Truman, MacArthur, and the Korean War

http://www.crf-usa.org/bria/bria17_3.htm#truman

Description: In the United States, civilians control the military. The U.S. Constitution makes the president the commander in chief of the military. Civilians head the U.S. Department of Defense and the individual service branches. Congress makes the armed-forces budget and conducts investigations and makes recommendations on military issues. Civilian courts review military judicial actions. This civilian control has sometimes been tested. The Truman-MacArthur confrontation was perhaps its greatest test. Another was the Vietnam War. Many military leaders felt hampered by restrictions placed on them by the president and civilians in the Defense Department. But although they grumbled, they did not challenge civilian control. After reading this Constitutional Rgiths Foundation article, examine the value of civilian control of the military. Make a list of the pros of civilian control of the military. Make a list of the cons of it. Evaluate the costs and benefits of this arrangement. Prepare to report to the class. Standards 11.9.3, 12.4.1, 12.4.4, 12.7.8, and 12.10

Author: Bill of Rights in Action, Constitutional Rights Foundation

Lesson ID: 1138