What events/ideas defined Harry Truman's presidency?

Question

I am doing a paper over FDR's, Harry Truman's, and Dwight Eisenhower's presidencies and the Harry Truman chapter, which unfortunately has tons of unneeded material in it, is IMPOSSIBLY long. Paper is due today and please no ridiculing me for procrastination (I KNOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE EARLIER) and I desperately need help with Harry Truman.

Answer 1

Let me help sort it out. There are several key events and ideas that define Truman.

1. His days as a "judge" in Jackson County gave a Truman a belief that government could be a positive force for change in people's lives.

2. This fact was reinforced by the Great Depression, where he saw friends and neighbors ruined by the collapse of the economy, and that government was the only source of help the people could turn to for assistance.

3. Dropping the Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a direct result of Truman having been a soldier in WW I, and being convinced that whatever he could do to lessen the deaths of service members he had to do.

4. His dealings with the Soviet Union and Josef Stalin filled him with a hatred for Communism that remained with him his entire life. These feelings were reinforced many times over by the Berlin Blockade, the Fall of China, and the Korean Conflict.

With regard to ideas, his domestic policies were formed by the vision of the New Deal, and the belief that government could be a postive force in people's lives. He believed that unregulated, pure capitalism was greedy and rapacious, and that the role of government was stand up for the rights of the "little guy."

With regard to foreign Policy, his views were reflective of the new idea emerging from the Cold War -- "Containment." Taken from George Kennan's seminal article in Foreign Affairs in 1947 (The Sources of Soviet Conduct), Truman became convinced that the inherent contradictions of communism would eventually destroy it, and therefore, the policy of the US should be to contain Soviet aggression, but not seek a direct confrontation that could lead to WW III and nuclear devestation.

For this policy, he was wrongly accused of being "soft" on communism, and regularly hounded by the Republican opposition. However, the policy he formulated became standard American policy until the 1990s, and was followed religiously by all subsequent presidents of both parties.

Hope this answer helps. Cheers.

Answer 2

Harry Truman Definition

Answer 3

An ordinary man faces extraordinary challenges. Harry Truman was an honest reflection of his humble Midwest American roots. A man of modest ambition who thought he had reached the pinnacle of his career with his election to the US Senate. It was truly an accident of history that put Truman in the White House. FDR refused to acknowledge his own mortality despite glaring evidence of failing health. Angered over rejection of his candidate for vice president, FDR made no effort to include Truman in on his plans for wrapping up World War Two in Europe and The Pacific.

Thus when FDR died a true babe in the woods found himself holding the reigns of power and the very fact that Truman achieved greatness is not only evidence of his own talents but a stirring example of The American system with its balance between three branches of government and the caliber of men and women who serve. That in itself defines Truman - - - that a man can suddenly be President and begin over seeing a nation of millions engaged in a war against two evil empires.

True, the war was winding down but still it was Truman who had to make decisions such as how to treat the defeated people of German, how to keep the Soviets in check, and then to use a new untried weapon, a super weapon with potential to destroy the world. Truman also had to deal with the politics of being a Democrat in a nation mostly Repubicans and Republicans then as now did not hesitate to throw bricks & sh@t with impunity. McCarthyism began as a tool used by Republicans to besmirch officials on Truman's staff, to lable Americans as Liberal or more worse, Communists.

Truman continued to be an ordinary man - - - blunt, hard working, uncompromising - - - having been a US Senator he did not accept excuses from Congress and went to the voters with a harsh denounement of the 'Do Nothing Congress.' The values of the Midwest clearly defined Truman. Eight to ten hour days spent working, then quiet time with wife & child and a few friends. Thrift and fiscal accountability and a compassion for the less fortunate.

Peace....

Answer 4

Truman's decission to drop the A-Bombs to end World War II, the pullman strike negotiations, his handling of Stalin and the rebuilding of Europe after World War II, restarting America's economy after years of war production/ returning G.I.'s flooding the labor market, "Dewey Defeats Truman", the assassination attempt and the Korean War/ firing MacArthur.

Answer 5

Potsdam Conference
Dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The Fair Deal
Berlin Airlift to provide food for the hungry
Marshall Plan
Founding of NATO
Korean War

Answer 6

decision to drop A bomb! and also his handling of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Even though the children gave me a down thumb...I still gave the right answer first! Can't change that! :)