ABSTRACT

The Truman Years is a concise yet thorough examination of the critical postwar years in the United States. Byrnes argues that the major trends and themes of the American history have their origins during the presidency of Harry S. Truman. He synthesizes the recent Truman literature, and explains the links between domestic U.S. political and social trends and cold war foreign policy.

chapter One|4 pages

Introduction: The United States in 1945

part One|30 pages

Years of Uncertainty. 1945–46

chapter Two|4 pages

The Decision to Drop The Atomic Bomb

chapter Three|9 pages

From Co-Operation to Confrontation

chapter Four|9 pages

The Trials of Reconversion

chapter Five|6 pages

Conservative Resurgence

part Two|30 pages

Retrenchment and Vindication, 1947–1948

chapter Six|9 pages

The Bipartisan Moment in Foreign Policy

chapter Seven|8 pages

The National Security State and the Red Scare

chapter Eight|11 pages

The 1948 Campaign

part Three|16 pages

Growing Opposition, 1949–50

chapter Nine|7 pages

The Failure of the Fair Deal

chapter Ten|7 pages

The Collapse of Bipartisanship

part Four|24 pages

Under-Siege, 1950–53

chapter Twelve|8 pages

‘K1C2: Korea, Communism and Corruption’

chapter Thirteen|5 pages

Conclusion

part Five|28 pages

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