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how effectivley did president harry truman tackle the problems he faced at…
how effectivley did president harry truman tackle the problems he faced at home and abroad
introduction
born in missouri in 1884
fought in france in ww1 and active in the democratic party and elected senator in 1934
became roosevelt VP in 1944 and then his death became the 33rd president from the 12th april 1945-53
term was defined by the end of ww2 and the onset of the cold war
more succesful with foreign policy than domestic policy
he belived in strong and honorable leadership and had a sign saying "the bucks stops here" meaning he took full responsbillity for all descions
atomic bombs
truman had 2 problems,how to deal with a wartime ally (stalin) and how to defeat japan
truman met with stalin and clement attlee at a post war confrence in potsdam
truman demanded unconditional surrender from japan or they face "prompt and uttter destruction"
japan refused and on the 6th august truman dropped the 1st atomic bomb on hiroshima
it killed 78,000 injured 88,000 and exposed 300,000 to radiation
as the japanese refused to surrender again the 2nd bomb was dropped on nagasaki killing over 70,000 people
on the 10th august japan surrendered and on the 2nd of september they signed surrender terms
truman thought the atomic bomb would bring the war to a swifit end and save american lives as well as serving as a reminder to stlain that america were an atomic power
opposing communism
US relations with soviet russia reached breaking point as they wanted to turn eastern euope and the occupied part of germany into soviet controlled satellite states (known as the cold war)
crucial to US foreign policy was george keenans long telegram
in his view the russians were using communism as a cover for military growth opperssion at home and abroad
this was reinfroced in churchills speech in missouri as he called for firmness agains the soviet union
"an iron curtain has descnded across europe"
truman belived in the policy of communist containment meaning america would oppose communist expansion across the world
truman also accepted the domino theory
truman doctrine + marshall plan
in keeping the polciy of communist containment,truman annoced the truman doctrine
stated that the US would help any country under communist attack from groups inside or outside the country
Truman stated that it was policy of the US to support those "resisting attempted subjugation"
truman secured 400 million from congress to help prevent greece or turkey from falling under communist control
trumans suported the marshall plan whjich gave money to help rebvuild western europe after the war
truman understood that democratic governments were struggling to surivive in an imporvershied post war europe
main aims of the marshall plan werwe to rebuild europes economy and promote free trade with the US and to encoruage co-operation to prevent the spread of communism
this clearly demonstrated US commitment to europe
berlin blockade + formation of NATO
after meeting between allied leaders in Yalta and potsdam germany was slit into four zones
in 1949 after 3 western allies joined their zones together it became known as west germany
stalins zone became known as east germany after refusing marshall aid + imposing communism on it
in 1945 berlin was divided into four
western allies wanted to rebuild germany economically + politically
truman wanted to use marshall aid but it reject by the soviets
deutschmark was introduced to stabilize currency,allow marshall plan + end the black market
to force the allies out of the city the soviets closed all transsport into western berlin to starve them out
under operation vittles the US organised an airlift of supplies to west berlin for 11 months until stalin called of blockade
general clay remarked " when berlin falls,western germnany will be next" truman set up NATO for defence in 1949
korean war
truman was acccused of "loosing china" when they fell to communism in 1949 under mao zedong
chinese nationalists withdrew to taiwan
after WWII the americans and soviets divided korean penisula between them
in keeping with the policy of containment in 1950 truman sent troops to help south korea after being invaded by north korea
truman couldnt be seen as "soft on communism"
truman ordered troops to cross the 38th parallel and destory north korea
china launched a counter attack
truman refused macarthurs call to use necular weapons and sacked him which caused his reputation to plummet
both sides held each other at the orignal border + the war settled to a stalemate (truce agreed 1953)
domestic policies
post WW2 truman faced a housing shortage due to reutruing home soliders
truan used the federal housing administartion to make loans easier to obtain
a large number of houses being built rose tenfold between 1944 -1950
truman had difficulites with congress
after gaining congress in 1946 due to split in the democrats,the republicans were opposed to many of trumans domestic policies
after being doubted to win the enxt election truman gained support in his "whistle stop tour"
"give em hell harry" was a popular slogan
he won support of black americans because of his view on civil rihts,housing,healthcare and education
home victories
the centerpiece of trumans domestic policies was his fair deal reform proposals
it proposed a higher minimum wage + scoial security payments and free health and education
truman got many of his plans passsed by congress
truman set up presidents comittee on civil rights,outlining a widespread pattern of segregation and discrimination
truman called on congress to pass laws on civil rights including to outlaw lynching but congress failed to act
in 1948 truman ended racial discrimination in federal employment and desegregated the armed forces
" discrimination is a disease,we must attack it whenver it apperas"
truman passed the GI bill which helped 8 million former soliders find employment
panic over communism
truman set up loyalty boards to root out communism and fascits sympathiesers
fear of communism was foundational tenet of trumans foreign policy
in 1947 the house representatives set up the HUAC
it searched out communist sympathisers especially in the film industry
when asked about involvement in left wing activites the only way to escape pressure was to denounce others
they were asked to "names names"
if they didnt they were blacklisted making it hard to find work
panic increased in 1949 with the communist vicotry over china
people belived there were communists spies in the government and several people were tried
the panic over communism increased between 1950 and 1953 under leadership from senator joe macarhty which is why it is known as mccarthyism
conclusion