Harry Truman Flashcards
when was he president?
1945 - 1952
what party did he belong to?
Democrat
what was the North East US like?
traditional politically, financially and an educational powerhouse, sophisticated and responsible
what was the mid west like?
sparsely populated and lacked major cities
what was the South like?
more traditional and embraced segregation
what was the border of mexico like?
oil rich and had a population explosition
what was the east coast like?
lacked political influence
what was the west coast like?
more relaxed and liberal
how many white people in 1945?
130 million
what were the 5 ethnic groups in US?
White, Asian (smallest), African American (largest, 14 million), Native and Hispanics
when was the Wall Street Crash and what did it do?
1929 - 1945
levelled many inequalities and created ‘thrift’ culture and hard workers in middle class
what were ‘blue collar’ workers now protected by?
Trade Unions / ‘Organised Labour’
who was provided little protection under Trade Unions?
women and minority groups
what did the war lead to socially?
increase in social mobility between classes
females in workforce in 1944?
36%
how many US troops expected work in 1945?
12 mill
when was Yalta?
4-11 Feb 1945
what was discussed at Yalta?
loose agreements to split Germany into 4 zones
allow free elections in Germany
USSR join war against Japan after Germany
was Yalta a success or failure?
success
when was Potsdam conference?
17 Jul - 2 Aug 1945
what was discussed at Potsdam?
Poland’s borders
German disarmament & reparations - decision to trials for leading Nazis
little agreed
what caused tensions at Potsdam?
Truman not telling Stalin of development of atomic bombs
what happened 6 Aug 1945?
Hiroshima
what was the Truman Doctrine?
military aid to any country faced with takeover by an armed minority
what was the Marshall Plan / European Recovery Program?
economic aid offered to all European countries to help rebuild shattered economies
how much was given to the Marshall Plan?
$17 billion
who got most of the Marshall Plan?
France, UK and Germany
when was the Berlin airlift?
March 1948 - May 1949
what caused the Berlin airlift?
Berlin blockade on 25 March
how many supplies were sent by air in Berlin airlift?
1.5 million tonnes
how many flights were made to Berlin?
275,000
how long did the airlift and blockade last?
324 days
when did Stalin lift blockade?
12 May 1949
what was created from Berlin airlift?
NATO
what does NATO stand for?
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
when was the occupation of Japan?
Aug 1945 - 1952
when did Japan announce surrender?
14 August 1945
who was given dictatorial power and how many Us troops were involved in occupation of japan?
MacArthur
350,000
between 1945 - 52, who was banned from government posts?
communists
what did Article 9 do?
renounced war as instrument of policy
what was the government changed to in japan during the occupation of japan?
democratically elected government with votes for women
what changed American policy towards Japan?
Mao Zedong’s victory in China
why did Truman fear for Japan?
because it was an easy prey for communism
what boosted Japanese economy?
Korean war
what did Japan occupy and with what?
Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam with guerrilla warfare
who expected US support?
Ho Chi Minh
who did US support instead of Ho Chi Minh and how?
France - covered war costs
what was Korea divided on?
38th parallel
who blocked United Nations efforts regarding Korea?
USSR
who won election in South Korea?
Syngman Rhee
who did USSR install in korea in 1948?
Kim II Sung