The term designates a set of proposals put forward by President Harry S. Truman to Congress in 1949. It built upon the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt and aimed to extend social and economic reforms. Examples of its initiatives include increasing the minimum wage, expanding public housing, and increasing federal aid to education.
The significance of this legislative agenda lies in its ambition to further address social inequalities and improve the quality of life for Americans. Its historical context is rooted in the post-World War II era, reflecting a desire to consolidate wartime prosperity and create a more just society. While not all of Truman’s proposals were enacted, it shaped political discourse and influenced subsequent domestic policy.