1/5/2024 0 Comments Difficult decisions![]() Before World War II began in Europe, the British, the French, and Hitler came to an agreement that Germany would not expand its territories in exchange for legitimate control over a portion of Czechoslovakia (McCullough, 293). Germany taught valuable lessons to politics around the world, and the Lesson of Munich is one of the most profound examples. Indeed, a war against Communist China would likely involve the Soviet Union and all other countries that supported it, drawing the world into another war. The President, however, revealed that it was an easy decision to make because he knew that the choice would be perceived as correct in the long run (McCullough, 298). The public and the media criticized Truman heavily for his decision to fire MacArthur (McCullough, 298). Truman’s decision to relieve the general from his services reinforces the suggestion that most popular choices are not always easy, and most controversial decisions can be simple. MacArthur did not agree with the President’s decision and advocated for a war against China. Truman changed the goal of the war once again and retreated back to defending South Korea’s independence. After the invasion of General Douglas MacArthur’s forces, China decided to intervene and inflicted a series of defeats on the American troops (McCullough, 292). The new goal was to relieve North Korea from the Communist regime (McCullough, 292). After the American troops successfully drove North Koreans away from the southern borders, Truman became encouraged. Truman’s original intention was to ensure the sovereignty of South Korea. ![]() After long contemplations, the United States joined the Korean War and supported South Korea in their struggles against the North. Truman, however, was not obsessed with public opinion but instead tried to make choices that would be beneficial to the United States and the world (McCullough, 299). One could suggest that decisions are easier to make when there is public support. Ironically, the American public was in favor of supporting the South Koreans and joining the conflict. However, in the case of Korea, Truman feared that entering into a military conflict against North Korea would initiate a nuclear war, which could have even more negative consequences than World War II (McCullough, 298). When Truman used an atomic bomb, he was confident that the decision would end the horrific war, which took away millions of lives (McCullough, 298). However, McCullough (298) argues the decision over the Korean War was more important. One could suggest that deciding over whether or not to use an atomic bomb was the most challenging decision. He wrote that Truman’s most difficult decision was related to the Korean War in 1950 (McCullough, 298). McCullough was Truman’s biographer who had more information about the President than the public. His most challenging choice, however, is less pronounced than most people would contemplate. It is evident that difficult decisions accompanied Truman’s time in office. The Cold War also began under his presidency, and the Truman Doctrine was a policy to contain the Soviet regime in the geopolitical arena (McCullough, 295). Despite objections on behalf of Marshall, Truman decided to recognize Israel as an independent state, contributing its legitimacy (McCullough, 303). ![]() Under its 33rd President, the United States first used an atomic bomb after the destruction of two cities, Japan surrendered, and World War II ended (McCullough, 293). Truman is popular mostly for his foreign policies and decisions on the world stage. It meant that the majority of factories that manufactured military supplies needed reformation. He intended to demobilize the American forces to cut military expenditures and transition the United States to a peace-time economy (McCullough, 300). On the home front, Truman had to rebuild the American economy after the war. The total value of distributed aid equaled 12 billion dollars (McCullough, 293). Also, European economies, devastated after World War II, received support in terms of the Marshall Plan, which was the recovery program initiated by the President’s second secretary of state, George Marshall (McCullough, 293). The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which aimed to unite Western countries against the Soviet regime, came to existence under Truman’s leadership (McCullough, 293). Nevertheless, his presidency involved many important decisions that shaped the American economy and world politics. Harry Truman was sworn in as the 33rd President of the United States – an unwanted course of action, according to Truman himself (McCullough, 290). A few weeks before the end of the war in Europe, Franklin Roosevelt died.
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