When was Harry S. Truman the United States' President?
Serving as the 33rd President of the United States from April 12, 1945, to January 20, 1953, Harry S. Truman succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt after his death, as World War II was coming to an end. On July 30, 1945, he gave final approval to drop the two atomic bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August, 6 and 9, 1945, which led to Japan’s surrender and a World War II victory for the United States.
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884, to December 26, 1972) served as the 33rd President of the United States from April 12th, 1945, to January 20, 1953, after the 32nd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, passed away from a stroke on April 12, 1945.
Throughout his eight-year presidency, he made a series of bold decisions and key events that influenced American history.
These included: creating the 1947 Truman Doctrine to pledge United States financial support to Greece and Turkey against communist nations, approving the 1948 Marshall Plan to rebuild war-torn Western Europe after World War II, creating NATO in 1949 to defend against Soviet aggression during the Cold War, and sending United States troops to Korea in 1950.
President Truman also played a vital role in the Civil Rights movement from May 17, 1954 to April 4, 1968.
In this position, he desegregated the US Armed Forces on July 26, 1948, by signing Executive Order 9981, as well as creating a fair employment board to eliminate hiring discrimination within federal agencies with Executive Order 9980 in 1948.
Overall, the 33rd United States President, Harry S. Truman's legacy showed him as a decisive leader who navigated the United States through a period of profound transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What does the "S" in his name stand for?
It does not stand for a specific name; his parents gave him the middle initial "S" to honor both of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young.
Source: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/biographical-sketch-harry-truman
2) How did Franklin D. Roosevelt die?
He died from a massive cerebral hemorrhage, also known as a stroke, on April 12, 1945.
Source: https://www.roosevelthouse.hunter.cuny.edu/exhibits/death-president-roosevelt-april-12-1945/
3) What was the Truman Doctrine?
It was a 1947 United States foreign policy stating that the United States would assist all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/truman-doctrine
Why it matters
Harry S. Truman’s ability to make vital decisions that would impact the US set the foundation for domestic and global leadership, as well as alliances that are still key today.
Sources
- Research Forum, The Reciprocity of Demography, Territory and Time in Shaping Zionist and Israeli Policy -- 18997-1951, Aviva Halamish, The Open University
- "The Memoirs of Harry S. Truman: A Reader's Edition" National LIbrary of Israel
- "Harry S. Truman" National Library of Israel
- "Correspondence Between President Truman and Pope Pius XII" National Library of Israel
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What was the Truman Doctrine?
Announced by United States President Harry S. Truman on March 12, 1947, the Truman Doctrine was a policy statement delivered to Congress, in which Truman pledged $400 million in American military and economic support for Greece and Turkey, as they were heavily threatened by communism.
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The surprise attack against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, Hawaii, by Japan on December 7, 1941, caused the destruction or damage of eighteen U.S. naval vessels, including eight battleships, 300 aircraft, and the deaths of 2,400 American soldiers. On December 8, with key assets such as aircraft carriers and oil reserves still standing, the United States officially declared war on Japan, leading to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declaring war on the United States, officially marking the beginning of a global war.
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