Desiree,+Robert,+Alex,+McKelly

media type="custom" key="5703293"

GI Bill = Questions = ** What was the GI Bill? When was it created? Why was it created? -AM ** It gives servicemen and women the opportunity of resuming their education or technical training after discharge, or of taking a refresher or retrainer course, not only without tuition charge up to $500 per school year, but with the right to receive a monthly living allowance while pursuing their studies."

The GI bill was a bill that was created to give returning WWII veterans the right to an education. Created in 1944,it guaranteed veterans a fully paid tuition as well as a living allowance for nearly any college or vocational training. It also gave them unemployment compensation for a year. It was created to make sure the men who gave so much for this country during the war were able to continue living, especially because so many of the veterans were drafted so young. It really impacted post war society, the GIs created the middle class.

The post GI Bill is an investment in Veterans education. The bill basically makes a promise to veterans telling them that they if they defend our country, they will be able to have access to all of America’s opportunities when it comes to education. The GI Bill also pays for Veterans books, tuition, and even living allowance.

** Did it work? Achieve it's goals? -AM ** The GI Bill for WWII veterans worked, in fact it far exceeded its goals. By 1947, WWII veterans made up 49% of the U.S. college enrollment. Nationally, 7.8 million veterans attended college, trade schools, and business or agriculture programs as result of the GI Bill's success. This success also applied to the Vietnam Veterans and Korean Veterans who also used their modified versions of the GI Bill.

** How were African Americans affected by the GI Bill? -DM **

African Americans were positively affected by the GI bill. It gave an opportunity for African Americans across the country to expand their education and move in to the middle class. According to Pro Quest and Reginald Wilson, " ...nearly a third of the veterans enrolled between 1946 and 1950 were African American." Many successful individuals excelled because of the GI bill for example, Dovey J. Roundtree who rose through the social classes and made an impact in the judicial community. This not only helped African American soldiers but it also gave drive to those who were not enlisted to succeed.

** W ** ** ere there any critics of the bill? Who were they? What was their argument? -DM ** Two of the bills largest critics were Robert M. Hutchin, president of the University of Chicago, and James B. Conant, president of Harvard University. The two felt that the states and college Presidents should decide which students should be admitted, what schools be eligible, and how the money should be spent. Congressman Rankin argued in favor of the GI bill, saying all schools' rights should be protected and the veterans should have the right to go to any school they wanted and study whatever they wanted.

** What is the Post 9/11 GI Bill? How is it similar or different from the original? -MT ** The similarities between the Post 9-11 GI bill and the original is back then The Federal Government would subsidize tuition, fees, books, and educational materials for veterans and contribute to living expenses incurred while attending college or other approved institutions and the Veterans were free to attend the educational institution of their choice. The difference in the Original and the Post 9-11 is the original provided several different types of loans for Veterans to buy homes and start businesses.

** What is it's legacy? ** ** Was it a good idea or bad idea? How would the US be different if the GI Bill was not enacted? -RG ** = = It was a great Idea and it had a great legacy. It is known as the bill that made modern America."Stephen Ambrose: Listen, that GI Bill was the best piece of legislation ever passed by the U.S. Congress, and it made modern America. The educational establishment boomed and then boomed and them boomed. The suburbs, starting with Levittown and others, were paid by GIs borrowing on their GI Bill at a very low interest rate. Thousands and thousands of small businesses were started in this country and are still there thanks to the loans from the GI Bill. It transformed our country." (pbs) This bill established the middle class and let people get an education and become successful after they spent their time overseas. It gave them the chance to go to college because they couldn't when they were fighting.

= Quotes = "The Veterans' Administration is hereby declared to be an essential war agency and entitled, second only to the War and Navy Departments, to priorities in personnel, equipment, supplies, and material under any laws, Executive orders, and regulations pertaining to priorities, and in appointments of personnel from civil-service registers the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs is hereby granted the same authority and discretion as the War and Navy Departments and the United States Public Health Service: Provided, That the provisions of this section as to priorities for materials shall apply to any State institution to be built for the care or hospitalization of veterans." -RG

"Transfer of Benefits are as follows: The last and most novel feature of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is that currently serving troops have the opportunity to transfer education benefits to a spouse or a child. To qualify for transferability a service member must: (1) Qualify for the education benefits themselves. (2) Served at least 6 years Active Duty, National Guard or Select Reserves. (3) Agree to commit to 4 more years of service starting August 2009. (4) Have a spouse or dependent(s) enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) to transfer benefits to." -MT

Congressman Rankin: "...veterans [should] be allowed to select their own schools and pursue any course they want." -DM

= Images = Political Cartoon about the downfall of the GI Bill after 2001. -RG

Post 9/11 GI Bill poster. -MT

Poster for GI Bill -AM

Valiant African Americans who later get their higher education from the benefits of the GI Bill -DM

= Works Cited = Lehrer, Jim. "Online NewsHour." // The GI Bill //. pbs, 04 jul 2000. Web. 22 Mar 2010. 

Reinhardt, Claudia, and Bill Ganzel. "The GI Bill ." // Livinghistoryfarm.org //. Wessle's Living History Farm, 2004. Web. 22 Mar 2010. .

Wilson, Reginald. "GI Bill expands access for African Americans." // Educational Record // 75.4 (1994): 32-39. Web. 23 Mar 2010.