Harry S. Truman AKA "Give 'Em Hell Harry"

Group members

• Mike McQuiston
• Jack Rosette
• Hamzah Mahmood

Conditions Under Which He Worked

At Home

Political

As for politics, many Americans were one-sided. Almost everyone supported the war. There was a military draft in place, and many of the men and boys left for war, leaving mostly women to think about politics. Many patriotic posters appeared in places, which urged people to think about the war constantly. Many of the people at home cut back on their spending, and grew their own food just to help their soldiers abroad.

Social

Women are starting to gain more respect. As the men and boys leave for the war, women take factory jobs. This is the era when respect for women in society takes a turn for the better (they proved themselves). Many of the men and boys leave for war. America is sucked out of their resources. People have limits to what they can buy and how much they can buy, this means people can’t live as lavishly as they would like. All production of civilian cars is halted, and a national speed limit of 35 miles per hour is posted. Every one is reminded daily that there’s a war going on, posters are posted every where, sporting slogans like, “He’s watching you,” and, “We can do it.” They show the attitude of the time, as well as how committed the public was to winning the war.

Economic

Detroit is in full swing, making tanks and supporting the war effort. It is called the “Arsenal of Democracy” by FDR a couple years before Truman came in office. Everyone in the US is urged to grow their own food; people have gardens in their front lawns. There are food stamps and shoe stamps. Everyone does their part to save on things like rubber, glass, and other materials, so they can be used in the war effort. All manufacturing of civilian cars is stopped so that auto manufacturers can make planes, tanks, boats, and trucks for the army. The US just came out of depression about 10 or 20 years ago, so many people are cautious to invest, but then again, many of the potential investors are fighting for their country.

Abroad

Political

Citizen of every country were not allowed to have (or express) their own political opinion, but for the most part, people were extremely patriotic. It was not uncommon for citizens of Russia to have pictures of Stalin in their living rooms, just as people in Nazi Germany had pictures of Hitler in their homes. Some citizens of occupied countries, such as Korea, were not even allowed to grow their national trees or read in their own language. The people in these countries just wanted to come out of occupation, so they could publicly express their political ideas.

Social

People are growing tired of the war all over the world. People in Korea are oppressed by the Japanese, who are trying to take over the world. People in Brittan are tired of the air raids. People in Germany feel like the war will end soon, and believe that the cause which they are working towards is in reach. The main point is that the war is irritating everyone in each country, and they all want to find a way to win as soon as possible, so morale is high in many places, and patriotism is also common, just like in America.

Economic

Economic conditions in different countries were mixed. Overall, many countries did not have the free market economies that America had, so the government could do anything it wanted to. Men and boys were forced to fight for their countries, and women had no choice but to work in fields and factories. People in Nazi Germany and France did not mind the lack of materials because they were committed to win the war.

Presidential Greatness

President Harry Truman could have been a great president. But missteps in the Korean war and the fact that he fought opposition in both houses of Congress held him from attaining that rank. Still, though, Truman ended the Second World War in a decisive measure, revamped the Executive branch drastically, and made changes that are still felt today, including the CIA and NATO. Truman filled President Roosevelt's shoes better than anybody expected, including the Prime Minister of Britain, one Winston Churchill. Churchill is quoted as telling Truman, "I must confess, sir. I held you in very low reguard then. I loathed your taking the place of Franklin Roosevelt. I misjudged you badly. Since then, you, more than any other man, has saved Western civilization." Coming from the greatest British Prime Minister of the 20th century, that's no light comment.

Sources:

http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/academic/americanpresident/truman

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/truman.html

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/

http://www.lewrockwell.com/raico/raico20.html

http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Grant-Eisenhower/Truman-Harry-S.html