Truman (1945-1953) Flashcards
when was Truman elected senator?
1935
when was Truman selected vice president?
1944
who did Truman replace as president?
Franklin Roosevelt
when did Truman become president?
April 1945
What did he oversee in his presidency?
The end of WWII and the new challenges of the cold war
What did Truman suggest in response to the collapse of the Japanese occupation in Korea after WWII and why?
Truman proposed dividing the Korean peninsula at the 38th parallel with soviet forces in the North and the US in the south - this was due to the fear of Korea entirely falling under soviet and communist control
How long was the Korean war and what did it establish between US and North Korea relations?
1950-53 - due to the US bombing North Korea villages, towns and cities, this established a negative relationship
what was post-war USA like?
USA emerged from the war as the most powerful nation - envy grew as the US had a head start in wealth, technology and weaponry
when was the Yalta conference?
4th - 11th February 1945
what agreements were made at the Yalta conference?
- divided Germany into 4 zones occupied by the big 3
- bring nazi war-criminals to trial
- set up commissions to look into reparations
what problems were caused at the Yalta conference?
USA thought the agreement to ‘democracy + free elections’ meant that Europe would have freedom of speech and elections but the soviets idea of democracy was communist - some think Roosevelt was Naive for this
when was the Potsdam conference?
July 17th - August 2nd 1945
why was there tension at the Potsdam conference?
- After Roosevelts death, Truman was now president and was inclined to ‘get tough’ with USSR
- US had tested the first atomic bomb - Truman had only informed Churchill of this and not Stalin
- two days after conference two Atomic bombs dropped on Japan so tensions built between the east + west
when was the Berlin Blockade/Airlift?
1948-49
what was the Berlin Blockade?
the Russians stopped all road, rail and canal traffic to Berlin - argued he was defending the east German economy against the new currency but western powers said he was trying to force them out of Berlin
what was the Berlin Airlift?
the Airlift was Trumans response to the Blockade where Allied planes transported supplies to West Berlin - the airlift prevented the blockade from succeeding and it was peaceful, making Stalin appear aggressive
what were the causes of the Berlin Blockade?
- The divisions over the future of Berlin dating back to Yalta + Potsdam
- Tensions of economic differences (west zones benefited from marshal aid)
- the introduction of new currency (Deutchmark)
- the failure of council ministers
what was the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan?
the Truman Doctrine provided military aid to collapsing countries in response to the growing communism and threat of the soviet union - the Marshall Plan was an economic extension of the Truman Doctrine aimed to help Germany and other European nations rebuild after the ravages of war
What did Truman state the US’s duty was?
He said their duty was to “support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures,”
was The Truman Doctrine/Marshall Aid Containment or Expansionism?
Either:
- Containment because it successfully prevented the growth of communism and halted the threat of the soviets
- Expansionism perhaps because Truman was only trying to gain publicity and credit for the good deed to get on the good side of foreign affairs
what made an effective economy 1945?
- a growth in consumer demand
- provided supplies to another country - exporting = trading
- low inflation from spending + producing
- vertuous economic cycle
- good relationship with congress
- extention f new deal legislation
- good quality of housing
- good relations with US trade unions
- good relationships with US employers
what is partisanship?
when members of political parties strongly support their party’s policies and reffuse to comprimise with their political opponents
what is inflation?
a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money
How did the Us economy emerge from WWII?
became powerhouse of global economy - economy boomed, responsible for 50% of worlds consumer goods production
