If Thomas Dewey had won the 1944 presidential election, the trajectory of the post-World War II era would have been significantly altered. Several key areas would have seen dramatic changes:

Domestic Policy:

• The Cold War: Dewey, a staunch anti-communist, would likely have pursued a more aggressively confrontational stance against the Soviet Union than Truman. This could have manifested in earlier and more extensive intervention in Eastern Europe, potentially leading to an earlier and more intense Cold War, or even a preemptive war. Conversely, a less interventionist approach, focusing on containment through economic and diplomatic means, is also plausible given Dewey's pragmatic nature. The specifics would depend on the composition of his cabinet and his advisors' influence.
• Domestic Spending: Dewey's focus on fiscal conservatism might have resulted in less government spending on social programs compared to the Truman administration's Fair Deal. This could have led to slower economic growth and a different social landscape, potentially impacting the burgeoning Civil Rights movement. However, Dewey also advocated for modernizing infrastructure and improving education, so the exact impact is difficult to predict.
• Civil Rights: While Dewey publicly opposed racial discrimination, his actions might have differed from Truman's executive orders desegregating the armed forces. The pace of desegregation and the overall progress of the Civil Rights movement could have been slower or taken a different path under a Dewey presidency. His approach might have been more gradual and less confrontational than Truman's.

Foreign Policy:

• Post-War Reconstruction: Dewey's approach to the reconstruction of Europe and Japan after the war might have differed from Truman's Marshall Plan. He might have favored a more limited involvement, focusing on specific economic aid packages rather than a broad-based program. This could have had significant consequences for the economic recovery of Europe and the political stability of the region.
• The Korean War: The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 would have presented a major foreign policy challenge. Dewey's response would have been crucial in shaping the course of the conflict. A more cautious approach might have limited US involvement, while a more aggressive stance could have escalated the conflict earlier and more intensely.
• Nuclear Weapons: The development and use of nuclear weapons would have remained a central issue. Dewey's views on nuclear proliferation and the arms race are less well-documented than Truman's, making it difficult to predict his specific policies. However, his general anti-communist stance suggests a strong likelihood of continued nuclear development and a potential escalation of the arms race.

Long-Term Consequences:

The long-term consequences of a Dewey presidency are difficult to predict with certainty. However, it's plausible that a different approach to the Cold War, domestic spending, and civil rights would have resulted in a significantly different geopolitical landscape by the 1960s and beyond. The specific outcomes would depend on numerous factors, including the composition of his administration, the evolving international situation, and unforeseen events. The overall impact would likely be a less interventionist foreign policy and a slower pace of social change domestically, though the exact nature of these changes remains speculative. The absence of Truman's legacy would have left a significant void in American history, altering the narrative of the post-war era in profound ways.