29) Evaluate the Truman administration. What grade would you give President Truman and why?4/29/2014
18 Comments
Rachel Frantz
5/5/2014 08:17:46 am
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Zane Boerner
5/5/2014 02:20:09 pm
Great answer! What do you think Truman could have done to increase his approval rating?
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Timmi Keisel
5/5/2014 12:02:49 pm
Over all, I think Harry Truman was a good president. The transition from Roosevelt to Truman was “seamless.” I do admire the fact that he furthered the efforts for civil rights as well as fight communism abroad. He also found the Department of Defense as well as take huge cuts in the defense budget. One of his better attempts as president, in my opinion, was his “Fair Deal.” This addressed issues such as raising minimum wage, government healthcare insurance, government encouragement of scientific research, and many others. One controversial issue, on the other hand, Truman was involved in was his decision to use atomic power to end the war killing over a hundred thousand people. However, by the end of President Truman’s presidency, he had a very low approval rating which is never a positive aspect. Over all, I think President Truman did more good things than bad, so I give him an A- or B+.
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Ashton Reinhardt
5/5/2014 12:22:29 pm
I like your answer Timmi! Very well said. why do you think he had such low ratings?
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McCall Etl
5/5/2014 02:17:21 pm
Great job Timmi! Do you feel there is more to these low ratings he received? Do you think his low ratings were partially due to the fact that he followed FDR?
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Timmi Keisel
5/6/2014 03:03:07 am
I think that could have maybe contributed; however, his popularity was worse at the end of his presidency than at the beginning, so I don't think it would necessarily contribute to his lower ratings at the end of his term... Good question McCall!
Megan Chintala
5/5/2014 11:28:45 pm
Good answer Timmi! I agree with your grade. What would his grade have been if he would not have ended up killing over a hundred thousand people?
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Ashton Reinhardt
5/5/2014 12:14:30 pm
I give the Truman administration an A-. As President, Truman made some of the most crucial decisions in history. I also felt that he handled his responsibilities with care and precision. Truman ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on cities devoted to war work. Two were Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japanese surrender quickly followed this event. Shortly after the war, Harry Truman proposing the expansion of Social Security, a permanent Fair Employment Practices Act, and public housing and slum clearance. The program, was known as the Fair Deal. In 1947 as the Soviet Union pressured Turkey, threatened to take over Greece, he asked Congress to aid the two countries, enunciating the program that bears his name: the Truman Doctrine. I feel that he was a remarkable president. He was faced with several challenges but yet did not give up faith.
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Ashton
5/5/2014 12:20:57 pm
(I didn't mean to submit yet.) Though like every president, Truman had his set backs. I believe he lost a lot of supporters when the railway strike happened, this might have been why he only had 30% ratings.
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Deborah
5/5/2014 04:53:10 pm
While I agree that the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima were mostly out of necessity I'm just curious how you justify the bombing of innocents and the years of radiation that followed that led to its own problems.
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Elayna Muller
5/5/2014 10:58:32 pm
I would give Truman and his administration a B- because the president did several good things for America; although, I highly disagree with some of his choices, too. Harry S. Truman himself is a very brave and impressive person in my opinion. The USA had a booming economy after the war, but had $6 billion in tax cuts which showed this administration proved good for the economy but not perfect. Prices went up, unfortunately, and miners decided to go on strike. However, Truman was constantly taking on whoever was against him and doing what was right instead of popular…I value that highly in a person. He told the miners that they needed to get back to work which caused him to lose their support for his second election, but he knew it would be better for America if the laborers weren’t on strike. It was bad for his image and popularity because many were against it, yet Truman went for it anyways and succeeded. “The buck stops here,” was a great saying that I admire this administration for that means: Responsibility is not passed on beyond this point. Truman also went against congress and vetoed making closed shops illegal but lost. I am so proud of this administration for integrating the army because I think that really made America learn to overcome their prejudices. Just the fact that this administration was against racism while most of America was for it, makes me extremely happy! I really admire and respect Truman as a person which is why I adore this administration so much, yet everyone makes mistakes; his just happened to be a massive mistake. Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan with an ATOMIC BOMB really forced me to lower this grade dramatically. I might’ve understood if Japan hadn’t been in such a poor state with having nearly no planes and such military and that the location wasn’t mainly civilians, but the evidence remains against my morals. Harry Truman probably thought this was the only way to get Japan to surrender, but I don’t care. I would’ve rather surrendered than kill innocent lives. I just don’t see how one can justify this horrific act, honestly. I’m not so sure the Truman Doctrine was necessary or “right” but my opinion is very different than numerous others. On the other hand, it is a good thing that Truman didn’t quite agree or trust Stalin because he isn’t my favorite person, nor America’s. Plus, Truman provided America with the GI Bill which was very beneficial for veterans, and helpful with housing, job training, and education. This administration was very smart in making the US help people (veterans), countries (Europe by going in and giving them essentials after the war since they were in bad shape), and just helping America be good and do what’s right. Truman even tried for the “Fair Deal” but it wasn’t really passed. I am very proud of this administration (clearly); however, I cannot ignore the injustices that occurred because of their wrong decisions.
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Megan Chintala
5/5/2014 11:37:35 pm
I believe President Truman served a good term while in office. The transition between him and Roosevelt was very smooth. There wasn't very many conflict with their two views. There are two major things that stick out to me when grading Truman and his administration. One, his efforts to further civil rights was phenomenal. He really gave 100% for this and that is what you would like to see in a president. He didn't do anything but please the people at the time. Two, "The Fair Deal." Even though his idea didn't pass, he also made a good run for this as well. All he was trying to do here was make people happy with there life. The "Fair Deal" consisted of expansion of social security, raise minimum wage, and the expansion of government funding. Everybody liked to see this. But the one thing that doesn't quite give Truman the "A" is the fact that what he thought was the right thing, ended up killing hundreds of thousands of people. I feel the atomic power idea took a turn for the worst. But overall I do feel that Truman was a great president and had a great administration behind him giving him a "B."
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Arjana Begzati
5/6/2014 01:02:29 am
Very good comment Megan! I like how you were able to argue specifically why you don't give Truman an A, even though you see many good sides in his administration.
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Sabrina Lousberg
5/6/2014 02:13:46 am
Great answer Megan! You used many great examples to support your answers. I also like that you explained exactly why you gave him a B rather than the A.
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Kirsten Comstock
5/6/2014 03:09:57 am
This is a great answer Megan. I agree with you that he doesnt deserve an A, but was a good president overall. Good job!
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Sabrina Lousberg
5/6/2014 02:12:16 am
I believe that President Harry Truman had a pretty good presidency overall. He created the “Fair Deal” which addressed issues such as raising minimum wage, government healthcare insurance, government encouragement of scientific research, and many other topics. This was one of the better things he did as president. Truman also furthered efforts for civil rights and to fight communism abroad. The Department of Defense was so founded by him. President Truman also took huge cuts in the defense budget. Although President Truman did many things throughout his presidency, there were also downfalls to his presidency. Harry Truman had very low approval rates by the end of his presidency which isn’t a great thing. He also chose to use efforts that killed over hundreds of thousands of people. I would give President Harry Truman a B- overall because he did achieve more successes throughout his career than failures.
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Luke Stewart
5/6/2014 02:57:54 am
I admire Harry Truman because of the decision he made at the end of WW2. Although his approval ratings where down at the end of his presidency he saved American lives by dropping the atomic bomb. it would take a lot of courage to drop a bomb the powerful and he is the only president to do so. He also had to deal with the aftermath of his decision. Overall i would give him a B.
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Kirsten Comstock
5/6/2014 03:08:35 am
I would give the Truman administration a B overall. I think that he did a pretty good job. I like the fact that he went further into the civil rights movement and helped that whole situation with all of his power. Even though it didnt really work out I like his "Fair Deal." This deal was trying to expand social security, raise minimum wage, and the expansion of government funding. This was a great idea on his part and it would have really helped the people. It didnt end up passing, but the good intensions were there. I think that he also did other good things, but he also had some flaws. he ended up killing thousands of people. I understand that he was trying to end the war by using the atomic power bomb, but it ended up killing so many people that it was not even worth it in the end. Even with this flaw I think that Truman was a pretty good president overall and that is why he deserves a B.
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