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Truman Flashcards

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1
Q

When was Truman born and where did he grow up?

A

1884

On a farm in Missouri

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2
Q

When did Truman become president?

A

April 1945 after Roosevelt died of a Haemorrhage

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3
Q

What did Roosevelt die of?

A

a haemorrhage

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4
Q

What did many Americans feel Truman symbolised?

A

The American dream

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5
Q

When was Truman’s first military success?

A

After the first world war in 1517

He proved to be a popular and effective soldier and captain

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6
Q

Roosevelt’s presidency

A

Described as ‘revolutionary’ in his promotion of large scale federal intervention into the economy and society.
Led the US successfully through 2 huge crises’ - the global depression + 2nd world war

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7
Q

Why did Truman have huge expectations to live up to?

A

Revolutionary presidency of Roosevelt + changed ideas on the role of the president - had promoted federal intervention into economy and society
Hard presidency for Truman to follow

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8
Q

What were Truman’s goals for his presidency mainly in? why is this ironic?

A

Domestic

Mainly known for his successes in foreign policy

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9
Q

Main domestic goals?

A
  1. Maintain economic boom generated by the war, expand the American dream and stimulate the economy
  2. Manage a smooth transition from a wartime to a peacetime economy
  3. Address the issues of poverty and unemployment through the continuation of Roosevelt’s ‘fair deal’ through his own ‘21 point plan’
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10
Q

How had America emerged from the war?

A

A worldwide superpower, America emerged as the wealthiest, most prosperous nation in the world

7% of the world’s population, 42% of it’s income

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11
Q

Improvements after the war (employment)

A

Already rich in natural resources such as iron, coal. Factories working at full speed to produce wartime materials and having millions of veterans serving in the war led to full time, well-paid employment meaning raised standards of living

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12
Q

What was America developing into post WW2?

A

More disposable income, consumer society

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13
Q

How much of the World’s manufactured goods was the US producing?

A

half

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14
Q

What did unemployment remain at during Truman’s presidency?

A

under 4%

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15
Q

How did other nations react to the American dream?

A

The envy of the world

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16
Q

Was the American dream a reality?

A
  • Emerged from the war as the wealthiest, strongest power in the world
  • 7% of world’s population and 42% of it’s income
  • Depression of the 1930s had come to an end
  • War had meant full, well-paid employment, Americans had more disposable income meaning America was developing into a consumer society
  • America was producing half of the world’s manufactured goods
  • Many countries envied the US, many were also financially dependent on the US through the Marshall plan
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17
Q

Evidence the American dream was not a reality?

A
  • Racial inequality, increased acceptance of different white ethnic groups during the war, however, racial discrimination against African-Americans (14million) and Hispanics (1.2mill) in the South was entrenched into the law and society (GI bill didn’t apply to African Americans)
  • Huge differences in wealth across the US, whilst the number of homeowners was dramatically increasing, as was Poverty
  • Fear of communism
  • Prejudice against religion - specifically Catholicism and Judaism
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18
Q

How had the war helped to accelerate the acceptance of different white ethnic groups?

A

wartime and post war Hollywood portrayed Polish, Italian and Irish soldiers as successful, patriotic men

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19
Q

What did Truman fear given the return of 12 million veterans?

A

US slipping back into a depression similar to the disaster of the 1930s

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20
Q

How did Truman deal with the problem of 12 million returning veterans?

A
  1. Employment act of 1945
  2. Federal Housing agency
  3. GI Bill
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21
Q

What did the employment act of 1945 do?

A

Designed to provide employment for returning veterans
The act was passed by congress but it didn’t go as far as to provide full employment
HOWEVER
Employment remained under 4% during Truman’s presidency

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22
Q

What was the federal housing agency used for?

A

Used to provide housing for returning veterans
However, progress was limited as Truman was unable to get a sufficient amount of money from congress to build public housing

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23
Q

What did the GI bill do?

A

Used to manage demobilisation of 12 million veterans
Provided veterans with 52 weeks of unemployment benefits
Provided veterans with loans for housing, education and businesses

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24
Q

Successful GI bill?

A

Successful - helped US economy to flourish, favourable by US public and easily passed by congress
HOWEVER
Wasn’t Truman’s initial idea as it was a continuation of Roosevelt’s GI bill of rights in 1944
Didn’t extend to African Americans

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25
Q

What was Truman’s GI bill a continuation of?

A

Roosevelt’s GI bill of rights, 1944

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26
Q

What did Truman’s fair deal involve?

A

practical methods to stimulate the US economy and promote the American dream

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27
Q

What were the measures suggested by Truman for the fair deal?

A
  • Higher minimum wage
  • Full employment programme
  • larger security programme
  • free healthcare system
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28
Q

How much did employment rise by under Truman?

A

46 million to 61 million

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29
Q

How much did the average income of Americans increase by under Truman?

A

40%

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30
Q

How much did social security extend by under Truman?

A

To 1 million more Americans

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31
Q

How many houses did the national housing act build and when was the act implemented?

A

1946

800,000 subsided, low-income homes

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32
Q

How much did the minimum wage increase by under Truman?

A

40 to 75 cents

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33
Q

What did Truman do for schools?

A

Established school lunch act of 1946 which provided free lunches for low income Americans
HOWEVER
Little done for education overall

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34
Q

Summary of successes of Truman’s fair deal

A
  • social security extended to 1 million more Americans
  • minimum wage rose by 40 to 75 cents
  • 800,000 low income subsidised homes built through the national housing act of 1946
  • Average income of American increased by 40%
  • Employment rose from 46 mil to 61 mil
  • school lunch act of 1946 provided free school lunches to low income Americans
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35
Q

What was the problem with Truman’s proposal for free healthcare?

A

Attacked by the American medical association as ‘socialised medicine’
Attacked by congress as a tax raising measure
Many Americans believed it was not the role of the government to tell people how to arrange their healthcare

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36
Q

Why did Truman do little for education?

A

Believed to be a state issue rather than a federal issue

Should’ve done more - increased problems in American schools

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37
Q

Main reason for the failure of the fair deal

A

Lacked the economic necessity Roosevelt’s new deal had given the circumstances of the global depression
For many Roosevelts new deal had gone far enough with improving the US economy

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38
Q

Why did Truman face so much opposition from congress?

A

they were making increased efforts to reduce the power of the presidency - when the president had more power, the power of congress reduced

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39
Q

What led to increased inflation levels?

A

Wartime supply demands led to full time, well-paid employment as well as GI bill which provided employment for returning veterans. Americans had more disposable income, this was pumped into the economy. Establishment of a consumer society led to increased demands for goods. American industries could not keep up with the increased demands for goods leading to a 25% inflation rate

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40
Q

Why did inflation levels have . huge impact on the lives of Americans?

A

Americans had a higher expectation for the quality of life after the war given the flourishing economy ww2 had generated

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41
Q

How did Truman attempt to deal with the problem of inflation?

A

Through the continuation of Roosevelt’s OPA
However
He faced opposition from right wing democrats and republicans in congress who wanted abolish the OPA and hand back control to businesses
He therefore proposed a price control bill in attempt to extend the life of the OPA - this was passed by congress but was so watered down that it became practically ineffective

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42
Q

Result of Trumans struggle to handle inflation levels

A

damaged his reputation significantly which led to the democrat defeat in the 1946 mid-term elections

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43
Q

What did Truman proposed after the OPA was rejected?

A

Price control bill - continuation of OPA. Passed by congress but was so watered down that it became practically ineffective

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44
Q

Why did employers reject pay rises to keep up with levels of inflation?

A

Businesses wanted to raise prices to keep up levels of inflation whilst also keeping wages low to maximise profits

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45
Q

What led to the strikes of 1946?

A

Employers rejecting pay rises to keep up with levels of inflation

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46
Q

What industries and workers did the strikes involve?

A

coal, steel, railroad
4.6 million workers
116 million working days lost

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47
Q

Event of Jan 1946 - strikes

A

800,000 steel workers went on strike

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48
Q

Event of April 1946 - strikes

A

400,000 coal miners went on strike

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49
Q

Why did Truman have no way in dealing with the strikes?

A

Congress had blocked all attempts truman had made to deal with inflation

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50
Q

How did Truman deal with the strikes of railroad workers?

A

threatened conscripting all railroad strikers and having the US army run the railroad industry

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51
Q

What kind of decisions was Truman’s conscription threat?

A

impulsive, dramatic - he had no other way of dealing with them

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52
Q

Result of Truman’s conscription threat

A

The railroad workers called off their strike before the conscription could be implemented

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53
Q

How did Truman deal with strikes of mine workers?

A

Took their union leader to court and in a rare occurrence won the court case

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54
Q

What did the republican controlled congress (1946 elections) implement?

A

Taft hartley act of 1946

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55
Q

What was the taft hartley act designed to do?

A

control the power of the unions

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56
Q

Results of taft hartley act

A

angered unions and damaged Truman’s reputation further. Truman attempted to veto the act, his veto was overruled by congress

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57
Q

How much did Truman win the 1948 presidential election by?

A

Defeated Thomas Dewey by over 2 million votes dewey

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58
Q

Other event of the 1948 presidential election

A

Democrats regained control over congress - Truman now hoped to implement social reform acts he had attempted to under the fair deal of 1945 ad 46

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59
Q

Who was Joseph McCarthy?

A

unknown senator from Wisconsin - political opportunist looking to increase his popularity

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60
Q

What did McCarthy use to increase his popularity?

A

Manipulated the increasing fear Americans had of communism

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61
Q

Why was McCarthy able to use the fear of communism to his advantage?

A

Able to manipulate the media

Had a supportive audience

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62
Q

Actions of Mccarthy

A

Announced he had a list of 205 suspected communists working for the US government in February 1550
From this, Mccarthy carried out a witch hunting campaign against the truman administration

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63
Q

Why did Mccarthy have the support of the US public?

A

Marshall plan and Truman doctrine had established communism as the enemy
Communists working for the US government gave the American people an explanation as to why the US hadn’t fully committed itself to containment in China and why China had been ‘lost’ to communism

ALSO Catholic church as McCarthy was a catholic himself and communism was considered to be atheistic

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64
Q

Key event in 1946 that proved US fear to communism

A

comic books such as captain America were changing their enemies from the Nazis to communists, with titles such as ‘captain America, commie smasher’

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65
Q

Why did Mccarthy have the support of the Catholic church?

A

Supported Mccarthy because he was catholic himself

Communism was considered to be atheistic

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66
Q

Critics of McCarthy

A

1950 - Tydings community looked into McCarthy’s accusations and called him a ‘fraud and a hoax’

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67
Q

Why were people scared to confront Mccarthy?

A

In fear of being accused of being communist himself - risked losing jobs, ruined lives

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68
Q

Results of witch hunts

A

600 school teachers
500 government officials
150 college professors
all lost their jobs

69
Q

Act to control spread of communism passed in 1950

A

Internal security act - required communists to register with the government

70
Q

Evidence spread of communism was limiting the American dream

A

Nation that considered itself to be a world leading superpower was now stifling freedom and censoring books

71
Q

At the peak of McCarthy’s influnce what was his approval ratings?

A

50%

72
Q

Why did McCarthy get away with it?

A
  • Developing fear of communism - marshall plan and doctrine
  • Events in China - explanation for US not sticking to policy of containment
  • Soviets tested their first atomic bomb in 1949 (same year china was lost) - increase fear of a communist revolution
  • Fear to confront him in fear of being confronted themselves, witch hunts resulted in many losing jobs and ruined lives
73
Q

Main mistake Truman made in foreign policy

A

He overestimated the communist threat

His anti-communist views dominated US foreign policy for many years to come

74
Q

Why were the USA and USSR enemies after world war 2?

A

Different aims and ideologies:
USA - supported a capitalist system with free trade and minimal government intervention
USSR - favoured a state controlled economy and promoted economic equality

75
Q

What did the US fear as a whole?

A

a communist revolution as this would threaten US national security and leave the US without trading partners and allies - leading to economic decline similar to that of the 1930s

76
Q

When was Yalta

A

february 1945

77
Q

US and USSR relations during ww2

A

allies, frequent co-operation however rising tensions

78
Q

Why could the big three not fall out?

A

Germany and Japan needed to be defeated

79
Q

Agreements made at yalta

A

SUCCESS

  1. Germany would be divided into 4 zones (occupied by france, germany, england and the soviets)
  2. Formation of the UN to promote post-war peace
  3. Stalin promised democratic elections in Poland
80
Q

What disagreements were there at Yalta?

A

over reparations

81
Q

2 disagreements during ww2 that led to increased tensions between the USA and the USSR

A
  1. Roosevelt had been reluctant to inform the Soviets about the development of the atomic bomb, they had informed England. The USSR had been kept informed on developments through soviet spies
  2. Disagreements over Poland - Stalin had been promoting communism in Poland during WW2, he promised to hold democratic elections in Poland during ww2, however, this proved to be a lie
82
Q

Why did tensions between the USA and USSR decrease during Truman’s time as president?

A
  • Roosevelt’s treatment of the ussr - had failed to keep Stalin up to date with foreign and defence policies
  • Truman lacked Roosevelt’s charm and patience - he was more aggressive with Stalin
  • Roosevelt had been accused of potentially being ‘soft’ on communism, Truman did not want to be accused of the same thing
83
Q

When was Stalin’s famous speech and what did it involve?

A

February 1946
spoke about incompatibility of communism and capitalism and that another war was inevitable - shocked the Truman administration

84
Q

How did the US respond to Stalin’s speech in February 1946?

A

George Kennan, a US diplomat who specialised in the USSR responded with his long telegram in Moscow

85
Q

Who was George Kennan and what did he argue?

A

A US diplomat who specialised in the USSR, he responded to Stalin’s speech of February 1946 with the long telegram which argued the USSR was irredeemably expansionist and needed to be resisted, he advised a policy of ‘containment’

86
Q

Key point in which relations between the USSR and England and the USA decreased

A

March 1946
Churchills speech at Fulton, Missouri
Churchill declared an ‘iron curtain’ had descended across Europe which separated the sovietised East from the democratic west

87
Q

What did Churchill’s speech at Fulton, Missouri declare?

A

An ‘iron curtain’ had descended across Europe that separated the sovietised East and the democratic west

88
Q

Which years were the cold war?

A

1945-80

89
Q

Why did the cold war have no military conflict?

A

Consequences would be too devastating

90
Q

What was the meaning of the name ‘cold war’

A

symbolised the developing tensions between the USA and the USSR - different aims and ideologies. Allies during WW2 as they both had the common enemy, Germany

91
Q

What were the 3 declarations of the cold war?

A
  1. The truman doctrine
  2. Soviet ‘salami tactics’
  3. Churchill’s ‘iron curtain’ speech in Fulton Missouri
92
Q

What did the Truman Doctrine state?

A

presented to Congress in March 1497 and agreed to provided military aid to vulnerable countries at risk to falling to communism - prevent soviet expansionism
USED GREECE AND TURKEY TO ESTABLISH POLICY OF CONTAINMENT

93
Q

What were soviet salami tactics?

A

Stalin ensured all eastern european governmnents defeated that had been conquered by Russia in 1945 were under communist control

94
Q

When was Potsdam?

A

July 1945

95
Q

Why can potsdam be viewed as a failure?

A
  • Stalin ignored Truman and Churchill’s requests for free democratic elections in Poland
  • Truman informed Stalin about the US developments of the atomic bomb however, Stalin was already aware of the developments due to being kept informed by Soviet spies
96
Q

Successes of Potsdam?

A

Stalin agreed he would join the war against Japan 3 months after the defeat of Germany

97
Q

Key event in foreign policy after potsdam

A

Soviets declared war on Japan 3 months after the defeat of Germany

98
Q

When did the Japanese first surrender and why was it rejected?

A

3rd August 1945

The surrender was ‘unconditional’ and was therefore rejected

99
Q

When was the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

A

3 days after the ‘unconditional’ surrender

100
Q

What was the atomic bomb nicknamed?

A

little boy

101
Q

Why did the Soviets feel threatened by US actions in Japan?

A
  • The US excluded the Soviets from peace settlements with Japan
  • They felt threatened by the use of the atomic bomb
102
Q

What did Molotov claim?

A

‘They are killing the Japanese and threatening us’

103
Q

How was Japan used by the US?

A
  • Occupied in August 1945 after the surrender, US built up the Japanese economy and had the goal to establish a new, democratic government
  • ‘loss’ of China in 2949 - Japan became more significant to the US. A further $500 million donated to build up Japanese economy and Japan was now established as the USAs most powerful ally
104
Q

Problems in Greece

A

Truman administration wrongly believed it was Stalin who was behind the greek communist party’s opposition to the conservative greek government. In reality Stalin was abiding by the agreements made at Yalta

105
Q

How did Truman help Turkey and Greece?

A

To establish the doctrine the requested for $400 million from congress to prevent soviet expansionism in Greece and Turkey

106
Q

How was the Truman doctrine extremely significant?

A

Established communism as the enemy and dominated US foreign policy for the next 40 years
Declaration of the cold war

107
Q

When was the marshall plan implemented?

A

June 1497

108
Q

Events of Marshall plan

A

Secretary of state, George marshall had gone on a tour of Europe post WW2, he expressed his concerns to Truman that post-war devastation could make Western european countrues more susceptible to communism especially because of the fact that France and Italy were strong, well-established communist parties. Truman supported Marshall’s claims and agreed to provide financial aid to help recovering European economies. many European countries now financially dependant on the USA

109
Q

Why did Truman agree to help recovering European economies financially?

A

Significant for trade with the USA

In fear of a communist revolution - especially with strong communist powers such as France and Italy present

110
Q

How much money had Truman invested into the marshall plan for how many countries?

A

13 billion

16 western economies

111
Q

Failures of the Marshall plan?

A

Blocked by Stalin for all Eastern European countries as he didn’t want to expose the true economic devastation of Eastern European countries- proved Stalin’s power and influence.
Helped to further seal the division between Eastern and Western Europe, further establishing the ‘iron curtain’

112
Q

Explain events in Berlin

A

The division of Germany into 4 zones had been confirmed at Potsdam in July 1945 - each controlled by England, US, USSR and France
France, the USA and England decided to combine their zones, forming a West german government and a new currency; the Deutschmark
Stalin feared the new established West German government would be a threat to Eastern Europe and Russia, the West German government also reduced Stalin’s power in East Germany because of the fact that East Berliners frequently enjoyed crossing the border over to the wealthier, more prosperous West
Stalin argued for a completely united, neutral Germany however, this was unacceptable to the USA who believed Germany would end up being completely absorbed into the Soviet sphere of influence
(EXAMPLE OF FEAR OF COMMUNISM OVERESTIMATED)
In June 1948 Stalin blocked all western access to East Berlin
Stalin knew the only way Truman would be able to resist the blockade would be through direct military intervention and that Truman would not risk this
Truman began airlifting supplies into West Berlin
Stalin lifted the blockade in May 1949 as he didn’t want to have to attack the US planes directly
Became known as Truman’s ‘finest hour’ in foreign policy

113
Q

When did Stalin blockade Western access to east Berlin?

A

June 1948

114
Q

Why did Truman decline Stalin’s requests for a united, neutral Germany?

A

Overestimated threat of communism

Believed Soviet sphere of influence would take over the whole of Germany

115
Q

Why did neither countries attack the other directly in Berlin?

A

Too risky - could result in a nuclear war which could have devastating effects

116
Q

Why did Truman respond to events in Berlin? and why was surrendering not an option?

A

Commitment to US policy of ‘containment’
Didn’t want US to seem weak or for himself to appear as ‘soft’ on communism as he had witnessed the criticisms experienced by Roosevelt

117
Q

Why did events in Berlin improve Truman’s reputation?

A

Became known as his ‘finest hour’ in foreign policy

118
Q

Why could events in Berlin make Truman appear as weak?

A

Spending money on non-US people - angered republicans in particular

119
Q

What did the blockade trigger?

A

The formation of NATO which was led by the US and involved 12 western European nations, guaranteeing their security against the USSR

120
Q

When was NATO formed and what did it involve?

A 
June 1949 (a month after the blockade was lifted)
Led by the USA and involved the protection of 12 Western European countries against the USSR
121
Q

What was NATO considered as?

A

a huge milestone for US foreign policy

122
Q

Significance of Truman in Vietnam?

A

Started US commitment through providing military aid which led to full involvement for 30 years to come

123
Q

Truman’s actions in Vietnam

A

After the Japanese surrendered to the US in August 1945, communist leader Ho Chi Minh took the opportunity to establish an independent, communist Vietnam
The USA gave $2 billion in assistance to the French war and $50 million worth of economic assistance to the Vietnamese people to try and ‘contain’ communism.
Truman also established MAAG which advised the french on US military hardware

124
Q

How much money donated to Vietnam?

A

$2 billion - French war + MAAG

$50 million - economic assistance for the Vietnamese

125
Q

Primary reasons for US involvement in the Vietnam war

A
  • 1949 ‘loss’ of China - made it inevitable that he would provide financial aid
  • ill-informed on foreign affairs during his time as vice-president and didn’t know much about the rest of the world. He therefore followed the advice of his anti-communist secretary of state, Dean Acheson who was extremely anti-communist
  • France, extremely important members of NATO
  • Domestic circumstances of US - McCarthy hysteria
  • Doctrine and marshall plan had established communism as the enemy and ‘containment’ had been confirmed as a US policy
126
Q

How much did the US provide China with after WW2?

A

$2 billion

127
Q

How was China important to the USA?

A

Culturally and economically - ties of trade and immigration

128
Q

When did the civil war break out in China?

A

1927

Between the nationalists led by Chiang Kai-Sheck and the communists led by Mao Zedong

129
Q

Why initially did the US take little involvement in matters in China?

A

Isolationist policies (1920s)

130
Q

When did Chinese civil war break out again for a 2nd time?

A

1945

131
Q

Why did the US not initially commit to providing the nationalists aid in china in 1945?

A

The USA did not have a sufficient amount of men and were committed to matters in Berlin. They also did not desire full commitment to war

132
Q

When was China lost to communism and what was it established as?

A

1945

The people’s republic of China

133
Q

What made the situation of Truman ‘losing’ China to communism worse for Truman?

A

Occurred in the same year that the soviets exploded their first atomic bomb - fuelled anti-communist hysteria and McCarthy crisis in the USA

134
Q

What was agreed at the end of WW2 for Korea?

A

It would be divided into 2, soviet controlled North, US controlled south

135
Q

When did the North launch a full scale attack on the south?

A

June 1950

136
Q

Why was it inevitable Truman would intervene in problems in Korea?

A
  • ‘loss’ of China in 1949
  • Doctrine and Marshall plan had established communism as the enemy
  • didn’t want to be accused further of being ‘soft’ on communism
  • Domestic issues at home with the McCarthy crisis
137
Q

Summary of US involvement in Korea?

A

So Truman could respond quickly and didn’t have to deal with an uncooperative congress he went directly to the UN for permission to intervene .
He began sending naval and air supplies to south Korea
The US was initially very successful, a stalemate was reached at the 38th parallel under the lead of General Douglas MacArthur
This success led Truman to further his gals in Korea to full scale ‘rollback’
However, the goal of ‘rollback’ became unrealistic after China intervened in the war with the goal to protect the communist North
The USA, USSR, and China were now all at war which was extremely dangerous given the risk of nuclear war
In 1951 china proposed an armistice which was finally agreed to 2 years later during Eisenhower’s presidency

138
Q

How was Truman’s involvement in Korea successful?

A

Initial goal of ‘containment’ achieved

139
Q

How was Truman’s involvement in Korea unsuccessful?

A

Expensive, had cost 14% GDP in it’s final year

Chinese-Soviet relations improved and US anti-communist hysteria intensified

140
Q

What were Jim crow laws?

A

Southern state laws that legalised segregation, involving ‘separate but equal’ facilities’ e.g. water fountains, bus seats

141
Q

What was de jure segregation?

A

Segregation by law

142
Q

In what years does the civil rights movement refer to?

A

1954-68

143
Q

What was lynching?

A

The unlawful killing of a black person - usually through hanging which occurred most frequently from 1980 to the 1920s

144
Q

Why is Harry Truman not usually associated with the civil rights movement?

A

significant progress/ events occurred after his reign: montgomery bus boycott, little rock etc
HOWEVER
Significant advancements for the civil rights movement had occurred during Truman’s presidency

145
Q

Overall view of life of African Americans

A

14 million in total
Most lived in small, rural towns in the south under jim crow laws which involved ‘separate but equal’ facilities
Education was segregated and African-Americans were prevented from voting due to state legislation
Threat of lynching very apparent from the KKK legacy
Standing up for the black population could result in harassment and violence for themselves and their families as well as possibly losing their jobs

146
Q

What could standing up for African Americans result in?

A

Harassment and violence towards themselves and their families
Possibly losing their job

147
Q

Situation for African-Americans in North

A

Still very apparent
Enforced in different ways, not through jim crow laws:
- economic segregation e.g. blacks were far poorer than whites
- Social pressure e.g. interracial marriage was frowned upon
- ghettoisation - involved blacks living in poorer, isolated areas

148
Q

What was the ‘great migration’?

A

The movement of 6 million African americans from the rural southern states of America to the urban North, mid-west and west fromthe 1910s to the 1970s

149
Q

Causes of the great migration

A
  • Fear of the KKK and lynching laws
  • Fewer jobs in the south and creation of a huge number of factory jobs in the north
  • The impact of the great depression, lie was not great in the North but still far better than that in the south - didn’t live under Jim crow laws
150
Q

Problems for African Americans living in the north?

A
  • lived in cramped apartments with high rents
  • Work was extremely poorly paid
  • Relations with whites were intense (not as bad as south)
  • faced violence from policemen (not as bad as south)
151
Q

Why were issues such as blacks living in cramped apartments never addressed by Truman?

A

Entrenched racist views - it was normal for African Americans

152
Q

Why would it have been natural for truman to be a racist?

A

Born in 1884 in Missouri in the South
Racism was entrenched in Southern culture
Truman’s ancestors had owned slaves and his first recollection of African americans will have been of them as household slaves
His wife, Bess had claimed Truman had once told her that he felt one person was as good as any other as long as they weren’t black
He was known to segregate minorities - frequently criticised the chinese, jews and italians
When he was young and first got involved in politics he paid $10 to join the KKK

153
Q

Why could the 2nd world war be seen as a turning point for African Americans?

A

The denser concentration of African Americans in urban areas led to greater political power e.g. black members of the house of representatives were elected such as william Dawson in chicago
They had a right to vote as a result of the 15th ammendment
The growing population of blacks made it easier to organise groups such as CORE and the NAACP, which eventually grew to have some white members

154
Q

What did the 13th ammendment in 1865 state?

A

Abolished slavery

155
Q

What did the 14th ammendment in 1868 state?

A

all persons born in the US are subject to it’s laws and cannot be denied any of it’s rights

156
Q

What did the 15th ammendment in 1870 state?

A

Citizens cannot be denied their right to vote

157
Q

impact of the great migration on political power

A

Black political power grew in the North - increased population. Enforced their right to vote (established through the 15th ammendment)
Black members of the House of representatives were elected e.g. William Dawson in Chicago

158
Q

Result of the great migration on sportsmen

A

Could gain recognition and wealth e.g. Jackie Robinson who became the first black basketball player in major league basketball

159
Q

Result of the great migration on jobs

A

Many black Americans migrated from the South to the North to obtain jobs in defence industries
Led to increased wealth, and more political influence which resulted in a significant rise in memberships of the NAACP and CORE

160
Q

How were black attitudes changing as a result of the war?

A

Many black servicemen, involved in the fighting of WW2 felt they deserved greater respect and continued to defy jim crow laws

161
Q

Most significant affect ww2 had on the civil rights movement

A

The emergence of major civil rights groups

162
Q

How did Truman himself attempt to help African Americans?

A

Through putting pressure on congress and establishing executive orders

163
Q

1st legislation passed by Truman for African Americans

A

1948 - issued an executive order to end discrimination in the armed forces
In the same year he passed an act which put pressure on companies with federal contracts to end discrimination

164
Q

When was the ‘to secure these rights’ report launched?

A

1947

165
Q

What did the ‘to secure these rights’ report attack?

A

Attacked all aspects of discrimination in both the North and the South involving education, housing and public facilities

166
Q

When did Truman give a radical civil rights speech?

A

February 1948

Asked congress to support measures including federal protection against lynching and establishing the right to vote

167
Q

how did congress respond to Truman’s requests?

A

He was ignored

168
Q

How were Truman’s actions described?

A

Revolutionary

For the first time ever, Truman had put civil rights on the legislative agenda

169
Q

Why were Truman’s proposals risky?

A

Presence of Dixiecrat congressmen - may have led to the narrowness of his next election victory

History (10 decks)

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