Preview

Truman's Role In Making Presidential Decisions

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
544 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Truman's Role In Making Presidential Decisions
On December 7th, 1941, American history changed forever. In a surprise attack that destroyed nearly the entirety of the United States Air Force and Navy, a spark was ignited in American culture to seize and destroy Japan. A vengeance unforeseen by the Americans since the Revolutionary War, the United States and its military were ready to attack but the Japanese “vowed to fight until the end” (pg. 393, Truman). President Harry S. Truman, consequently had to make one of the toughest Presidential decisions ever, yet, it was one that followed the Constitution explicitly and changed the course of human history forever. Following his inauguration, on April 24th, 1945, Truman became aware of the atomic bombs. He wasted no-time in assembling a coalition …show more content…
According to Section 2, Article 2, “The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States” This reserves the President the right to make military decisions without the knowledge of Congress as long as Congress has approved the war.
The Constitution is the means in which all Presidents should preside their decision making, this untimely document thoroughly outlines the responsibility of all branches of the government as well as that of all United States citizens. In the case of Truman’s decision to drop the Atomic bombs on Japan, He thanklessly followed the Constitution word by word and ultimately made the best decision to keep the American people safe.
Truman, as all Presidents should, had a deep respect for the Constitution and he often referred to the Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, to explain and defend his actions. His approval of all war-time decisions were directly influenced by the founders writings and their intentions for a President. As Truman made one of the toughest and most pivotal decisions in American History, he followed the Constitution explicitly and managed to make one that benefited all Americans. Truman’s decision was made under the law and exhibited how a decision can keep America, a safe
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Japanese War In World War II?
    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Japanese War In World War II?

    Truman, as he saw the attack of okinawa in 1944 witnessed how the Japanese would not surrender, they had to capture all 100,000 Japanese soldiers on the island (peace and war book page 152 by Ben Walsh). This lead to the US dropping almost 2000 tons of incendiary grenade from B 29 planes which ensured the US a victory for Truman. Although the Japanese were losing the pacific war, the fire bombs failed to persuade Japan to surrender which made Harry Truman’s decision to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From the information given to Harry Truman of how the Japanese were not willing to surrender, dropping of the atomic bomb was justified as he did it in order to shorten the agony of war and to save American lives. Based on the choices given, Truman had to take the least costly option which was to use this bomb. Furthermore, the bomb was an approach to end Japanese brutality on the asian countries they have colonized. In retrospect, many historians have criticized him as the Japanese were rumoured to be ready to surrender prior to the use of the Atomic…

    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Bombs On Japan
    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Did Truman's Decision To Drop The Bombs On Japan

    President Truman was justified in his decision to drop the bombs on japan because it was the best decision Truman could make. On 12 April 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of cerebral hemorrhage. Harry S. Truman was the Vice President for FDR. Truman took the office and became the president of being Vice President for only eighty-two days. The Manhattan Project began in 1939 with FDR’s support, it was “so secret that FDR did not even inform his…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Did Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?
    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Did Harry S. Truman Dropped The Atomic Bomb?

    After years of war and destruction, American soldiers and civilians were beyond weary and restless, yet the Japanese were steadfast and refused to give up their fight. Sworn in as the 33rd United States president, after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII. When Truman learned of the success of the “Manhattan Project” he knew that he was faced with a decision of unparalleled gravity. He was well aware that the capacity to end the war with Japan was in his hands, however, he was also aware that it would involve unleashing the most terrible weapon the world had ever known. July 26, 1945 President Truman, United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Government Chiang Kaishek, released the Potsdam Declaration.…

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why Is Harry Truman Rather Than Just The Presidency
    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page

    Why Is Harry Truman Rather Than Just The Presidency

    Numerous people know Harry Truman as being the 33rd president of the United states. Much more should be known about Harry Truman than just the presidency, he is also the man who had Japan surrender after the hard decision after dropping the most damaging and deadly weapon, the Atomic Bombs. A little more about Truman is that when he was young he worked on his family farm for seven years before serving in the army during World War I. After the war he returned home to work in a haberdashery store and when it failed he turned to politics as a Democrat. He was elected president after Franklin D Roosevelt’s death. After election all the country's problems suddenly became his responsibility "I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Was Harry Truman Important To World War II?
    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Was Harry Truman Important To World War II?

    “I don’t give a damn what history thinks of me. I know what I did and that’s enough for me,” Truman stated. In World War II, Harry Truman went into office on April 12, 1945, after Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed away. While in war with Japan, he made the decision to bomb the empire. He stepped up to the plate, and saved our country while we were in need.…

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How Did Truman Make Moral Decisions
    • 1319 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Did Truman Make Moral Decisions

    Presidents of the United States of America have a very demanding profession while in office, one that requires them to constantly make difficult decisions that often affect hundreds of millions of people. These decisions become even more plentiful and complicated when the U.S. is fighting a war. President Harry S. Truman was one such unlucky individual who had to step up and be the man to make the hard choices on what the U.S. was to do in the bloodiest war in history, World War II. He only held that position for the last six months of the war, but he had the toughest moral decision presented to any world leader during the entirety of the war. He had to decide whether or not to use a new and immensely powerful weapon to quickly put an end…

    • 1319 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Harry S. Truman's Role In History
    • 368 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Harry S. Truman's Role In History

    Harry S. Truman played a major role in history. He took reign as President after Franklin D. Roosevelt passed. The U.S was in a World War and a crucial decision was to be made by President Truman, one that could change history. To bomb or not to bomb. During this momentous time in the war, I believe President Truman did indeed do the right thing by bombing Japan.…

    • 368 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Harry S. Truman's Presidency
    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Harry S. Truman's Presidency

    Harry S. Truman came into the presidency during one of the most turbulent period in American history. Although Truman left office with one of the lowest approval ratings of any president, with the passage of time, his reputation grew. His dedication to decency, honesty, and old-fashioned common sense eventually endeared him in the publics mind. As his daughter later wrote in toward the end of his life, "He is of course, pleased when he hears that one historian or another, or a group of historians, has rated him as one of the right or nine greatest presidents in our history."…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War
    • 1748 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War

    In Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War by Akira Iriye, the author explores the events and circumstances that ended in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, an American naval base. Iriye assembles a myriad of primary documents, such as proposals and imperial conferences, as well as essays that offer different perspectives of the Pacific War. Not only is the material in Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War informative of the situation between Japan and the United States, but it also provides a global context that allows for the readers to interpret Pearl Harbor and the events leading up to it how they may. Ultimately, both Pearl Harbor and the subsequent Pacific War between Japan and the U.S. were unavoidable due to the fact that neither nation was willing to bow down to the demands of the other.…

    • 1748 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Reasons For President Truman's Attack On Pearl Harbor
    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page

    Reasons For President Truman's Attack On Pearl Harbor

    My opinion it was ok for the for us to go bomb Japan because they bombed the Pearl Harbor, and we had to fight back for our country.I think it was right for president Truman to fight for our country because it would’ve stopped right then and there, they would probably come back and taken over the U.S.A. Another reason, the war started is they figured out a code called Bushido and figured out where Japan was going next and they bombed their ships. Then, the Japanese were defence now and not offence any more. When the U.S.A. went from land to land they were very close to Japan and Japan’s emperor Hirohito said to his crew do not give and keep fight for our country. On the small islands called Okinawa and Iwo Jima they figured out the Japanese…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Harry S. Truman's Decision To End World War II
    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Harry S. Truman's Decision To End World War II

    The American people have questioned Harry S. Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb for years. Some people believe the release of the bomb was beneficial to both parties involved in the war, however others believe that it was cruel and unnecessary. Either way the decision was one that caused many people to speculate, asking questions such as; did the release of the bomb prevent the death of millions of the Japanese and Americans, or was the United States trying to show the Soviet Union how much power they possessed? Even though one’s interpretation on the matter may differ, the whole world felt the desperation to end World War II. Truman deliberated and decided that the only way that the end could come swiftly was by dropping the atomic…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    President Truman's Decision Making
    • 73 Words
    • 1 Page

    President Truman's Decision Making

    I agree with you; it was not the best choice to make. I do not think the decision should have been made between taking less or more lives, it must have been made on how not to take lives at all. However, by what it is explained the decision of president Truman was the most accurate. I believe that international treaties are generally effective and that the US could try something else instead.…

    • 73 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Essay On The Atomic Bomb
    • 1164 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Persuasive Essay On The Atomic Bomb

    After the shift in power from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to President Harry S. Truman in the middle of the most intense war the United States has faced up to that point in time, there was still much to settle in the Second World War. The United States was still heavily involved with finishing the battle with the Japanese in the Pacific, and there seemed to be no clear end. However, after experimenting for years with the Manhattan Project, the military was able to develop a nuclear weapon for the first time. Thus, Truman decided that the best way to reach an end to the war was to use these newly acquired weaponry on the Japanese. However, it is conflicted as to what the complete intent of the use of the nuclear weaponry was. This is due to the fact that tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States were still very present at that time. Therefore, signs show that the decision to drop the bomb on Japan was a diplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union rather than a strictly military measure designed to force Japan’s surrender. This is due to the fact that there was a fear of further Soviet involvement in the war as well as the Japan already being defeated almost completely.…

    • 1164 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb
    • 580 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb

    President Truman decided to put many years of nuclear warfare research to use when he choose to use the new weapon. The atomic bomb was built as a weapon of war, the purpose of it was for a military weapon. America was at war and congress had allowed spending two billion dollars on the project. If the United States did not use the weapon, an asset, as well as a lot money, would have been wasted.…

    • 580 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Atom Bomb
    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Atom Bomb

    The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains among the most controversial events in modern history. Historians have actively debated whether the bombings were necessary. What effect they had on bringing the war in the Pacific to an end and what other options were available to the United States. As American policymakers struggled with how to use a powerful new technology and what the long-term impact of atomic weaponry might be, not just on the Japanese but on domestic politics and America’s international relations and the building of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. It is clear that the reasons for dropping the atomic bombs on Japan, with a variety of issues that went far beyond the simple goal of bringing World War II to an end. The atomic weapon was considered to be a new terrifying powerful explosive, as devastating as any other of the deadly explosive weapons of modern war. Had the war continued until the projected invasion on November 1, additional fire raids of B‑20’s would have been more destructive of life and property than the very limited number of atomic raids which we could have done in the same period. But the atomic bomb was more than a weapon of terrible destruction; it was a psychological weapon as well. The bomb served exactly the purpose we intended. The peace party was able to take the path of surrender and the whole weight of the Emperor’s prestige was in favor of peace. When the Emperor ordered surrender and the small but dangerous group of people who opposed him were brought under control, the Japanese became so controlled that the great undertaking and occupation and disarmament was completed with…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics