However there are other important aspects to his historical and political legacy, especially with regard to the onset of the Cold War. Truman gained entry to the White House just as the European phase of the Second World War was drawing to a close.
Entry into the White House
The US was no without a doubt the world’s largest economy whilst the Soviet Union had on paper at least the most powerful armed forces whilst the countries of Western Europe were weakened by the war.
Roosevelt’s death in April 1945 brought Vice President Truman into the Oval Office. It would prove to be an eventful term and three-quarters.
Finishing the Second World War and the Post – War Situation
When Truman became American president after the death of Franklyn Delano Roosevelt, victory over Germany seemed inevitable; yet defeating Japan appeared to be a far tougher proposition. Roosevelt had been the longest-serving President ever and internationally well-respected. He had taken much of what the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had said at face value. Truman was less willing to do so.
After the defeat of Germany in May 1945 the Red Army controlled much of Central and Eastern Europe. However the American government was more concerned about defeating the Japanese instead of being concerned about the balance of power in Europe.
American - Soviet relations began to deteriorate after President Truman decided to use atomic weapons against the Japanese. Stalin unlike the British did not know that the Americans had become a nuclear power and became determined that the Soviet Union should have them by the late 1940s.
Stalin’s policy positions meant that Truman did not feel able to end American military involvement in Europe, which many journalists believed would ruin his chances of re-election in 1948. Truman won easily no matter what the newspapers had predicted, and Thomas E Dewey had expected..
Truman refused to back down to every demand from the Soviet Union even if he could not prevent Communist takeovers behind the Iron Curtain without starting a Third World War. Stalin certainly did his best to test American resolve to prevent Communism spreading across Western Europe. Truman was not prepared to let that happen although Communism did succeed in taking over China.
Truman left the legacy of American foreign policy designed to prevent the spread of Communism, which remained a central tenant until the end of the Cold War. The formation of NATO, Marshall Aid, and the Berlin Airlift were all examples of the White House keeping to that strategy. Truman got the United States involved in the Korean War, under the auspices of the United Nations.
Bibliography
Dunbabin J P D (1994) The Cold War – The Great Powers and their Allies, Longman, London
Hobsbawm, E (1994) Age of Extremes, the Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991, Michael Joseph, London
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