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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of the war, how many service men and women were coming back to the American work force?

2. How many people did the bomb actually kill in Hiroshima?

3. Who is Truman's first choice for his replacement as President?

4. What country's military is in possession of Potsdam at the time of the conference?

5. How many months had Truman been President before both Germany and Japan surrendered?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the Trumans take an automobile trip across the nation, they are shocked at how many people recognize them and want to see them. Why?

2. Truman's own party did not actively support him in his bid for the election, even through fundraising. Why?

3. Did Truman conduct himself as a world leader in Potsdam? Give examples to support your answer.

4. Truman had corresponded with Churchill and Stalin, but had never met either of these leaders before Potsdam. Read through Chapter 10 again, noting Truman's observations of the two men. Pretending you are a reporter for an American newspaper, write an article describing the two men from Truman's view.

5. Compare the way reporters on the Truman campaign trail were treated as opposed to the reporters on the Dewey train. How was this indicative of the campaigns themselves?

6. Choose one of the following issues confronting Truman in this chapter: 1) Soviet acquisition of the atom bomb, 2) North Korea invading South Korea, 3) the Berlin Airlift, or 4) rise of Senator McCarthy. In your essay, outline how Truman and his administration handled the press regarding this issue. In your opinion, was the situation presented to the public in a good way?

7. The title of this chapter is "The Buck Stops Here." Where does this expression come from and how does it apply to Harry Truman?

8. When Truman is on a state trip to Mexico, he visits the grave of the child heroes. Why did this act mean so much to the Mexican people?

9. Describe General MacArthur, covering the following points: 1) appearance, 2) method of speaking, 3) personality as described in the book.

10. When Robert Oppenheimer, the director of the Manhattan Project, comes to see Truman, the President is made uncomfortable about the visit. Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 5, Harry Truman changes from a military man to a business man, then to a politician. Describe in detail how each of these factors contributed to his discovering that his true calling was politics: 1) his upbringing, 2) his marriage, 3) his work ethics, 4) his environment, 5) the national economy, 6) the politics of his home state, 7) the lessons learned in the military and in the retail business.

Essay Topic 2

Once Truman was introduced to politics back in Independence, Missouri, he knew he had found his career. In your opinion, was Truman a good politician? Address these topics in your essay: 1) political connections, 2) political strategy, 3) political decisions

Essay Topic 3

Why did Truman's streak of popularity with the American people begin to fail in this phase of his career, just before his second term of office?

(see the answer keys)

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