How Did Harry Truman Improve Civil Rights

Harry S. Truman can be viewed the most important President for improving civil rights for African Americans because he started the the main process of desegregation and development of rights in the 20th Century. Truman realised that for the good of America, they needed to improve racial equality to be in line with other Western countries. One of his first legislations was To Secure These Rights, passed in 1947. This law ensured anti-lynching regulations, voting rights, eradication of poll tax, and an end to discrimination in travel and armed forces. Truman then gave executive orders in 1948 to end segregation and inequality in the armed forces. This is significant as it set a precedent to continue with equality. He also issued executive orders
Truman grew up in Missouri, a racist southern state, with his ancestors being slave owners; and he was raised being taught and surrounded by degrading racist terms. Truman was even a member of the Ku Klux Klan in his early years, and had grown up fully aware of the extensive use of violence and lynchings of African Americans. Between 1880 and 1930, Southern white supremacists lynched over 3,000 black Americans. However, Truman kept these racist principles his whole life, but kept them confidential when being at the focus of the public eye. He privately spoke badly of black Americans and his family and close friends knew of his racial prejudice. His only reason to improve civil rights was driven by his desire to secure black votes. The need for racial fairness was heightening extremely quickly and Truman knew he had to develop civil rights for African Americans, however this meant that he wouldn’t be able to keep the white extremist votes. He was under pressure to improve racial equality as a black draft-resistance movement was beginning to take place under the lead of Philip Randolph. This was an unthinkable prospect in a time of a great fear of communism and the Cold