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Was Truman A Hero Or A Villain

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Harry Truman's presidency, which spanned from April 12th, 1945, to January 20th, 1953, was a time of profound controversy that has fuelled an ongoing debate regarding his predominant legacy as either a hero or a villain. This essay looks to comprehensively explore three major issues that defined Truman's career: the decision to use the atomic bomb, his role in the recognition of Israel as a sovereign nation, and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. By looking into these significant events, considering their historical context, and evaluating the consequences, this essay aims to shed light on Truman's complex legacy and offer a diverse understanding of his presidency, ultimately contributing to a more informed assessment of his historical …show more content…

Firstly, Truman’s decision to drop the bomb provides Great evidence to view him as a villain because His intentions weren’t really to protect Americans but rather scare the Soviet Union. Truman’s role in the decision to drop the bomb has persuaded others that he is best viewed as a villain because it was really done to frighten the Russians, not force the Japanese to surrender. Many people see the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a good thing, it caused Japan to surrender, saved the lives of thousands of Americans and ended WWII, though many people see it as an act of evil for many reasons, Racing the Enemy: A critical look, is a book explaining the reason behind the bombings, in the book it states the reason for the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was “Primarily used to intimidate the soviet union and gain the upper hand in Eastern Europe.” This reasoning made many people see Harry Truman as a villain as the use of atomic bombs killing a total of 226,000 was just to scare the Soviet Union. Secondly, Truman’s decision to recognise Israel provides Strong evidence to view him as a villain because he did it as a ploy to get more Jewish voters. Truman’s role in the decision to recognise Israel has persuaded others that he is best viewed as a villain because he really did this as a political ploy to secure Jewish votes in a Presidential election. Following the aftermath of WW2 and the holocaust, many people sympathised with Jewish people and the horrors they faced, one of these people supposedly being Harry Truman, making his opinions known through the support of the creation of Israel and the recognition of it,

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