Digital History
Digital History: The Korean War and General Mac Arthur [Pdf]
Use this lesson plan to assess President Truman's decision to relieve General MacArthur of his command in the Korean War. Find Truman's goals for the war as opposed to MacArthur's and read each man's speech supporting his ideas. [pdf]
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: President's Special News Conference on Coal Strike
In 1946, as the United States was recovering from World War II, coal miners struck. Read the transcript of a news conference President Harry Truman held to address this pressing economic issure.
Digital History
Digital History: The Decision to Drop the Bomb [Pdf]
The day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt gave the go-ahead to scientists to develop an atomic bomb. This site gives a good overview of the war in the Pacific against Japan, the increasing successes of the...
US Navy
Naval Historical Center: The Potsdam Conference, July August 1945
This is a brief summary with pictures of the Potsdam Conference.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: United States History Since 1920: Truman Loyalty Oath, 1947
In March, 1947, President Truman issued an executive order requiring that all Federal employees take a loyalty oath swearing loyalty to the United States. This was a time of fear of Communists and the Soviet Union. Read the entire...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Gen Douglas Mac Arthur Defends His Conduct
Read the speech General MacArthur gave to the Congress after President Truman removed him from command in the Korean War in which he explained his actions during the war.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Executive Order 9835
Find the executive order from President Harry S. Truman which outlined the loyalty review program to examine the loyalty of federal employees. This was issued in response to anti-Communist hysteria at the time.
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: The President's News Conference on v E Day
Here is the transcript of the news conference President Harry S. Truman had on May 8, 1945, just before the release of his proclamation declaring the end of hostilities in Europe. Read why he released this early to journalists, and enjoy...
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: Harry S. Truman: State of the Union Message, 1949
After Harry S. Truman's astounding election, his annual State of the Union message outlined his primary domestic policy which he called the Fair Deal. Read his speech to see what he felt were the greatest problems facing the United...
Nobel Media AB
The Nobel Prize: The Development and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Read about how the atomic bomb was first developed, starting the nuclear arms race. As nuclear weapons proliferated, so did apprehension. A Non-Proliferation Treaty was released in 1968, and governments began to sign on to it. Green...
Digital History
Digital History: The Aftermath of the Decision [Pdf]
A touching and horrifying description of the devastation caused by the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which brought about the surrender of Japan in World War II. Suggested student exercises accompany the information....
Digital History
Digital History: From Wartime Allies to Cold War Enemies [Pdf]
This timeline traces the devolution of the relationship between the United States and Soviet Union from the end of World War II, where these two countries were allies, albeit suspicious of each other, and almost a year after the end of...
Digital History
Digital History: Solutions to Five Crises [Pdf]
This site highlights the five foreign policy crises that needed the attention of Harry S. Truman at the end of World War II. Read about the US actions on these crises and determine how these actions affected foreign policy over the next...
National Cable Satellite Corporation
C Span Classroom: World War Ii the Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb
This video provides Lt. Col. Grant Weller, who describes the decision of the United States to use the atomic bomb on Japan to end World War II. Student questions are provided to assess their understanding of the information.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Berlin Airlift and Nato
President Harry Truman was determined to contain the Soviet sphere of influence in Europe. See how the United States and Great Britain stood up to Stalin's attempt to take over West Berlin by blockading access to the city. Understand why...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bomb
Discusses the Manhattan Project of the United States which worked on developing nuclear weapons during World War II. It led to the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan in August 1945, ending the war with Japan.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Start of Cold War, Part 2: Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
Explains President Truman's plan to contain communism, which signaled the end of American isolationism. Also discusses America's pledge of financial aid to rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan.
The White House
The White House: Biography of Harry S. Truman
Biography provides interesting facts about the thirty-third president of the United States, Harry S. Truman. A black and white photograph is included.
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum: Truman and the United Nations
This site has a list of descriptions of documents that can be found in the United Nations Allied Reparations folder. Click link at the end of each description to view full-text document.
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
50th Anniversary of the Creation of the State of Israel,
An online presentation of historically significant documents and pictures from the recognition of Israel by the US.
US House of Representatives
History, Art, and Archives: President Harry Truman's Fair Deal Proposal
In President Truman's State of the Union message to Congress in 1949, he outlined his Fair Deal policy. Read about what he had in mind, and find out what was passed into law.
A&E Television
History.com: American Presidents: Harry S. Truman
This easy-to-navigate site has Harry Truman's biography, events occurring during his presidency, an image gallery, and several video clips.
American Rhetoric
American Rhetoric: Harry S. Truman: "The Truman Doctrine"
This is the text and audio of President Truman's speech "The Truman Doctrine" before a Joint Session of Congress on March 12, 1947, concerning aid to Greece and Turkey.
Other
Mr. Dowling's Passport: Harry Truman's Decision
Read about Harry Truman and his decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan which ultimately ended World War II.