On Every Front Chapter 1 Summary

When Harry S. Truman left the presidency in January 1953, he was one of the most unpopular politicians in the United States. However, this is unjustified as he was a real democrat for the people and was an honest president. Furthermore, he did not make many poor discussions nor was he inadequate leader, yet he got undeserved and bias criticism by the people of the United States. Truman continually faced tough challenges and had to pick up from where Franklin D. Roosevelt 's unanticipated death left the nation in a mess. He was the Commander in Chief of the United States military during the final months of World War II. Under his command, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, effectively ending the war. For many Americans, Truman 's legacy as the nation 's leader centres on these controversial decisions. He had courage, imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand, yet he was branded as a bad president during his time. In spite of that, he has overcome his challenges and had stayed strong even after he returned to private life,

Considering the continued growth of Communism on the international stage and the Democratic president Harry S. Truman’s inability to stop events like the Communist takeover of China, the Republican Platform, that President Dwight D. Eisenhower ran on, proposed an exceptionally tougher stance on Communism. The platform had determined mere containment of Communism to be an insufficient solution, so therefore called for military action to reverse the spread of Soviet influence. However, President Eisenhower also promised large budget cuts to the military, so they devised a policy that they believed would cut spending but also increase the effectiveness of the military’s power. The Eisenhower administration announced this policy that called for the creation of a nuclear bomb carrying air fleet, that would be used as a threat to any Communists groups to discourage them from making advances to invade or takeover countries requesting American aid. Eisenhower planned to reverse the growth of Communism by using a superbomber airfleet as an effective weapon against Communism, however, he often failed to follow this initial foreign policy throughout his administration.

Characterized by the ideological divergence of Communism and Capitalism as well as the intense economic rivalry when World War II came to an end, the political tension between the only two world’s superpowers, United States and Soviet Union, was inevitable. While both of these two nations were motivated by the ambition to expand their worldwide influence, Soviet Union carries more responsibility for instigating the Cold War and exacerbating its discord with United States. While critics argued that America initiated the war by carrying out the Marshall plan when there was no solid evidence about the threat of Communism posed on the United States, it is unassailable that Soviet’s aggression and expansionism prior to the Cold War led to America’s mindset about the nature and potential danger of Communism. The Telegram from Moscow clarified the

America was finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel by April of 1945. With Stalin committed to entering war with Japan in alliance with the United States, and German troops dropping like flies, the last thing America needed was for Franklin D. Roosevelt to die. Entering his fourth term, Harry S. Truman accompanied him as the Vice President. Truman’s predecessor, as it turns out, was Henry A. Wallace, “an unapologetic (somewhat over enthusiastic) liberal, that had so infuriated the conservative wing of the Democratic party, the party bosses were desperate to be rid of him.”1 The drastic contrast in political views between Wallace and Truman made it clear that if put in any of the situations Truman eventually was, Wallace would

He wanted the Soviet’s to change their government policy (Doc 3). America's national security policy for planning post-war was a cause of great discomfort for the Soviets. Due to this, the Soviets were much more conscious of America's post-war planning in which America planned to regain their previous interests and possibly gain more. America’s post-war planning and their use of the atomic bomb caused tension between them and the Soviet Union. After World War II, American political policies towards the Soviets changed severely.

The two superpowers in the world, the United States and Soviet Union, had begun to show their strengths immediately after war. Following the war, they got involved in events such as the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War in an attempt to prove who was stronger. After those events the two countries participated in an arms race, a contest in which they competed to see who was to build more powerful weapons. As this race turned into a more serious situation, and Americans started to realize that the United States wasn’t the only one with powerful weapons, fear united them once again. As shown in Document 3, the dominant problem throughout the years 1953-1962 was the threat of war.

Whatever conclusions may be drawn from these facts -- and facts they are - this is certainly not the Liberated Europe we fought to build up” (Document C). This quote set the precedent for containment and gives understanding as to why America reverted from its original policy of isolationism into an alternate strategy of preventing the spread of communist expansion. Moreover, George E. Kennan’s Long Telegram, or Document D, sketched “the roots of Soviet policy” and contained “warning of serious difficulties with the Soviet Union in the years ahead”. Kennan’s telegram portrayed the Soviets as aggressive and intent on world domination, suggesting that they would only respond to force and not

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.

This doctrine stated it would give aid to Turkey and Greece who were struggling to stay afloat and away from the Soviet Union’s ideals of communism. After the Truman Doctrine, a 66 page top-secret document was presented to Truman known as NSC-68. The document supported an increase in the military budget of the United States and the development of a hydrogen bomb. This example shows how Americans are not backing down from engagement with other countries. The continued willingness to be violent and aggressive which goes against Wilson’s original aims for the

“Leave me alone,” and “let American mind its own business internationally” seemed to be the attitude toward the rest of the world in the 1930s. As a national policy put in place to avoid political or economic tangles with other countries, Isolationism was a reassuring theme throughout history for the U.S.A. The term is most often applied to the political atmosphere and Foreign Policy leaders at that time period who once again led the country down its well-traveled path of isolationism. President Franklin D. Roosevelt realized the threats of a rising militaristic dictatorship in Europe and Japan but could not control the isolationist Congress; it instead ushered the most intense and angry debate of a lifetime.

The foreign policy of the United States can be defined as a labyrinth- a set of complex intricacies which either lack comprehension or are characterized by meticulous thought. Established during a period of ideological warfare and domestic hysteria, it is evident the Truman Doctrine was conceived with a disregard for the future stability of American international affairs. Engulfed within a period marked by massive power struggles and distorted accusations, the Truman Doctrine may appear minimal in regard to alterations of the United States international attitude. However, the Doctrine acted as a catalyst for the shift in America’s foreign policy objectives and vision. It is clear the Truman Doctrine produced detrimental consequences in regard to the international policy of the United States, stability of foreign countries, and continuing repercussions in the modern day.

Offner, Arnold, "Provincialism and Confrontation: Truman’s Responsibility" in Major Problems in American Foreign Relations, Volume II.

On May 15, 1948, the United States became the first country to recognize Israel as an independent state. Many advisors of President Truman’s had advised not to, and that creating a land for the Jews would pit the Arab nations against us. He went ahead anyway, because he didn’t want to lose the American-Jew vote; and in doing so, accepted the idea of the U.N.’s Partition Plan. However, he quickly lost much of the control over the policy-making process. ( Miller Center, 2016 ) 1

Americans have been wondering whether President Truman should’ve ordered the usage of weapons which was against Japan back in August 1945. The World War II which involved almost every part of the world. This decision had the citizens thinking every year that passes by as if the President had made wrong decision. This horrible event had the citizens in doubt. The results were not good for the Japanese civilians. Because the of the atomic bomb they had lost not only their families, but also their houses and businesses. It impacted the tens of thousands of people in every way possible. To what Americans observes from this is not only the pros it had brought for the citizens, but it

Within theories and finding, The Truman Doctrine was established and on March 12th, 1947. Truman speech pledged “American support for free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” (Simkin, n.d.) Congress also agreed to give economic aid to the military to help fight Greece against communism as he felt that the political stability was threatened. With Greece in trouble Truman as concerned the other countries would fall into Communism and was known as the ‘domino theory’. If it was not for Truman then Greece and Turkey could no longer afford to fight the rebels. “Truman said that the Cold War was a choice between freedom and oppression; Therefore, Americans would have to abandon their decisions not to get involved in European affairs; America was OBLIGED to get involved” (Clare, n.d.). The Truman Doctrine was an American challenge not only to Soviet ambitions but also through a policy of containment.