<P> The Servicemen 's Readjustment Act of 1944 , also known as the G.I. Bill , was a law that provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans ( commonly referred to as G.I.s ) . It was designed by the American Legion , who helped push it through Congress by mobilizing its chapters ( along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars ) ; the goal was to provide immediate rewards for practically all World War II veterans . It avoided the highly disputed postponed `` cash bonus '' payout for World War I veterans that caused political turmoil for a decade and a half after that war . Benefits included dedicated payments of tuition and living expenses to attend high school , college or vocational / technical school , low - cost mortgages , low - interest loans to start a business , as well as one year of unemployment compensation . It was available to all veterans who had been on active duty during the war years for at least 90 days and had not been dishonorably discharged -- exposure to combat was not required . By 1956 , roughly 7.8 million veterans had used the G.I. Bill education benefits , some 2.2 million to attend colleges or universities and an additional 5.6 million for some kind of training program . The recipients did not pay any income tax on the GI benefits , since they were not considered earned income . </P>
in an attempt to provide for the returning united states soldiers after wwii congress passed the
Servicemen 's Readjustment Act of 1944 , also known as the G.I. Bill