Born on May 8, 1884, in the small city of Lamar, Missouri, Harry S. Truman was the oldest of his three siblings. He was named in honor of members of his family, his first name, Harry, coming from his uncle, Harrison Young, and the “S” coming from both of his grandfathers, Solomon Young and Anderson Truman. Financial conditions were poor for his family, and they could not afford to send him to college, so he worked various jobs after graduating from high school. He soon returned to work back on the same farm he grew up on, and joined the Missouri National Guard. In 1934, he was elected to US Senate. As a senator, he support the New Deal programs put by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression. He also worked with the Interstate Commerce Committee, examining and investigating railroads alongside fellow Senator Burton Wheeler. He was elected again in 1940, and further worked to improve economic conditions of the United States by investigating the National Defense Program to prevent unwise spending. In 1944, when searched for a running mate, F.D.R knew the choice was important due to it being his fourth term. His vice president …show more content…
Truman was a strong advocate and supporter of Civil Rights. He passed an act, allowing African Americans to join the U.S Army, and banned any sort of discriminatory action in the Civil Service. After the end of WW2, Truman was shocked after finding out about the treatment of African American Veterans, expressing his anguish by saying, “My stomach turned over when I learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of army trucks in Mississippi and beaten. Whatever my inclinations as a native of Missouri might have been, as President I know this is bad. I shall fight to end evils like this.” In the eyes of many, Truman paved the way for many successful modern Civil Rights movements to