In this Book
- Quest and Response: Minority Rights and the Truman Administration
- 1973
- Book
- Published by: University Press of Kansas
-
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

summary
Here is a thorough treatment of every important aspect of minority affairs during the Truman administration. The authors trace the significant developments in the quest for minority rights from 1945 to 1953, show the interrelatedness to the struggle waged by America’s racial minorities, and assess the role of the Truman administration in that struggle.
The quest of minority peoples for civil rights was a scattered, meager movement until the beginning of the Second World War. Minority group members were segregated, intimidated, povertyridden, and undernourished, and their struggle suffered from these weaknesses. This situation changed to an unprecedented extent during the years between 1945 and 1953.
Under President Harry S. Truman, the executive branch of the federal government listened to minority groups as never before and often responded to their entreaties and pressures. Civilrights victories were won in the courts. Educational levels rose and employment opportunities increased. Legal segregation began to crumble, and the campaign for better housing inched forward. Alliances were forged among racial minorities, Jews, organized labor, and political and religious liberals.
Sizable elements among the minority group ranks developed a modicum of economic power and political influence for the first time during the Truman administration. This rudimentary power was among the bases for civilrights and racial developments after 1953.
Although the civilrights story of the Truman administration is one relating mainly to blacks, this study deals with other minority groups, including Indians, MexicanAmericans, Puerto Ricans, Japanese and ChineseAmericans, and Jews. Based on extensive research in primary source materials, it is a balanced, indepth analysis of the power of minorities in eliciting change. It is a valuable addition to the study of social as well as political history.
The quest of minority peoples for civil rights was a scattered, meager movement until the beginning of the Second World War. Minority group members were segregated, intimidated, povertyridden, and undernourished, and their struggle suffered from these weaknesses. This situation changed to an unprecedented extent during the years between 1945 and 1953.
Under President Harry S. Truman, the executive branch of the federal government listened to minority groups as never before and often responded to their entreaties and pressures. Civilrights victories were won in the courts. Educational levels rose and employment opportunities increased. Legal segregation began to crumble, and the campaign for better housing inched forward. Alliances were forged among racial minorities, Jews, organized labor, and political and religious liberals.
Sizable elements among the minority group ranks developed a modicum of economic power and political influence for the first time during the Truman administration. This rudimentary power was among the bases for civilrights and racial developments after 1953.
Although the civilrights story of the Truman administration is one relating mainly to blacks, this study deals with other minority groups, including Indians, MexicanAmericans, Puerto Ricans, Japanese and ChineseAmericans, and Jews. Based on extensive research in primary source materials, it is a balanced, indepth analysis of the power of minorities in eliciting change. It is a valuable addition to the study of social as well as political history.
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- pp. xi-xii
- 2. A New Man in the White House
- pp. 13-30
- 3. Tension and Strife
- pp. 31-54
- 4. Where They Stood
- pp. 55-68
- 6. Of Promises Made and Delayed
- pp. 96-118
- 7. Vindication of a Commitment
- pp. 119-147
- 8. A New Day Dawns?
- pp. 148-170
- 9. Deadlock in Congress
- pp. 171-204
- 10. Of Patronage, Housing, and Law
- pp. 205-220
- 11. Integrating the Military
- pp. 221-250
- 12. Equal Employment Opportunity
- pp. 251-281
- 13. Defeat in Congress
- pp. 282-313
- 14. A Final Stand
- pp. 314-345
- 15. Assessment
- pp. 346-354
- Bibliography
- pp. 401-413
Additional Information
ISBN
9780700631094
Related ISBN(s)
9780700600991
MARC Record
OCLC
1082202531
Pages
440
Launched on MUSE
2021-01-09
Language
English
Open Access
Yes