Growing Up on the Farm
On a sunny morning in 1884, a baby boy named Harry was born in Lamar, Missouri. His parents named him Harry S. Truman. The 'S' didn't stand for anything special - it was just a letter to make his name sound nice!
Little Harry grew up on a big farm with his mom Martha, dad John, and his siblings. Every morning, the roosters would wake him up before the sun came up. He had to help milk the cows and feed the chickens.
Fun Farm Fact: Harry woke up at 5 AM every day to do his chores! That's even before cartoons would come on TV today.
Harry had a special problem - his eyes weren't very good. He had to wear thick glasses to see. Some kids made fun of him, but Harry didn't let that stop him. He found other ways to have fun, like reading books and playing the piano.
"Mother," Harry would say, "I may not be able to play baseball, but I can read any book you give me!"
School Days and Big Dreams
Harry loved going to school. He was very good at history and would read every book he could find about famous leaders. His teachers always said he was one of the smartest kids in class.
But life wasn't all about studying. Harry also had his first job when he was just a kid! He worked at a drug store after school, organizing bottles and helping customers. He made 3 dollars a week - that was a lot of money back then!
"Hard work and reading can take you anywhere," Harry's mom would tell him. She was right!
Becoming a Soldier
When Harry grew up, he joined the army during World War I. He became a captain and led a group of soldiers. His friends called him "Captain Harry." Even though his eyesight was bad, he memorized the eye chart so he could join the army!
Brave Leader: Harry's soldiers loved him because he always took care of them and made sure they were safe.
Finding Love
The most special person in Harry's life was a girl named Bess Wallace. He met her when they were both in school. Harry thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen!
"Someday, I'm going to marry that girl," Harry told his friends. And guess what? He did! But it took a long time - Bess said no the first time he asked.
Starting in Politics
After the war, Harry wanted to help make his hometown better. He became a judge in Jackson County. A judge is like a helper who makes sure everything in the town runs smoothly.
Here are some things Harry did as a judge:• Built better roads for farmers• Made sure schools had enough money• Helped people who needed jobs• Kept the town's money safe
People liked Harry because he was honest and worked hard. They started calling him "Judge Truman." Soon, they thought he could do an even bigger job - being a Senator in Washington, D.C.!
"I never thought I'd leave Missouri," Harry told Bess. "But maybe we can do good things for more people in Washington."
Harry won the election and became a Senator. He and Bess moved to Washington, D.C., where they would have many more adventures. But Harry never forgot his days on the farm in Missouri, where he learned the most important lessons about working hard and being honest.
Every night, Harry would write in his diary: "Today I tried to do what's right, just like Mom and Dad taught me back on the farm."A Big Surprise for Harry
It was a warm spring day in 1945. Harry Truman had been Vice President for just 82 days. He was having a normal day at work when someone came running into his office.
Important Moment: President Franklin Roosevelt had died! Now Harry would become the new President of the United States.
"Oh my!" Harry said. His hands were shaking. "I feel like the moon and stars fell on me!"
A Quick Change
Harry rushed to the White House. Mrs. Roosevelt was there waiting for him. She said something Harry would never forget:
"Harry, the President has died. Is there anything we can do for you? You are the one in trouble now."
That same day, Harry became President. He had to take a special promise called an oath. His wife Bess and daughter Margaret stood next to him, holding his favorite Bible.
Learning Fast
Being President was not easy! Harry had to learn many new things very quickly. The biggest problem was that World War II was still happening. Soldiers were fighting in Europe and in Asia.
Harry met with his helpers right away. They told him about something very secret - scientists had made a new, very powerful bomb. Harry would have to decide what to do with it.
Big Responsibility: Harry now had to make decisions that would affect the whole world!
Getting to Work
Harry worked very hard to learn everything he needed to know. He would stay up late reading important papers. Sometimes he would say:
"I spend most of my time reading and studying. A President must know what's happening everywhere!"
Here are some of the big jobs Harry had to do right away:
• Lead the country in World War II
• Help countries that were hurt by the war
• Make sure Americans had enough food and jobs
• Talk to leaders from other countries
Meeting World Leaders
Harry had to meet with other important leaders like Winston Churchill from England and Joseph Stalin from Russia. They met in a place called Potsdam to talk about how to end the war.
"I'm just a farm boy from Missouri," Harry would say, "but I have to do what's right for our country."
The First Family Adjusts
Moving to the White House was a big change for Harry's family too. Bess wasn't sure she liked living there - she missed their home in Missouri. Their daughter Margaret was in college and worried about her dad.
"Don't worry about me," Harry would tell them. "As long as we're together, we can handle anything!"
Family Time: Even though he was very busy, Harry always made time to write letters to Bess and Margaret every day.
Harry kept his desk sign that said "The Buck Stops Here." This meant he would take responsibility for all the hard choices he had to make. He wouldn't blame others when things got tough.
Every night, before going to bed, Harry would think about his journey from being a farmer to becoming President. He knew he had a lot of work ahead, but he was ready to do his best for America.Hard Choices in Wartime
The summer of 1945 was very hot in Washington. President Truman sat at his desk, looking at important papers. The biggest war in history was still going on, and he had to make some very hard choices.
Big Decision: Scientists had made a new kind of bomb - the atomic bomb. They told Harry it could end the war, but it would hurt many people.
The Toughest Choice
Harry spent many nights thinking about what to do. He wrote in his diary:
"I have to think about saving American lives. But I also worry about all the people who might get hurt."
After talking with his helpers and thinking hard, Harry made his choice. He decided to use the atomic bomb to try to end the war.
Two Cities in Japan
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb fell on a city called Hiroshima. Three days later, another bomb fell on Nagasaki. Many people were hurt, and the cities were badly damaged.
Harry felt very sad about all the people who got hurt. But he believed it would save more lives by ending the war quickly.
Important News: On August 15, 1945, Japan said they would stop fighting. World War II was finally over! ️
Helping After the War
When the fighting stopped, Harry knew there was still lots of work to do. Many countries needed help to rebuild. Here are some ways America helped:
• Sent food to hungry people
• Helped build new houses and schools
• Made friends with old enemies
• Worked to make a peaceful world
New Friends and Partners
Harry met with leaders from many countries. He wanted to make sure there wouldn't be another big war. He told them:
"We must all work together to make the world better for our children."
Changes at Home
Back in America, soldiers were coming home from the war. They needed jobs and places to live. Harry worked hard to help them start their new lives.
Happy Times: Families were together again! People had parties in the streets to celebrate the end of the war.
Looking to the Future
Harry knew that ending the war was just the beginning. New problems were coming, and America would need to be ready. But for now, he was happy that people could live in peace again.
"We did what we had to do," Harry would say. "Now we must work to make sure it never happens again."
Every night, Harry would write letters to Bess about his day. He told her about his hopes for a better world. Even though his choices were hard, he believed they would help make a safer future for everyone.Building Peace in a New World
After the war ended, Harry had a new problem. The Soviet Union, a big country led by Joseph Stalin, wanted to take over more places. Harry knew he had to stop them, but without starting another war.
Important Plan: Harry made something called the Truman Doctrine. It was like a promise to help countries stay free from bullies.
Helping Friends Rebuild
Many countries in Europe were still broken from the war. They needed food, houses, and jobs. Harry had an idea to help them. His friend George Marshall helped make a big plan.
"If we help our friends get strong again, they can help make the world better," Harry said.
This plan was called the Marshall Plan. America sent food, tools, and money to help countries rebuild. ️
The Berlin Problem
In Germany, the city of Berlin had a big problem. The Soviet Union wouldn't let food and supplies get to part of the city. People there were hungry and cold.
Harry had a clever idea. He said, "If they won't let us drive food in, we'll fly it in!" This was called the Berlin Airlift. Planes flew food, coal, and candy to the people of Berlin.
Amazing Fact: Planes landed in Berlin every three minutes for almost a year! They even dropped tiny parachutes with candy for the children.
Making New Friends
Harry worked hard to make friends with other countries. He helped start a group called NATO. It was like a club where countries promised to help each other stay safe. Here's what NATO did:
• Countries worked together to keep peace• They shared ideas and helped each other• They promised to protect each other• They made plans to stop wars before they started
Standing Up to Bullies
When the Soviet Union tried to scare other countries, Harry stood up to them. He was firm but careful. He didn't want another big war.
"We must be strong," Harry told Americans, "but we must also be smart."
New Ways to Talk
Harry helped make new ways for countries to talk to each other. He supported something called the United Nations. It was like a big meeting place where countries could solve problems by talking instead of fighting.
Good News: Harry's plans helped keep peace in many places. Countries started working together instead of fighting.
Changed World
By standing strong but being peaceful, Harry helped change how countries worked together. He showed that helping others made everyone stronger.
Every night, Harry would think about all the people his plans were helping. He knew there would still be hard times ahead, but he believed that working together was the best way to make things better.
Harry wrote to Bess: "Some days are hard, but when I see children playing safely and people building new homes, I know we're doing the right thing."...
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