Focus on: Harry Truman (Leaving Cert History): Revision Notes

Focus on: Harry Truman

Harry Truman was born in 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. Before becoming President, he served as a local judge and was elected to the Senate in 1934 as a Democrat, winning re-election in 1940. President Roosevelt selected him as his vice-presidential running mate in 1944 because the sitting vice president, Henry Wallace, was too unpopular. Truman became President after Roosevelt's death in April 1945. Truman was different from Roosevelt. He was not well known to the American public when he became President, but he brought a strong sense of personal commitment and responsibility to the job. He had a sign on his desk that said, "The buck stops here." After his presidency, Truman returned to Missouri and lived there until his death in 1972.

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Foreign Policy

When Truman became President, he had to deal with the end of WWII. In Asia, Japan was still fighting and using kamikaze (suicide) attacks on US forces. Truman's generals told him that invading Japan could cost 500,000 dead American soldiers. At the same time, there were problems in Europe with the Soviet Union. Truman, who strongly opposed communism, saw Stalin's actions in Poland and Eastern Europe as the start of a new conflict. These factors led him to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which made Japan surrender and showed US power to the Soviets.

After the war, Truman introduced the Truman Doctrine, which became a key part of US foreign policy during the Cold War. The US aimed to stop the spread of communism by supporting anti-communist forces worldwide. Truman established NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), a military alliance, and the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Western Europe. In the first Cold War confrontation, he ordered the US Air Force to send supplies to West Berlin in 1948-9 when the Soviets blockaded the city. When communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, Truman sent US troops to push them back. The Korean War lasted until 1953 because Chinese forces supported the communists.

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Domestic Policy

Truman had trouble working with Congress. Southern Democrats opposed his social reform plans. After the Republicans won the 1946 congressional elections, it became harder for him to get his policies passed. In the 1948 presidential election, many thought Truman would lose to the Republican candidate, Thomas Dewey, especially after the Democrats split into different factions. However, Truman launched a spirited campaign across the US, using a "whistle-stop tour" to speak to voters directly. He surprised everyone by defeating Dewey.

When Senator Joseph McCarthy started investigating supposed communist influence in the US government (the "Red Scare"), Truman tried to stop him, even though he himself was against communism. Truman set up Federal Loyalty Boards to remove government employees suspected of communist ties. Despite his efforts, McCarthy's actions continued to cause fear and division.

Harry Truman's presidency was marked by significant foreign and domestic challenges. His decisions during and after WWII, his fight against communism, and his efforts to push through social reforms shaped his legacy as a determined and resilient leader.

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The Fair Deal

The centrepiece of Truman's domestic policies was his Fair Deal reform proposals. This programme aimed to build on Roosevelt's New Deal and included several key points:

• A higher minimum wage
• Public works programs
• Higher social security payments
• Government-provided healthcare and education After the war, the economy grew rapidly, and Truman was able to get many of his plans passed by Congress. However, the conservative coalition in Congress opposed increased federal involvement in health and education. Truman faced even more opposition when he launched a civil rights programme to help African Americans. He ordered the desegregation of the armed forces and banned federal contracts with companies that discriminated against African Americans.

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Power of the Presidency

Truman significantly increased the power of the presidency during his term:

• Council of Economic Advisers: He created this council to strengthen the White House's role in economic policy.
• National Security Council: This council was set up to direct foreign policy from the White House. These councils shifted power from traditional departments like the Treasury and State Department to the president and his advisers, especially regarding policy formation.

Truman also used executive orders to initiate policy. These orders did not need Congress's approval, and he could veto any attempts by Congress to overturn them. Some of his notable actions included:

• Ending segregation: Truman desegregated the armed forces, marking the first significant civil rights advance for African Americans.
• Fighting discrimination: He ended discrimination in federal employment programmes.
• Military action in Korea: Truman sent the army to South Korea without asking for congressional approval. He did this because he believed Congress would not support the policy. This set a precedent for future presidents to do the same. By taking these actions, Truman expanded the power and influence of the presidency, making it a more central part of American government.

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Essay Answer Guidance for Truman

If you know Truman and Johnson well, then you are well set up for any president-related question because these are the two heaviest hitters between 1945-1768-70. You may well be asked to compare the two, but if you need some paragraph creation inspiration for an essay solely on Truman, here's what you might use:

1. Introduction: Truman's Challenges and Legacy

• Neutral
• Context: Introduce the overall context of Truman's presidency, highlighting the significant challenges he faced both domestically and internationally.

2. Ending World War II and the Use of Atomic Bombs

• Strength and/or Weakness
• Context: Discuss Truman's decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end WWII, which forced Japan's surrender but also caused immense destruction and ethical debates.

3. The Truman Doctrine and Containment of Communism

• Strength
• Context: Explain the Truman Doctrine, which aimed to contain the spread of communism by providing support to countries resisting Soviet influence, marking the start of U.S. Cold War policy.

4. Marshall Plan and Reconstruction of Europe

• Strength
• Context: Detail the Marshall Plan, which provided economic aid to help rebuild Western Europe after WWII, strengthening U.S. allies and curbing the spread of communism.

5. Korean War: A Test of Truman's Foreign Policy

• Weakness
• Context: Analyse Truman's handling of the Korean War, including his decision to enter the conflict and its mixed outcomes, leading to a prolonged and costly stalemate.

6. The Fair Deal: Domestic Economic Reforms

• Strength
• Context: Describe the Fair Deal, Truman's domestic agenda aimed at expanding social security, increasing the minimum wage, and promoting public works and healthcare, though facing significant opposition in Congress.

7. Civil Rights Initiatives and Desegregation

• Strength
• Context: Highlight Truman's civil rights efforts, including desegregating the armed forces and promoting fair employment practices, which were significant steps forwards in racial equality.

8. Strengthening Presidential Power and Executive Actions

• Strength/Weakness
• Context: Discuss Truman's use of executive orders to bypass Congress, enhancing presidential power but also leading to controversies, particularly during the Red Scare and anti-communist actions. These are just mere suggestions or what you can include in your paragraphs, however there is plenty of room for additional context, quotation and analysis.

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