Final answer:
The Taft-Hartley Act curtailed labor unions' power post-WWII, while President Truman's executive order in 1948 desegregated the armed forces and government employment, influencing the civil rights movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Impact of Two Acts on the U.S. and WWII
The two acts that had significant impacts on the United States during World War II were the Taft-Hartley Act and President Truman's executive order on integrating the armed forces. The Taft-Hartley Act, passed in 1947, aimed to restrict the power of labor unions, which had grown strong during the war years and were aggressively striking for better conditions and wages. This act was a response to public pressure following considerable labor unrest and strikes that occurred even as the war necessitated a stable homefront for production.
Following the war, President Truman faced significant racial tension and violence, especially in the South. In response to the lack of Congressional action on civil rights, Truman's executive order in 1948 integrated the armed forces and ended discrimination in the hiring of government employees. This order marked a significant advance in civil rights and set the stage for future civil rights legislation.
These acts had profound effects on the social and political landscape of the United States during and after WWII. The Taft-Hartley Act shaped the American labor movement, while Truman's executive order helped to propel the civil rights movement forward by setting a precedent for the desegregation of other public and private sectors.