President Truman

Integrates the

Armed Forces

By Mr. Lane

Injustice-The Armed Forces of the USA had been traditionally segregated-1896 USSC case Plessy v. Ferguson legalized segregation in USA-Whites and Blacks were not allowed to serve together-Blacks were historically not allowed in forward combat units-Blacks were usually used for manual labor / service jobs in the military

Soldiers to prepare fish for Army meal

“Colored” Military Police Division Entrance.

Challenging the Injustice-When given the chance, Blacks demonstrate their bravery, dedication, and duty in combat-54th Massachusetts Regiment (Civil War)-Tuskegee Airmen (WWII)-President Harry S. Truman had served in WWI and witnessed effects of segregation in Army-Worked with Civil Rights Leader A. Phillip Randolph on issue

Cpl. William E. Thomas and Pfc. Joseph Jackson prepare a surprise for German troops on Easter morning, 1945.

The Facts-President’s Committee on Civil Rights formed in 1947 to draft recommendations - Congress slow to react-Executive Order 9981 bypasses Congress-Order signed on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman-The order stated that "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin."

Chicago Defender Newspaper headline announcing Truman’s Order.

Location-Executive Order 9981 was signed by Truman in the Oval Office of the White House In Washington, DC.-Order has jurisdiction over all US Armed Forces in the whole country

President Truman Signs Executive Order to end Segregation in US Armed Forces.

Executive Order 9981

Resistance

A segregated African American engineers unit of the US Army on parade during WWII.

-Many officers / soldiers in all US Armed Forces branches protested order.-Some refused to serve, some left the service.-Strom Thurmond, Governor of South Carolina, and a group of Southern delegates walked out of the 1948 Democratic Convention when Truman’s civil-rights platform passed.

Reactions-Gen. Omar Bradley, the U.S. Army chief of staff, said that desegregation will come to the Army only when it becomes a fact in the rest of American society.-Army, Air Force, Navy submit integration plans to the President over two year period.-Truman wins re-election to the Presidency in 1948.

Regiment of African American troops to receive combat training.

Outcome-Full Integration not achieved until the Korean War in 1950. -Casualties / Troop needs forced US Military to integrate Units to fight during the war.-In October of 1953, the Army announces that 95% of African-American soldiers are serving in integrated units.

Sgt. 1st Class Major Cleveland, a weapons squad leader, points out North Korean positions to his machine gun crew.

A banner created in 1953 to honor the integration of the United States Armed Forces.

Marine Corps advertisement showing integration.

Research BibliographyPBS. PBS. Web. 21 May 2015.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_truman.htmlInformation on reaction to Truman’s order (SC protest).

"Truman Library - July 26, 1948: Executive Order 9981 Issued." Truman Library - July 26, 1948: Executive Order 9981 Issued. Web. 21 May 2015.

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/anniversaries/desegblurb.htmTruman Library site used for background information.

Images Bibliography"Attitudes, Lifestyle in WWII Germany Helped to End Segregation in States." Most Read. Web. 21 May 2015.

http://www.stripes.com/military-life/attitudes-lifestyle-in-wwii-germany-helped-to-end-segregation-in-states-1.129504Image of Black Soldiers holding Bombs during WWII.

"Business Pundit." Business Pundit RSS. Web. 22 May 2015. http://www.businesspundit.com/10-greatest-works-of-billboard-subvertising/Advertisement of Marines showing integration.

"Korea: Integrated under Fire." Korea: Integrated under Fire. Web. 21 May 2015. http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/21/Korea/Integrated_under_fire.shtmlImage of Integrated Machine gun unit during the Korean War.