Secondary Source Analysis

WRITTEN DOCUMENT ANALYSIS WORKSHEET (Modified from U.S. National Archives worksheet)

Student Name: Class: Date:

1. TITLE OF DOCUMENT: PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN'S ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

2. TYPE OF DOCUMENT (Check one):

☐Letter ☐Report ☐Newspaper ☒Speech ☐Other (Describe):

3. DATE DOCUMENT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN OR PUBLISHED:

· MARCH 12, 1947.

4. AUTHOR OF DOCUMENT (Who originally wrote it?):

A. AUTHOR’S JOB TITLE OR POSITION – President of the United States of America (USA)

B. EDITOR OF DOCUMENT (if applicable) – None

5. FOR WHAT AUDIENCE DID THE AUTHOR WRITE THIS DOCUMENT? (Try to be specific)

· Members of the Congress of the United States.

6. DOCUMENT INFORMATION: Write your answers to Part 6 in complete sentences and write as much as necessary for each point. Use quotation marks and page or paragraph numbers where applicable.

A. Why did the author write this document? (Quote from the document.)

· The President Truman’s speech to Members of Congress specifically mentions national security and foreign policy issues as the two vital agendas of the meeting. In order to meet the objectives, President Truman states, ‘We shall not realize our objectives, however, unless we are willing to help free peoples to maintain their free institutions and their national integrity against aggressive movements that seek to impose upon them totalitarian regimes (p. 177).’ President divided his speech into two portion, that is, present situation and concerns for Turkey and Greece; although, most part of the speech and funding concerned supporting Greece. This speech to joint session of congress has foreign policy and national security repercussions in the decades to come, and they are in the form of intense cold war between capitalist and the communist world. President Truman proposed release of 400,000,000 for the period ending June 30,1948, but he mentioned that in the times of need, he will not hesitate to present the situation brief to the members of the congress for further assistance due to gravity of the situation. Truman’s speech is aimed at ensuring domination of western democracy and capitalism in the most part of the world, and to defeat communism that can become a concern.

B. List three things the author said you think are important and explain why in your own words.

· First, President Truman mentioned the need of financial and economic assistance to two major countries, Greece and Turkey. Truman states, ‘The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want (p. 178).’ In case of Greece, the assistance is needed to safeguard regional interest in Europe, Turkey, and Middle East. Peace and order in Mediterranean region required attention of the United States, and Greece is the country that can lose its freedom to totalitarianism. The funding to Greece is a significant portion of total financial assistance to Turkey and Greece combined. Owing to the belief that the roots of democracy and capitalism are in Greek civilization, securing the legacy and assisting the nation in the time of misery means that America respects its ideological roots.

· Second, Tukey is one of the two countries that has territories on two continents, Europe and Asia. Historically, Turkey’s geopolitical proximity and its role in international politics remained crucial for maintaining order at international arena. America’s financial and economic assistance can facilitate the modernization process in Turkey, which indicate ensuring peace and stability in Middle East and Greece. Turkey also remained a buffer zone between Capitalist and the Communist regimes, and simultaneously maintaining its neutrality. Investing in public administration of Turkey means establishing institution that can strengthen its democracy and economic system.

· Third, President Truman considered cost of World War-II as an investment in the world where nations and its citizens can live with lives with freedom. The financial and economic assistance to Greece and Turkey is termed by the President Truman as investment in liberal and democratic values. Along with the financial assistance, human resource and technical support to both the countries for managing the funds is embedded in the proposal. President Truman convinced the members of Congress on the subject matter of not wasting American’s taxpayer money. Additionally, Truman mentions, ‘There is no other country to which democratic Greece can turn,’ which indicate that if America does not support these nations, the immediate impact on the security of United States are severe.

C. List two things that the document tells you about American life at the time it was written.

· First, the document indicate that the life of Americans was better off in comparison to other western democracies. United States was in position to assist governments across the world, and specifically insisted on securing its national interest in the countries where it has friendly ties. World War cost on America as severe, but it was an investment in future of the world order. Truman mentioned, ‘The world is not static, and the status quo is not sacred,’ that means that Americans want to secure their respective national interest in the global power dynamic.

· Second, American life indicate peaceful life with less concern for suppression. They believe in freedom and liberty of their and others lives. The only reason the Truman proposed, and the congress agreed, to release the financial assistance is to ensure peace and prosperity in the recently war torn countries, coupled with America’s security in future. Although, national politics and foreign policy is formulated to ensure power and authority in global arena against others. American life became exemplary for people who believed in democracy and capitalism. America presented a model of majority will, as opposed to minority will.

D. Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.

· How will the Greek and Turkish nation agree on the utilization of funds, and will the Turkish and Greek nation consider the financial support in historic terms as positive contribution to their sovereignty?