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American Leadership
1944 Election: President Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for a fourth term with a change in the vice-presidential candidate to Harry S. Truman, replacing Henry Wallace due to concerns about Wallace's radical views.
Election Outcome: The Democrats secured 53% of the popular vote and a decisive 432–99 Electoral College victory.
Roosevelt’s Health and Death: Roosevelt’s health was failing, though he publicly denied any issues. He passed away less than three months after his fourth inauguration, leading to Vice President Harry S. Truman assuming the presidency.
Wartime Conferences
Tehran Conference (November 1943): The first meeting of the Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) where they planned the D-Day invasion and Soviet engagement in the war against Japan.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration. Wikipedia.
Yalta Conference (February 1945): This pivotal meeting addressed post-war plans, including the division of Germany, free elections in Eastern Europe (despite Soviet control), Soviet entry into the war against Japan, and the groundwork for the United Nations. Criticized later as conceding Eastern Europe to Soviet influence.
Roosevelt’s Passing: Shortly after Yalta, Roosevelt’s health visibly declined, and he died in April 1945, leaving Truman to navigate the final stages of the war.
Potsdam Conference (July 1945)
Leadership Changes: With Roosevelt deceased and Churchill replaced by Clement Attlee after the UK elections, Truman, Attlee, and Stalin met to finalize demands for Japan’s unconditional surrender and post-war Germany.
Emerging Tensions: The conference revealed growing fissures within the Grand Alliance, particularly regarding the treatment of Germany and the broader implications of Soviet actions in Eastern Europe. Truman’s approach marked a shift towards a tougher stance against Soviet expansions.
Post-War Economic Landscape
National Debt: The war significantly increased the U.S. national debt.
Relative Economic Strength: Unlike war-torn Europe and Japan, the U.S. infrastructure remained intact, positioning it as a predominant economic power post-war.
Devastation in Europe: Europe was left in ruins, with major cities, industries, and infrastructure extensively damaged or destroyed, leading to severe economic hardship and setting the stage for initiatives like the Marshall Plan to rebuild and stabilize European economies.
Global Influence: Post-war, the U.S. emerged as the leader of the victorious Allied coalition, significantly influencing global politics and confirming its status as the world's leading power by 1945.
Formation of the United Nations
Foundational Meetings: Initial discussions took place in 1944 at Dumbarton Oaks, with representatives from the U.S., USSR, Great Britain, and China laying the groundwork for a new international peacekeeping organization.
Charter Development: In April 1945, delegates from 50 countries drafted the United Nations Charter in San Francisco over eight weeks.
U.S. Ratification: The U.S. Senate quickly approved American membership in the UN, a stark contrast to its rejection of the League of Nations after World War I. The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, after ratification by a majority of member nations. The United States were now in a permanent alliance and will never be “isolated” or “neutral" again.
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