Truman was president of the
United Sates from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953. During his time in office, he oversaw the end of World War
Two, agreed to the dropping of atomic bombs in Japan at the start of the cold
war, and aided in the formation of the United Nations. He faced challenges like the
suppression of Soviet Union influence, and establishing a new peacetime economy
in the U.S., which he mainly addressed through the New Deal proposal. He also battled racial discrimination in the
workforce, and worked to aid returning soldiers, farmworkers, and middle class
citizens of the nation.
Amongst other policies, he
established the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, and the Point IV Plan.
Significant Dates:
1914: The start of WWI (1914-1918). The development of factories with assembly
lines and
mass production services is automatically increased on account of huge demand for
weaponry and wartime products.
mass production services is automatically increased on account of huge demand for
weaponry and wartime products.
1928: Truman’s campaign approves the use $6.5
million’s worth of bond issues for the
construction of 224 miles of paved highways and hospital edifices.
stock market collapses, halting industry production, and bank failures wipe the savings
of millions.
Depression. Based off 3 principles Relief, Recovery, and Reform, it is introduced to
stabilize the economy, provide work, and ultimately prevent a revolution.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is created. It is a federally owned corporation created
in May 1933 whose main goal was to provide navigation, flood control, electricity
generation and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.
construction of 224 miles of paved highways and hospital edifices.
1929: Record levels of profit and
productivity were apparent in every branch of the economy.
Black
Tuesday marks the beginning of the Great Depression in the United States. The stock market collapses, halting industry production, and bank failures wipe the savings
of millions.
1932: Unemployment reaches its highest level of 11 million.
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt is
elected President of the United States.
1933: Works Progress Administration
puts unskilled workers into large public projects.
The New
Deal is passed bringing various economic programs to combat the Great Depression. Based off 3 principles Relief, Recovery, and Reform, it is introduced to
stabilize the economy, provide work, and ultimately prevent a revolution.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is created. It is a federally owned corporation created
in May 1933 whose main goal was to provide navigation, flood control, electricity
generation and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.
During WWII, to provide power for the aluminum plants, TVA
initiates a massive
hydropower construction program with over 12 hydroelectric
plants under construction
in 1942. To stress efficiency and urgency TVA of the
12 hydroelectric plants the two,
Cherokee and Douglas are both completed in a
span of a year to support the wartime
production of aluminum. The biggest
project of the program is the construction of
Fontana Dam. Once complete in 1945
the electricity generates from Fontana Dam
went towards aluminum manufacturing,
and uranium enrichment: a vital source
required for the Manhattan Project. The
Manhattan Project becomes TVA’s second
power consumer set up in an isolated
area along the Clinch River in 1942. It is known
as the Clinton Engineering
Works, named after the nearest town. It is the program that
developed and
created the first atomic bomb. TVA’s wartime contributions solidified its
national reputation while helping America win its biggest war. TVA’s
contribution to
supporting the numerous ALCOA plants help mass-produce aluminum
which
becomes an abundance and main material used in the Dymaxion creations.
The TVA Act
is introduced.
1934: Truman joins the
U.S.A. Senate, in triumph over the Republicans.
1935: Truman is U.S.A.
Senator of Missouri.
1929: Germany invades
Poland and World War II begins.
1940: President
Roosevelt regulates transportation industry production in signing the
Wheeler-Truman Act.
Wheeler-Truman Act.
This event influenced
Fuller’s idea of the mass produced house, making the industry
more approachable and aiding in the realization of his vision.
more approachable and aiding in the realization of his vision.
1941: The United States of America enter
World War II in attacking Pearl Harbor.
1941: Truman becomes a
chairman on the Senate Special Committee,
and investigates the
National Defense Program.
National Defense Program.
1945: Truman becomes Vice-President of the U.S.A. under
F.D. Roosevelt.
Truman is elected President of the U.S.A.
Truman approves the U.S.A.’s Army Air Force’s dropping the first atomic bomb on
Hiroshima, Japan and later the second on Nagasaki, Japan.
End of World War II.
Truman is elected President of the U.S.A.
Truman approves the U.S.A.’s Army Air Force’s dropping the first atomic bomb on
Hiroshima, Japan and later the second on Nagasaki, Japan.
End of World War II.
The United Nations is formed.
1945-1946: The Nuremburg Trials take place
1945-1949: Truman approves
the spending of $3.7 billion on GI benefits for returning war
veterans. In doing so, he greatly influenced the post-war housing market
Buckminster Fuller targeted in his sale of the Dymaxion Dwelling Machine,
contributing to the success of the orders he received.
veterans. In doing so, he greatly influenced the post-war housing market
Buckminster Fuller targeted in his sale of the Dymaxion Dwelling Machine,
contributing to the success of the orders he received.
1946: Truman provides Great Britain with a $3.75 billion loan.
The Cold
War initiates between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Farmers Home Administration is
established to support the construction and repair of rural housing.
The Veteran’s Emergency Housing Act is initiated to promote house production for
returning soldiers.
The Federal Employees Pay Act elevates the minimum wage of government workers
The Veteran’s Emergency Housing Act is initiated to promote house production for
returning soldiers.
The Federal Employees Pay Act elevates the minimum wage of government workers
by 14% and subsequently creates a new middle class in the U.S.A.
All of these developments elevated America’s desire of the mass produced
housing unit Fuller had just developed and gave more people the money to be
able to afford its cost.
The establishment of the Farmers Home Administration also elevated the
popularity of Buckminster Fuller’s Workers’ Shelter.
1947: The Truman Doctrine
ensues the U.S.A’s economic and military support of Greece
against the Soviet Union. This initiative further established the Nation’s worldwide
against Soviet expansion.
The Taft-Hartley Act is passed, restricting union activity in all labor fields.
Truman gives a speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People, in which he fights against racial inequality and proposes that "Every man
should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate
medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in the making of
public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trial in a fair court."
The Federal Housing and Rent Act promotes the construction of rentable housing in
urban areas.
against the Soviet Union. This initiative further established the Nation’s worldwide
against Soviet expansion.
The Taft-Hartley Act is passed, restricting union activity in all labor fields.
Truman gives a speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People, in which he fights against racial inequality and proposes that "Every man
should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate
medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in the making of
public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trial in a fair court."
The Federal Housing and Rent Act promotes the construction of rentable housing in
urban areas.
1948: The Water Pollution Law funds research concerning sewage treatment systems
and
pollution. In the Dymaxion Dwelling Machine prototype developed in this period,
Fuller also added a water system to his structure, reflecting the technological
advancements of the day.The Judiciary and Judicial Procedure Act is established to
prohibit employers form threatening, discharging, intimidating, or pressuring
employees. This event decreases the unemployment rate in America and increases
the middle class population, now joining the housing market Fuller is catering to in his
design.
Authored by: Will Fu and Justyna Maleszyk
Edited by: Isabel Ochoa
pollution. In the Dymaxion Dwelling Machine prototype developed in this period,
Fuller also added a water system to his structure, reflecting the technological
advancements of the day.The Judiciary and Judicial Procedure Act is established to
prohibit employers form threatening, discharging, intimidating, or pressuring
employees. This event decreases the unemployment rate in America and increases
the middle class population, now joining the housing market Fuller is catering to in his
design.
Authored by: Will Fu and Justyna Maleszyk
Edited by: Isabel Ochoa