The actions and decisions made by the United States President, leader of the free world, are subject to be analyzed, scrutinized, and debated for the rest of eternity. These decisions are how that man will be judged. Out of the 44 men to hold this honored position, one man, Harry S. Truman, made several proclamations such as the institution of Desegregation in the US Military, the dropping the atomic bombs, and the declaration of the Martial Law, which forever changed our society and the world as we know it. One of Truman’s greatest accomplishments is when he desegregated the Armed Services. Throughout history, African Americans have fought side by side with Honor, Courage, and Commitment, but were never recognized for the role that they provided. On July 26th, 1948, Truman would make a decision that would effect how the Armed Services would operate even to current day. He did this by issuing Executive Order 9981, which ordered the end of segregation throughout the Armed Services and would create the Fahy Committee to oversee the process of desegregation. This order would cause great confusion and political outbreaks throughout the services. For example Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington and Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan would be in favor on the order and would construct a plan to integrate the Navy and Air Force. On the other hand, Secretary of the Army Kenneth Royall would be against the immediate desegregation of the Army which would lead to the proposal of an integrated unit for testing purposes. As a result of all the contradiction between the services, the Fahy called their first Committee meeting with the President and Secretaries of the Armed Services present. During the committee President Tru... ... middle of paper ... ... Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by his decisions throughout his career as President, and his integrity as a president will be remembered by his actions as president throughout time. Works Consulted N.p. “Desegregation of the Armed Forces: Chronology.” Harry S. Truman’s Library and Museum. n. pag July 1998 Robert H. Ferrell. “Truman and the Bomb, a Documentary History Chapter 5: From the President's Diary, July 17, 18, and 25.“ Harry S. Truman’s Library and Museum. n. pag July 1998 N.p. “Truman Signs the Economic Assistance Act” Library of Congress. n. pag July 11, 2005
1. Dorie miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his courage and devotion of duty in the Navy during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Two years later he was missing in action which is understandable with the racism that was happening at that time. With President Roosevelt's signing of the Selective Service Act which did not allow the blacks and whites to intermingle. This caused anger amongst the black Americans. A. Philip Randolph was shocked at President Roosevelt’s discrimination. With blacks highlighting the hypocrisy from the White House stating “White House Blesses Jim Crow”, (Takaki, 23) we must have a dual battle. Hitler in Europe and Hitler in America, this war is suppose
“Truman, Harry S.” The Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Columbia: Columbia, 1994. Online. Internet. Available at HTTP: http://www.historychannel.com/. 24 Sept. 2001.
This investigation assesses President Harry Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will determine whether or not his decision was justified. This investigation will scrutinize the reasons that made Harry Truman feel inclined to drop atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Preventing further casualties along with the desire to end the war are two argumentative points that will be analyzed to determine if they were strong enough to justify the dropping of the atomic bombs. Excerpts from Truman’s memoirs and a variety of different titles were consulted in order to undertake this investigation. Section C will evaluate two sources for their origins purposes values and limitations. The first is a book titled The Invasion of Japan written by John Stakes in 1955. And the second is a book titled Prompt & Utter Destruction written by J. Samuel Walker.
Truman’s accomplishments in his domestic policy were impressive, considering the hardships the nation was experiencing as World War II came to an end, and the resistance of Congress (which was greatly made up of Republicans and conservatives) to liberalism. The president was able to pas...
Walker, J. Samuel. Prompt and Utter Destruction Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs against Japan, Revised Edition. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 2005. Print.
President Harry Truman’s use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during the Second World War is the most controversial decision in history. While it was an undoubtedly difficult decision, it was indeed necessary in order to end this six-year war that had ravaged the world. While many critics argue that the bomb was used primarily as an act of vengeance toward Japan, simplifying such a crucial moment in human history downplays the very real risk invading Japan posed to the United States. While avoiding strained relations with the other Allied countries, Truman had to assess the possible danger of the Soviet Union in a post-war world. Furthermore, the possibility of an arms race, the moral implications of using this weapon, and the number of American lives that would possibly be lost invading Japan were among the numerous pros and cons Truman had to consider when contemplating the use of this powerful weapon never before unleashed on humanity.
Maddox, Robert. “The Biggest Decision: Why We Had to Drop the Atomic Bomb.” Taking Sides: Clashing View in United States History. Ed. Larry Madaras & James SoRelle. 15th ed. New York, NY. 2012. 280-288.
Those studying the experience of African Americans in World War II consistently ask one central question: “Was World War II a turning point for African Americans?” In elaboration, does World War II symbolize a prolongation of policies of segregation and discrimination both on the home front and the war front, or does it represent the start of the Civil Rights Movement that brought racial equality? The data points to the war experience being a transition leading to the civil rights upheavals of the 1960s.
The racial make-up of today’s America’s armed forces is so diverse; it would be easy for the newer generations to assume that the armed forces have always been diverse. However, black Americans were not always able to fight alongside white Americans. Despite the fact that black Americans have contributed in most, if not all, American battles, these forces were not integrated until Executive Order 9981, signed into law by President Truman in 1948. Executive Order 8802, signed by President Roosevelt, did prohibit racial discrimination in the national defense sector; nonetheless, this was signed in 1941, almost 21 years after the end of World War I. While not solely responsible for the course of events that lead to civil rights and more
Discussions of the causes of the Cold War are often divisive, creating disparate ideological camps that focus the blame in different directions depending on the academic’s political disposition. One popular argument places the blame largely on the American people, whose emphasis of “strength over compromise” and their deployment of the atomic bomb in the Second World War’s Pacific theatre apparently functioned as two key catalysts to the conflict between US and Soviet powers. This revisionist approach minimizes Stalin’s forceful approach and history of violent leadership throughout World War 2, and focusing instead on President Harry Truman’s apparent insensitivity to “reasonable Soviet security anxieties” in his quest to impose “American interests on the world.” Revisionist historians depict President Truman as a “Cold War monger,” whose unjustified political use of the atomic bomb and ornery diplomatic style forced Russia into the Cold War to oppose the spread of a looming capitalist democratic monopoly. In reality, Truman’s responsibility for the Cold War and the atomic bomb drop should be minimized. Criticisms of Truman’s actions fail to consider that he entered a leadership position set on an ideological collision course, being forced to further an established plan for an atomic monopoly, and deal with a legacy of US-Russian tensions mobilized by Roosevelt prior to his death, all while being influenced by an alarmist and aggressive cabinet. Upon reviewing criticisms of Truman’s negotiations with Soviet diplomat Vyacheslav Molotov and his involvement in the atomic bomb drop, the influence of Roosevelt’s legacy and Truman’s cabinet will be discussed in order to minimize his blame for starting the Cold War.
Despite not having any prior experience with foreign policy, Truman had managed to end the war in the first six months of his term. The first example of Truman’s contribution to the war was in 1941, while he was Senator of Missouri. Truman created the Senate Special Committee To Investigate The National Defense Program, or as it’s commonly referred to as, the Truman Committee. This saved the government $15 billion dollars, exposed corruption in the defense industry, shed light on shortages of rubber, aluminum, and other strategic war materials, called manufacturers to account for bad work, prodded labor leaders to discourage strikes, and streamlined federal contract practices. The panel staged 732 hearings on a wide range of subjects—steelmaking, shipping losses, housing construction, labor shortages, camp construction, etc. They also produced 51 committee reports, each one unanimously approved by Democrats and Republicans on the panel. Truman's skillful handling of the panel, which managed to be critical of the Roosevelt administration withou...
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States of America. He became president because Franklin D. Roosevelt died during his term; Truman was Roosevelt’s Vice President at the time. Truman found himself facing some of the greatest challenges met by any 20th-century president. He discovered in July 1945 that some scientists working for the United States government had successfully tested an atomic bomb in New Mexico. President Truman wanted to use the atomic bomb to end the war in the Pacific, but with fewest U.S. catastrophes. This decision was one of the most momentous decisions of the 20th century and extremely perplexing when analyzed.
A multitude of influential presidents have come and gone in America, although none like Harry S. Truman. This above average president is one to be recognized for his unbelievable achievements within political foreign policies and governing here in the states. Although first struggling to gain his balance after the sudden death of his predecessor, Truman remained loyal to the Unites States and proved to be one of the most charismatic, and beneficial presidents that the nation has ever seen. The influences of Truman’s early life and introduction to politics, as well as the unexpected win of presidency and constant failures and triumphs shaped this man’s life as well as those of the American people.
One helpful provision of the Fair Deal was the G.I. Bill, which simplified the angst of transition for the many returning soldiers of World War II; it gave veterans financial aid for industrial training and secondary education. The Fair Deal also enabled former military personnel to achieve some semblance of domesticity by "[guaranteeing] loans for home buying" (The Fair Deal) In addition, it bolstered the minimum wage and promised health insurance for all Americans, according to the Library of Congress. In this was displayed Truman's desire to ensure the felicity of his average Americans, the proletarian masses who just desired to live in a free and peaceful land free from Communism's snares and totalitarianism; it was about declaring that the United States would not and could not waver in its mission to guard its people from the ills of the Soviet way of
Due to their choices regarding civil rights, they ended up sacrificing popularity in the South in order to gain support from and protect the black voters in America. At first, Truman avoided civil rights issues for blacks, but soon found that he could not abstain entirely from involvement. In 1948, Truman “endorsed the findings of the report [of the Presidential Committee on Civil Rights] and called for an end to racial discrimination in federal hiring practices” (“Civil Rights Under Truman and Eisenhower”). Truman also issued an order to end segregation in the military, which was later completed by Eisenhower