The Department of War, which included the armed forces, was part of the executive branch during the early years of the Republic. Which article of the Constitution empowered the executive branch to create the department?

It is Article II, Section 3.

Explanation:

Article II of the Constitution defines the Office of the President, its duties, powers and other aspects. In Section 3,  the Constitution enumerates some presidential prerrogatives. Among other things,  it says that the president "shall commission all the Officers of the United States."

s the president shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the united states, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the united states; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments. sooo yeahhh

explanation:

trumans defeat to eisenhower in the 1948 elections was due to trumans approach and handling of the cold war and the war in korea. trumans approach to communism during the cold war was the principle reason for his defeat. eisenhowers reputation and name as the supreme allied commander in europe during world war two and his campaign slogan that he ''would go to korea if elected'' won him the presidency.