Janet Haynes
Hist 419
Dr. Perri
Truman Doctrine
Order
33rd President
President from April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953
Vice President none (1945–1949), Alben W. Barkley (1949–1953)
Preceded by
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Succeeded by
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Born
Thursday, May 8, 1884
Lamar, Missouri
Died
Tuesday, December 26, 1972
Kansas City, Missouri
Political party Democratic
Spouse
Bess Wallace Truman
Historical Content:
Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar Missouri, May 8, 1884. He was the oldest of
three children. He entered WWI in 1917, where he show his abilities and received his
commission as a lieutenant in the Missouri National Guard. Truman was discharged from
the army in 1919 with the rank of Captain. In 1922, Truman was elected as one of the
judges of Jackson County Court, and in 1934 was elected to the United States Senate
from Missouri. Truman’s political supporters backed him for the Democratic nomination
for vice president in the election of 1944. Truman was elected easily with Roosevelt’s
fourth running. After 12 weeks of vice presidency, Truman was unprepared to the
responsibilities that suddenly fell on him when Roosevelt died. His first task was to bring
WWII to an end. In 1945 a few weeks after he took office the unconditional surrender of
German forces ended the European war. Truman ordered the atomic bomb to be dropped
on Japan, and in September 1945, Japan surrendered with two of their cities in ruins.
Main Points:
1. Truman defines evil in the world, and armed majority from taking over the free
people.
“I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free
peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by
outside pressures.
I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in
their own way.”
2. The freedom of the world and the endangerment of the U.S. security.
“They reach their full growth when the hope of the people for the better life
has died. We must keep the hope alive. The free peoples of the world look to us
for support in maintaining their freedom. If we falter in our leadership, we may
endanger the peace of the world—and we shall surely endanger the welfare of
this nation.” pg. 118
3. The responsibility was placed on the U.S. to help primarily through economic and
financial aid.
“I believe that our help should be primarily through economics and financial
aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political process…”
pg 118
4. To fight the oppression of communism in the world by the Russian
government and others.
“We must take immediate and resolute action… The seeds of
totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want. They spread and grow
in the evil soil of poverty and strife. The swift movement of events has placed
great responsibilities upon us. I am confident that the Congress will face
these responsibilities squarely.” pg. 118
Historical Significance:
Truman started the domino effect on fighting communism in the region, and this
continued through out the world. Truman signed the act into law May 22, 1947 granting
$400 million in military and economic aid to Turkey and Greece. As a result, American
foreign policy towards Russia shifted, to that of containment. The Marshall Plan put the
Truman Doctrine to use in post-war Germany. The Truman Doctrine also contributed to
America’s first involvements in the Vietnam War by supplying the French government
with equipment and military advisors to combat Ho Chi Minh and communist
revolutionaries.