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Truman had expected that it would be easier to run a country in time of peace than in war, but he was wrong. He had a lot of trouble to avoid a post-war depression like the one after WW1. For example, a whole industry branch had to be restructured suddenly, which was the war industry. Ford and Boing had to dismiss a several thousand workers because the government had cancelled orders.
But the real problem were the returning men (most of them had visited no college) from Europe who needed immediately work and housing. Truman reacted quickly by creating a reeducation-plan which allowed the homecoming men to study and also he supported construction. He also introduced universal military training, to guaranty a constant trained army. He tried to create a national health insurance program, but with this he failed.
His greatest problem became the workers movement. During the war, the country had held together and people were willing to work more than required. But now, the unions grew stronger and stronger and the coal-miners wanted a wage increase. Truman refused an increase as high as the workers demanded, and they reacted with a nation-wide strike.
Times became harder for the President, his popularity fell to 65%. He was criticised for his unable handling of the worker's strike and for having a "government of crony", since he had appointed a lot of his old friends.
The union strike became larger and caused more and more damage to the country. When the railroad worker's hold a solidarity strike, the whole nation was paralysed and only 1% of the trains kept out of the strike. Noticing that the situation was getting out of his control, Truman decided to break the strike by army powers if the union wouldn't negotiate. This announcement had the wished effect, the strike was soon over and the union accepted the government's condition. Later, when the railroaders stroked again, Truman simply sued the union because of having violated a strike-agreement.
But because of his strict treatment of the strike Truman's popularity sank dramatically (32%) and the press turned against him. In 1946 the Democrats lost a lot of votes when the Congress was elected, and they blamed Truman for this defeat.
It's reported that he felt miserable these days. He never accepted himself being the President, and he often talked of "the President" in the 3rd form, as if it wasn't him. "I felt there must be a million men better qualified than I, to take up the Presidential task." he would later explain in his farewell address in 1953.
Nevertheless, most of the time he was in a good mood and still worked very hard, 14 hours a day and more. For example, he created the "Atomic Energy Commission" which was under civilian control since he didn't want the atomic energy under the control of the army.
In 1947 he appointed General Marshall his Secretary of State, which was one of his best personal choices. Truman sent him on a mission to China, where he tried to negotiate between the Communists under Mao-Tse Tung and the Nationalists, who were supported by the USA.
Gradually things were become better again for Truman, there country's economy was flourishing and his popularity again increasing (48%).
After all, he had lead his country into normalisation.
But the real challenges were ahead in foreign politics.
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