Here we go….– United States domestic policies of Truman, Eisenhower and

Kennedy– Johnson and “the Great Society”; Nixon’s domestic reforms– Canada: domestic policies from Diefenbaker to Chretien– Causes and effects of the Silent (or Quiet) Revolution– Populist leaders in Latin America: rise to power; characteristics

of populist regimes; social, economic and political policies; the treatment of opposition; successes and failures (examples include Peron, Vargas or any relevant Latin American leader)

– The Cuban Revolution: political, social, economic causes; impact on the region

– Rule of Fidel Castro: political, economic, social and cultural policies; treatment of minorities; successes and failures

– Military regimes in Latin America: rationale for intervention; challenges; policies; successes and failures

– The Mexican Revolution and its impact on the Americas

Choose one of the first 5 Presidents and complete a campaign poster

highlighting their domestic agenda

The Role of the President

• Please get into groups of three. Based on our online posting, identify what it means to be a good President. Ponder these questions:– Is it more important to be just or compassionate?– Is it fair to be judged solely by a comparison of

your colleagues, or are there some basic preconceived ideas or benchmarks?

– Has the role of the President changed over time?

• Why do you feel the appreciation of a Presidency is latent?

Harry S. Truman

“The Buck Stops Here”

“If you cant stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen.”

Profile• 1884-1972• Born in Missouri• Middle name..???• Only President after 1897 not to have a college degree• Served in WWI• Owned a failed men’s clothing store• Became a judge• 1935-Senator of Missouri

– The Truman Committee gave him respect and recognition• VP under FDR (died in 4th term)

– “When they told me what had happened, I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets had fallen on me”

• Democrat (obviously)• 1945-1953 (33rd President)

Early Political Career

• In 1922 he began the initiation process into the KKK…never followed through– He changed his attitude towards African Americans

after the war• Connected to Tom Pendergast (Democratic

boss)• Was reelected Senator in 1940• Was selected as running mate to FDR in 1944

as a deal by Democratic chair• He was rarely involved in decisions and 82 days

into Presidency FDR died

First Term

• The Potsdam Conference-paved the way for the Cold War issues (different unit)– Stalin, Truman and Churchill

• He was briefed on the Manhattan Project and eventually authorized the bombs in 1945, surrendered on August 14th

• “Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima. The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold….The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East”

The End of the War

• The Marshall Plan-spend more than $13 billion to rebuild Europe

• Supported the Jews, first to support Israel

• Occupied Japan until 1953

• The United Nations was established

• The Truman Doctrine and the Cold War (different unit)

Domestic Policies

• Began to see a changing in the seats of Congress after years of Democratic majorities

• Was bitterly against Congress over domestic issues, to include:– Tax cuts– Removal of price controls – The Taft-Hartley Act (overrode Truman’s Veto)

• Led to the “Fair Deal”• Based on the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act,

national health insurance and an aggressive civil rights program

The Election of 1948

• The Democratic party spilt over racial issues– “My forebears were Confederates…But my very stomach

turned over when I had learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of Army trucks in Mississippi and beaten.”

– He issued an order to desegregate the military Executive Order 9981

• He staged a “whistle stop” campaign, but most people thought he would lose

• Dewey, Thurmond, Wallace and Truman• Very aggressive campaigner—GW Bush in

1992

The Fair Deal

• “Every segment of the population, and every individual, has the right to expect from his government a fair deal.”

• Goals were full employment and an improved economy

• Built upon the New Deal

• Strong opposition from Congress

Success???

• Desegregation of the military• The Housing Act of 1949

– Urban renewal and more public housing– Lengthened rent controls to 1951

• The Fair Labor Standards Act– Increased min. wage from 40-75 cents

• The Social Security Act– Increased benefits of the elderly by 77.5%

• The Agriculture Act of 1949– Continued price supports( New Deal farm policy)

Struggles..

• The Fair Deal was an extension of the New Deal but….

• Race relations started to deteriorate• The nation was experiencing economic

prosperity and did not need New Deal democracy

• Many of his programs struggled due to his focus on the Cold War…discussion to come

The Truman Legacy

• He did have many domestic successes, however, the Cold War affected many decisions– NATO– McCarthyism and the Red Scare– The Korean War, 1950

“I fired him because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was, but that’s not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail.”-the firing of Joseph McCarthur….not seen as positive

• Assassination attempt 11/1/50• Infiltration of commies in Truman’s government• Numerous charges of corruption• The 22nd amendment-term limitations• One of the most unpopular Presidents in history(22%

approval)…much better since then

Harry S. Truman

• Please get into small groups and answer this question:

• Was the Fair Deal a success or do you feel like there was not enough done to improve relations?