Download President Truman and Internal Politics Notes

President Truman and Internal Politics Notes
Minos Lau
Introduction: Truman’s political policies in the United States was heavily influenced
by the cold war, and the burden of continuing Roosevelt’s legacy. However, as time
progressed, Truman became more and more hopeful and ambitious in setting the
United States as a global example or leader in many aspects such as economy or
foreign influence. Truman also focused more and more upon the assistance of African
Americans in the United States. President Truman Believed in his responsibility as a
politician to benefit the blacks,
His aims:
*By allowing the United States to seem to represent the ideals of freedom and
equality, he would be setting a good example to the nations involved in the cold war.
*It is also worth noting that there were increasing black politicians in the democratic
party at the South of the United states whom Truman may want support from.
Truman’s methods: (Before, Roosevelt only solved racial problems reactively; for
example, when there was discrimination amongst the troops, Roosevelt reacted.
However, Truman was always active regarding political actions to benefit the blacks.
 Appointed liberals to a committee to investigate increasing violence against
the blacks. Their report endorsed and publicized Truman’s aims.
 Consciousness of racial inequalities increased rapidly between 1945 and 1960
as more and more liberals and democrats stated these issues.
 Blacks should have equality before the law, civil rights, and better housing.
Truman ensured this by appointing an African American federal judge and
also used federal purchasing power to persuade businessmen to provide sameopportunity careers for blacks as well.
 Truman aimed to end segregation in the armed forces as he learns about the
discrimination within the army, which he publicly stated that his ‘stomach
turned over’ when he heard about the deeds.
 While his federal employment and purchasing power practical had not much
influence, he raised awareness of the racial change in the U.S. and put race
relations as a priority for the government.
Successful or not:
His aims:
*Again influenced by the cold war, President Truman was at first against Churchill’s
doctrines condemning Stalin during the Potsdam meetings.
However, the United States congress was heavily anti-communist at that time and as
McCarthyism gained popularity, Truman was convinced that he should increase
American influence that Roosevelt already had in nations to fight communism. In
return, the U.S. would also have a major advantage over the world economy by
having more influence in other nations.
Truman’s methods: Major assets to pro-democracy, anti communist/soviet nations:
The selling of arms,
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Influence in Turkey;
Major economic aids to poorer nations on the East of Russia to prevent them
from being ‘liberated’, nations such as Georgia and Estonia were benefited.
Influence in South Korea, against North Korean Communist threats of
invasion. By doing so Truman wanted a stage in Asia.
Influence in Israel, as the Soviets supported the Arabs, especially Egypt and
Syria.
Truman increased awareness of McCarthyism within the congress as well as
he also depended on these congressmen to justify his actions of expanding
United States influence over the world.