Freedom to Serve Truman, Civil Rights, and Executive Order 9981 Critical Moments in American History Series

On the eve of America?s entry into World War II, African American leaders pushed for inclusion in the war effort and, after the war, they mounted a concerted effort to integrate the armed services. Harry S. Truman?s decision to issue Executive Order 9981 in 1948, which resulted in the integration of the armed forces, was an important event in twentieth century American history.

In Freedom to Serve, Jon E. Taylor gives an account of the presidential order as an event which forever changed the U.S. armed forces, and set a political precedent for the burgeoning civil rights movement. Including press releases, newspaper articles, presidential speeches, and biographical sidebars, Freedom to Serve introduces students to an under-examined event while illuminating the period in a new way.

For additional documents, images, and resources please visit the Freedom to Serve companion website at www.routledge.com/cw/criticalmoments

Chapter One Franklin Roosevelt, African Americans and the Coming of

World War II

Chapter Two Politics and the Quest for an Integrated Military, 1937-1945

Chapter Three Harry Truman and Civil Rights, 1884-1945

Chapter Four Post-War Utilization of the Military and the Creation of the

President’s Committee on Civil Rights, 1945-1947

Chapter Five Politics and the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment

And Opportunity in the Armed Services, 1948-1953

Chapter Six Historians Debate Truman’s Civil Rights Record