What significant policy did Harry S. Truman enforce regarding the U.S. military during his presidency?

Harry S. Truman's enforcement of desegregation in the U.S. military was a groundbreaking policy that had lasting implications for civil rights in America. In 1948, Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which mandated the end of racial segregation in the armed forces and established the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. This action was significant not only because it addressed racial inequalities within the military but also because it set a precedent for subsequent civil rights movements aimed at achieving racial equality in other areas of American society.

The desegregation of the military marked a bold step towards breaking down systemic racism and paved the way for broader social changes. The military became a more integrated institution, which later influenced the civil rights movement as African American veterans returned home and advocated for equal rights. Truman's decision reflected a growing recognition of civil rights and equality, contributing to the larger narrative of social change in the United States during the post-World War II era.

In contrast, while military funding expansions, drafts, or recruitment campaigns were vital aspects of military policy, none of these actions addressed issues of racial equality directly, making Truman's desegregation policy the most significant in terms of its impact on both the military and society