1. THE TRUMAN YEARS 1945-1952 HARRY S TRUMAN “Give ‘em hell Harry!” “The buck stops here!” “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Gained notoriety on WWII Senate watchdog committee on defense spending --- saved U.S. gov’t lots of money.

3. YALTA CONFERENCE February 1945 February 1945 Yalta, U.S.S.R. Yalta, U.S.S.R. Agreements: Agreements: –Eastern European countries would be free to choose their own form of gov’t –Germany to be divided into 4 zones of occupation by the 4 Allies –Berlin, in the Soviet zone of Germany, would also be divided by the 4 powers – –Stalin promises to enter war against Japan after Germany defeated

4. POTSDAM CONFERENCE July – August, 1945 Truman and Stalin and Churchill Ultimatum to Japan – surrender or else Truman insists German industry be allowed to recover but Stalin wants reparations Agreement: – –German industry allowed to revive in the British, American and French zones – –Stalin gets reparations from only the Soviet zone of Germany (not happy since it was primarily agricultural) Truman tells Stalin of U.S. atomic bomb testing

5. POSTWAR ECONOMY DEMOBILIZATION: DEMOBILIZATION: Forces cut to total of 1.5 million by 1947 (from WWII peak of 8 million) Forces cut to total of 1.5 million by 1947 (from WWII peak of 8 million) –Did NOT bring depression to U.S.: »Pent up demand for consumer goods »Forced savings ($30 billion) during war –GI Bill of Rights – 1944 (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act) »$13 billion in aid »Education »Housing »Small business loans

6. POSTWAR ECONOMY INFLATION - INFLATION - Rose rapidly – demand for wage increases led to … STRIKES: – –5,000 strikes of 4.6 million workers in 1946 » »’46 – UAW strike against GM & Steelworkers against U.S. Steel Truman suggests $.18/hr wage increase & allowed U.S. Steel to raise prices to cover the increase Became basis of settlements in other industries » »UMW Strike – April 1946 John L. Lewis Truman ordered gov’t takeover of mines but then accepted Union’s demands » »Truman avoids RR strike by seizing RRs & threatening to draft strikers into Army!

7. EARLY DOMESTIC POLICY Employment Act of 1946 Employment Act of 1946 –To maintain full employment; 3 member advisory council to P Atomic Energy Commission, 1946 Atomic Energy Commission, 1946 –Civilian control over nuclear development; P has sole authority over use of nuclear weapons Presidential Succession Act, 1947 Presidential Succession Act, 1947 –Put Speaker & Pres. Pro Temp ahead of Sec. Of State –Why? 22 nd Amendment passed; ratified 1951 22 nd Amendment passed; ratified 1951 Department of Defense created, 1947 Department of Defense created, 1947 –National Security Council to advise P –for foreign fact-gathering –CIA created for foreign fact-gathering

8. TAFT-HARTLEY ACT, 1947 Republicans are anti-labor unions – –seeking to stop strikes & union power Made “closed shop” illegal (where employers had to hire only union members) Required anti-communist oath of union officials No union $ could be used for political campaigns Authorized P to seek court injunctions to prevent strikes TRUMAN, pro-Union, VETOED – Congress overrides!!

9. FOREIGN POLICY – THE COLD WAR Failure of U.S.-Soviet Cooperation –Due to different goals of each side – what are they? –Tensions apparent at Yalta and Potsdam –Soviet control over E. Europe, parts of China, Korea, by end of ’45 –By ’46-47 – also control Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria –“” 1947 (5,540 words), George Kennan warns that Soviets have no intention of living peacefully with U.S.-proposes “containment” –“Long Telegram” 1947 (5,540 words), George Kennan warns that Soviets have no intention of living peacefully with U.S.-proposes “containment” Soviet Army kept strong –5 million in 1947 –Soviets understand U.S. nuclear arsenal (12 bombs) cannot destroy entire Soviet military machine

10. UNITED NATIONS Post WWII international peace- keeping organization Replaces the League of Nations April 1945, San Francisco 50 Nations U.S. is first to join Eleanor Roosevelt, 1 st U.S. Ambassador ISRAEL UN created Israeli State out of BR Palestine US recognized Israel in ’48 – protested by oil producing Arab nations

11. IRON CURTAIN Phrase coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 speech in Fulton, MO An “iron curtain” has been spread across Europe separating the democratic from the authoritarian communist states – “satellite nations”

12. IRON CURTAIN

13. CONTAINMENT Will be the Cold War foreign policy for decades Formulated by George Kennan – –“Sources of Soviet Conduct” – July 1947 – –Calls for counterforce to Soviet pressures for purpose of “containing’ communism “Cold War” term used by Walter Lippman to describe icy rivalry & tension/push for dominance between U.S. & Soviets

14. THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE Containment in action! (diplomatic, Containment in action! (diplomatic, economic, and military action) economic, and military action) Feb. ’47 Britain advises it can no longer afford aid to Greece in its efforts against communism Feb. ’47 Britain advises it can no longer afford aid to Greece in its efforts against communism Truman asks Congress for $400 million in military & economic aid to Greece & Turkey Truman asks Congress for $400 million in military & economic aid to Greece & Turkey Truman Doctrine – U.S. must support free peoples who are resisting communist domination by outside pressure (diplomatic, economic, military) Truman Doctrine – U.S. must support free peoples who are resisting communist domination by outside pressure (diplomatic, economic, military) Gives official sanction to the communism v. democracy approach to foreign relations; foreign policy begins to dominate domestic policy Gives official sanction to the communism v. democracy approach to foreign relations; foreign policy begins to dominate domestic policy Why is this an historic change in US foreign policy? Why is this an historic change in US foreign policy?

15. THE MARSHALL PLAN 1948-1952 A “containment” success – over $13 billion. “Hunger, poverty, desperation & chaos are the enemies of democracy.” Marshall Passed in March ’48 after Soviet coup d’etat in Czechoslovakia in Feb. ‘48

16. Yalta’s Post WWII Division of Germany and Berlin What were the conflicting beliefs of Soviets and U.S. on Germany? Federal Republic of Germany formed in 1948 by U.S., British, French Soviet Response: Block surface access to Berlin

18. U.S., British & French combined their zones in Germany to form an independent nation: German Federal Republic (West Germany) Soviets retaliated by closing off all traffic from West Germany to Berlin Truman orders Berlin airlift to bring supplies to the 2 million people stranded in West Berlin Airlift lasted for 12 months; over 200,000 flights What types of supplies were brought in? BERLIN AIRLIFT

19. THE BERLIN AIRLIFT 12 months – 200,000 flights Supplies to 2 million stranded West Berliners

20. CONTAINMENT IN ASIA: THE PHILIPPINES Granted independence by the U.S. in 1946 Granted independence by the U.S. in 1946 In return, U.S. got use of naval bases there In return, U.S. got use of naval bases there But, by turn of the century, all U.S. troops were to be removed. But, by turn of the century, all U.S. troops were to be removed.

21. Douglas MacArthur is Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in charge of the occupation of Japan from 1945-1947 Known as the “White Emperor” of Japan Why an occupation policy for Japan? JAPAN Japan seen as key to defending Asia just as Germany was key to defending Europe against communism

22. Japan’s military forces are dismantled & empire lost Japan’s military forces are dismantled & empire lost War criminals are tried War criminals are tried A new constitution is written which provides for representative gov’t & gives women the right to vote A new constitution is written which provides for representative gov’t & gives women the right to vote Schools are reorganized to teach democratic values Schools are reorganized to teach democratic values The Emperor remains, but only as a figurehead. The Emperor remains, but only as a figurehead. Japan regained its independence in 1951 Japan regained its independence in 1951 Quickly became the leading economy in Asia Quickly became the leading economy in Asia Under MacArthur:

23. Ongoing conflict in China between Communists, led by Mao, and the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek since 20s Ongoing conflict in China between Communists, led by Mao, and the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek since 20s Suspended in WWII to fight Japan Suspended in WWII to fight Japan U.S. sends Marshall to help settle conflict and $20 billion in aid between ’45 & ’48 U.S. sends Marshall to help settle conflict and $20 billion in aid between ’45 & ’48 –$ lost due to poor planning and corruption Communists successful by ’49 Communists successful by ’49 –500 million new communists U.S. refuses aid to Nationalists during Communist takeover U.S. refuses aid to Nationalists during Communist takeover Nationalists forced off mainland to Taiwan Nationalists forced off mainland to Taiwan U.N. recognizes only Nationalist China on Taiwan U.N. recognizes only Nationalist China on Taiwan Chairman Mao Zedung Chiang Kai-shek

24. ELECTION OF 1948 Thomas Dewey, R Doesn’t campaign Henry Wallace, Progressive Strom Thurmond, Dixiecrat Whistlestop Campaign Farmers, laborers, blacks Fair Deal Democrats opposed to Truman’s pro-civil rights policies

25. TRUMAN’S FAIR DEAL Expansion of Social Security benefits Proposed national health insurance Raised minimum wage from $.40 to $.70 Committee on Civil Rights, 1946 CIVIL RIGHTS: Committee on Civil Rights, 1946 –Make lynching a federal crime; no poll taxes –Ended segregation in the armed forces –No discrimination in federal jobs Unsuccessful with many efforts - defeated by a coalition of Republicans & conservative Southern Ds Unsuccessful with many efforts - defeated by a coalition of Republicans & conservative Southern Ds 1952 Steel Strike – Truman nationalized steel industry before the strike started! Supreme Ct. held that he lacked the authority to seize the steel mills.