Sample Answer for Essay plan: How successful was Harry Truman as President of the United States?

Quotes to consider:

Quote	Source
"The buck stops here"	Harry Truman
"I believe that all Americans should have the right to live, work, and be educated in a decent and wholesome atmosphere."	Truman
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger."	"This reflects the urgency and significance of the Truman Doctrine in combating communism." - Dean Acheson (Truman's secretary of State)
"He made some of the most crucial decisions in history that had profound and lasting consequences."	David McCullough
"The most unsordid act in history."	Winston Churchill speaking on the Marshall Plan

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Paragraph	Topic of paragraph (e.g. Nazi propaganda, use of terror)	Content Key Words People or Events Quotes, Dates or Sources	Link to the Question
Intro	Overview of Truman's Presidency and thesis formation	● Introduce Harry Truman as the 33rd President of the United States, succeeding Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. ● Highlight the key challenges he faced: ending WWII, the beginning of the Cold War, and domestic economic issues. ● Present the thesis: Truman had both significant successes and notable failures during his presidency.
1.	Ending the Second World War	● Truman's decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japan's surrender. (was this a strength or a weakness? a good or bad thing?) ● The immediate end of WWII versus the ethical and humanitarian consequences. ● Impact on U.S. military strategy and global standing. (particularly the conflict that would ensue with the USSR)

| 2 | Truman Doctrine and Containment | ● Introduction of the Truman Doctrine in 1947 to counter Soviet expansion. ● Financial and military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent communist takeovers. ● Establishing a long-term U.S. policy of containment that shaped Cold War dynamics. ● These are certain strengths, your aim will be to discuss their short and long term impacts of containment and highlight the fact that it was successful for the most part. | | | 3 | Marshall plan and European reconstruction | ● Launch of the Marshall Plan in 1948 to rebuild war-torn Europe. ● Economic aid totalling over $12 billion to Western European countries. ● Strengthening of U.S. allies and prevention of communist influence in Western Europe. ● These were strengths of Truman's | |

| 4 | The Korean War (A weakness of Truman's) | ● Truman's decision to involve the U.S. in the Korean War in 1950 to stop the spread of communism. ● The initial success of repelling North Korean forces followed by a prolonged and costly conflict. ● The impact of the war on Truman's popularity and its role in shaping U.S. military policy. | | | 5 | Domestic Economic Policies and the Fair Deal | ● Implementation of the Fair Deal to expand social programs and improve economic conditions. ● Key proposals: higher minimum wage, public works programs, expanded social security, and national healthcare. ● Mixed success: Some programs passed, but many faced strong opposition in Congress. | |

| 6 | Civil Rights Initiatives | ● Truman's commitment to advancing civil rights, despite opposition. ● Executive order to desegregate the armed forces in 1948. ● Establishment of the President's Committee on Civil Rights and efforts to end racial discrimination in federal employment. ● All of these are clear successes and paved the way for future civil rights advances. | | | 7 | Strengthening Presidential Power and proving that the US President can play a huge role | ● Creation of the Council of Economic Advisers and the National Security Council to centralise power in the executive branch. ● Use of executive orders to bypass Congress and implement policy. ● Controversies over expanding executive power, especially during the Red Scare and anti-communist actions. | | | Conclusion | Conclusion and assessment | ● Summarise Truman's key achievements and failures in both foreign and domestic policy. ● Reflect on the long-term impact of his decisions on U.S. politics and international relations. ● Conclude with an overall assessment: Despite significant challenges and controversies, Truman's presidency had a lasting and transformative impact on the United States and the world. | |