Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman Student Resources (M,O,T)
Extensive information for students about Truman from his youth and farming years through post-presidency including many digitized primary sources

Educator Resources from the Truman Library & Museum (T)
"Discover resources and activities for all ages or browse lesson plans and other materials for classroom use." Includes a virtual tour of the museum and extensive resources related to Truman and his presidency

Dear Bess Lesson Plan (M,O,T)
"In Harry Truman’s 'Dear Bess' Letters, he conversed with his wife about his political decisions to a great extent."

The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb Lesson Plan (M,O,T)
Students use decision documents to answer whether they would have dropped the bomb. Preview for suitability.

You Decide: Should Truman Have Used Atomic Weapons? (O,T)
"Weigh in on the debate over whether President Truman should have ordered the use of atomic weapons against Japan in August 1945." From PBS LearningMedia; preview for suitability.

Candy Bomber and the Berlin Airlift (M,O)
"Post war Germany was divided into four sections – the Allied part was controlled by the United States, Great Britain and France and other part by the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, although located in the eastern Soviet half, was also divided into four sectors – West Berlin occupied by Allied interests and East Berlin occupied by Soviets. In June 1948, the Soviet Union attempted to control all of Berlin by cutting surface traffic to and from the city of West Berlin. Find out how President Truman reacted and also discover the story of the candy bomber who paved the way for a better relationship between the German and American people only three years after the end of WWII." Video lesson for grades 3-8 from the Truman Library

The Truman Doctrine (O,T)
Lesson plan about the early Cold War from Voices of Democracy

Timeline of the Truman Presidency (T)
Timeline of events related to Truman's presidency including links to transcriptions of speeches, laws, press releases, and more

Health and Medical History of Harry Truman (M,O,T)
Detailed and footnoted with sources, this site chronicles the maladies and conditions of each U.S. president as compiled by John Sotos, MD.

American President Harry S. Truman  (Y,M,O,T)
Extensive essays about the personal and political life of  Harry Truman from the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.

Advise the President: Harry S. Truman (M,O,T)
Students are guided through advising President Truman about what the U.S. should do about the Soviet Union's (then) emerging threat.

Truman Presidential Inquiries (M,O,T)
Lesson plans from the Truman Presidential Library encouraging students to look at historical acts through the lens of inquiry

Presidential Podcast: Harry Truman (O,T)
"Biographer David McCullough looks at some of the most difficult decisions Harry S. Truman made during his time in the White House, and Washington Post polling manager Scott Clement examines the biggest polling failure in presidential history." From the Washington Post podcast "Presidential"

Harry Truman: 60-Second Presidents (M,O,T)
From PBS Learning; includes video and support materials for students and teachers

American Experience: Truman (O,T)
Articles and background information for the two-part video series from American Experience. Video is available at the Internet Archive

Harry S. Truman  (Y,M,O,T)
From Biography.com

Harry S. Truman  (Y,M,O,T)
From White House.gov

History.com: Harry S. Truman  (Y,M,O,T)
This site offers videos, pictures and interactive resources for studying the presidents. There are audio speeches available for Harry S. Truman.

Portraits of the President: Harry S. Truman  (Y,M,O,T)
From The National Portrait Gallery

Harry Truman and Independence, Missouri: "This is Where I Belong" (M,O,T)
Teaching With Historic Places lesson plan covering the importance of place on the impact of character