Question

South Carolina’s governor Strom Thurmond protested President Truman’s intention to enforce civil rights on a federal level, arguing that this would "convert America into a Hitler state." True or false?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: True.

Explanation:

A 1947 report by the Truman administration, entitled "To Guarantee These Rights," presented a detailed ten-point agenda with civil rights reforms. In February 1948, the president presented a civil rights agenda to Congress, in which he proposed the creation of several federal offices dedicated to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices.

Instead of addressing civil rights, in a case-by-case need, Truman wanted to address civil rights at the national level. Truman prepared three executive orders that eventually became a structure for future civil rights legislation. The first executive order was Executive Order 9981 in 1948, it is generally known as the act that initiated racial desegregation in the Armed Forces.

Truman ran a considerable political risk with his support for civil rights, and many veteran Democrats worried that the loss of support could undo the Democratic Party. The fear seemed well justified, since Strom Thurmond announced his candidacy for the presidency and led numerous revolts in the southern states, proclaiming the rights of the defenders. This rightist rebellion was accompanied by a leftist revolt, led by former Vice President Henry A. Wallace as the presidential candidate of the Progressive Party.