The Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights) of 1944 - Research Paper Example

Running Head: The Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights) of 1944 The Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights) of 1944 of Writer] [Name of Institution] The Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights) of 1944 Historical Introduction The GI Bill of Rights has witnessed lot of controversy and debate among the members of the house and senate, while it is heralded as the most significant legislation that had an important impact on the economic, political and social lives of American war veterans.

The discussions and controversies revolved around the main points of paying unemployed war veterans 20 US dollars every week, along with the need for sending them to colleges and universities, which was a privilege enjoyed only by rich, at that time. However, there was general consensus among members for doing something concrete for war veterans, as earlier adjustment act of 1924 did not prove to be of much help to them. As the bonus to the war veterans, promised under this act, never reached them, the result was huge confrontation and unrest, in Washington, during 1932.

With the great depression, the situation worsened further. However, the formulation of GI Bill of Rights was seen as a genuine attempt by the government to help huge number of veterans towards their social and economic rehabilitation. Accordingly, Harry W. Colmery, the former Republican National Chairman drafted the bill, which was introduced in the house on Jan 10, 1944, following its introduction in the senate, on the day after. While there was total agreement on the provision of home loans and education, the members disagreed on the provisions of this bill regarding unemployment.

However, the bill was ultimately passed into law, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it on June 22, 1944. (GI Bill History) Thesis statement The time has proved the efficacy of this bill, as shown by the positive consequences observed in the social and economic lives of war veterans, during the following decades. Provisions of the bill President Roosevelt asserted, in his statement, on signing this bill that it fulfills the recommendations made by him on July 28, 1943, as well as messages given to congress on October 27 and November 23, 1944.

The provisions of the bill are briefly detailed below: It provides all servicemen and women an opportunity to continue their education or training, after the discharge, without paying any tuition fees up-to $500, per school year, while they can receive a monthly living allowance, during such studies. It provides up-to 50% of home loans guarantee by federal government, given to veterans for purchase or construction of business properties, residential houses and farms. The bill provides for payment of reasonable unemployment allowance, payable weekly, to war veterans, for a maximum period of one year.

In addition, the bill establishes result-oriented and improved mechanism to provide job counseling to returning sailors and service personnel. The bill seeks authorization of new hospital facilities’ construction for such war veterans.(President Roosevelt’s Statement) Significance of ‘Bill of Rights’ The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (1944) was named as Bill of Rights by the American Legion publicist, Jack Cejnar, due to such provisions of the bill, which offered help to war veterans for adjusting to civil life, in terms of subsidized education, hospitalization and purchase of homes and businesses.

Various reports suggest that after passing of this bill, almost 8 million war veterans received educational benefits, within next seven years. By the end of 1956, the educational and training funds disbursement, as per the provisions of this bill, had been almost $14.5 billion. In addition, around 4.3 million home loans had been granted, totaling to around $33 billion, by 1955.(Servicemen’s Readjustment Act) Educational assistance helped in social readjustment Enrollment to higher education provided an opportunity to war veterans for social readjustment from wartime to peace, in a civil society, by relaxing the traumas and stress experienced by them, during such transition.

The result was huge increase in educational facilities as demanded by the increased requirement for meeting the crowd of eligible war veterans to attend various training programs. Accordingly, war veterans trained as engineers and technicians were utilized in the new technological economy that helped in building the nation. In addition, new vocational courses were added by various educational institutions that catered to sectors like agriculture, industry, mining and fisheries, among others. The conventional age group of students for attending various educational and training programs also changed, as vast number of matured war veterans attended such courses.

(Schugurensky) The bill resulted in positive social changes As many service women successfully adjusted to the changed social life, the result was an increase in marriage and birth rates, while providing these women the positive role of homemaking for the next couple of decades. This saw the rise of new healthy and socially active generation. The children of these war veterans attended colleges and universities in huge numbers, which increased the number of women educationists in the country.(Greenberg, 2008) Conclusion As is evident now, the bill was a boon for the American society, at large, and world war veterans, in particular.

In addition, number of benefits have been added to the bill of rights, after 9/11 event. These include “Yellow Ribbon Program” for higher educational subsidy, basic housing allowances and one-time rural benefit payment.(The Post-9/11 GI Bill) WORKS-CITED GI Bill History, accessed on 7th March at: http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/history.htm Greenberg Milton, “The GI Bill of Rights”, 3rd April, 2008, accessed on 7th March at:http://www.america.gov/st/educenglish/2008/April/20080423213340eaifas0.8454951.html Post-9/11 GI Bill, “UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS”, accessed on 7th March at: http://gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/ President Roosevelt’s Statement, accessed from , “UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS”, on 7th March at:http://www.gibill.va.

gov/gi_bill_info/history.htm Schugurensky Daniel, “1944 GI Bill of Rights”, accessed on 7th March at:http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/legacy/research/edu20/moments/1944gibill.html?cms_page=edu20/moments/1944gibill.html Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (1944), Document information accessed on 7th March at:http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=76