...from 1947 Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine was created in response to the Communist/Soviet takeover of many countries in Eastern Europe. The British government had been fending off Soviet interference in Greece, but in February, 1947, they announced they could no longer afford to keep their soldiers there. President Truman realized if the Soviets were not contained, they would continue to take over yet another country. On March 12, 1947, President Truman spoke to Congress regarding this crisis. This speech has become known as the Truman Doctrine. President Truman told Congress that the nations of the world were faced with a choice: A choice of good or evil, capitalism or communism, dictatorship or democracy, and freedom or oppression. President Truman believed the United States was obligated to get involved to protect freedom and democracy. One of the best known lines from his speech demonstrates what Truman wanted the Doctrine to become: “…the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” In his speech, the President attempted to convince Congress of the necessity to confront the Soviets. He demonstrated this with the analogy of the domino theory. He said that if America let one country fall to Communism, more countries would follow like a line of dominos. Although some Republicans were concerned that the Truman Doctrine was a “blank...
Words: 475 - Pages: 2
...“The Truman Doctrine” says, “More than 1,000 villages had been burned, 85% of children were tubercular” (Truman). Europe was in bad shape during the Cold War. Ayers, et al. defines the Cold War as an era of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union conflicting mainly communism( Ayers, et al. 8--) President Truman led the United States during the beginning of the Cold War. President Eisenhower took office after Truman which left President Kennedy as the last president to lead during the Cold War. These leaders created many policies and uses of aid during their time in office to stop the spread of communism. While all of the U.S. Cold War Presidents dealt with the containment of communism, Truman emphasized giving economic aid, Eisenhower emphasized more military use, and Kennedy emphasized the idea of Flexible Response. All three presidents main goal was the containment of communism. American Anthem Reconstruction to the President says the containment policy was implemented to stop the spreading of communism. This policy was created by George F. Kennan in the late...
Words: 816 - Pages: 4
...On March 12, 1947, President Truman addressed Congress, what was said at the address is now known as the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine was a response to the announcement by the British Government stating that it would no longer provide military and economic assistance to the Greek Government in its civil war against the Greek Communist Party. The Truman Doctrine began with President Truman outlining the situation in Greece, stating that, “Greece must have assistance if it is to become a self-supporting and self-respecting democracy…” ( history.state). Without help, it was to be believed that Greece would fall to Communism. He also added that Turkey was also in the same situation. Truman knew by involving America in Greece’s affairs,...
Words: 628 - Pages: 3
...The Truman Doctrine Joseph Woodall Strayer University Professor John Cronin POL 300 – Contemporary International Problems August 05, 2012 The Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine was a policy of containment to prevent Soviet expansion. It was introduced by President Harry Truman in 1947, in response to the Soviet Union’s aggressive expansionist actions. The origins of the doctrine were forged through providing military and financial aid to countries such as Turkey and Greece to combat Communism. The Truman Doctrine would ultimately be the basis of United States strategy during the Cold War. Turkey & Greece On March 12, 1947, President Truman introduced the doctrine that was destined to bear his name. In the body of his doctrine he described the struggle between Communism and the free world. One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms. (Truman, 1947. p.178). Using the doctrine as a prerequisite for intervention into nations that were under Communist threat, the United States became involved in Greece and Turkey. Since the...
Words: 1012 - Pages: 5
...The Truman Doctrine provided a platform that would serve the United States in our progress towards foreign policy for many years; stressing our role as leaders in freedom. Developing a strategic plan to assist Greece changed our isolationistic practice and helped create a realistic recovery for much of Europe and through declaration of leadership and our unrelenting need to protect the virtue of democracy; we formed an alliance with Greece at their most vulnerable and made it clear that enemies would be fought with our military backing. Foreign policy was given the spotlight by way of the presidential doctrine, which served as an official decree towards the goals and purpose that would be the President’s focus regarding international relations. After WWII, the United States was aware of the push from the Soviet Union to protect themselves from invasion by converting Western Europe into communist countries. The spread of communism was, and still remains, a threat to the United States and our belief that freedom and democracy is our human right; so in response to the conflicts in Europe, President Truman approached Congress with what became the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine can best be defined as a practice in containment. Written with the intent to provide economic support to Greece and Turkey for assistance against communist pressures; there is an underlying promise towards fighting the spread of communism that will support the United States and our thoughts on foreign...
Words: 1220 - Pages: 5
...The Truman Doctrine Background, Truman's Speech to Congress, Results The Truman Doctrine and Containment Links Spartacus page An interview with Clark Clifford (1998) Did Truman cause the Cold War? Background Events The Truman Doctrine was a response to a crisis. Behind it lay the Communist/Soviet takeover of many of the countries of eastern Europe by ‘salami tactics’ – which, Truman alleged, was in breach of Stalin’s promises at the Yalta Conference. Then, in February 1947, the British government – which had been helping the Greek government resist Communist rebels – announced that it could no longer afford to keep its soldiers there. It seemed to Truman and his advisers that, of they did nothing, it was only a matter of time before the communists took over YET ANOTHER country. Background Truman’s Speech to Congress, March 1947 On 12 March 1947, President Truman spoke to Congress. His speech is very famous. What he said became known later as the ‘Truman Doctrine’. Truman began by outlining the situation in Greece. ‘Assistance is imperative if Greece is to survive as a free nation’, he told Congress. ‘Greece must have assistance if it is to become a self-supporting and self-respecting democracy.’ Without help, Greece would fall to Communism. Nearby Turkey, he added, was in a similar situation. Getting involved in Greece, Truman knew, would go against the belief of many...
Words: 2758 - Pages: 12
...Outline two decisions that were made at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. 4 marks One decision made at the Potsdam conference was that Germany would be divided into four zones which would be occupied by one of the four allies. Berlin would be divided up in the same way. They agreed to give the USSR a quarter of their industrial equipment because the Soviet zone was less developed industrially. However, the soviet zone had to provide the other three zones with raw materials. Explain the importance of three of the following conferences. 15 marks * The Teheran Conference 1943 * The Yalta Conference 1945 * The Potsdam Conference 1945 * The development of the atomic bomb The Teheran Conference was important because it shows strains in the relationship of the Big Three and the lack of trust between them. It took pace in 1943; this is significant because it meant that the allies were bought closer as they had a common enemy. The allies had agreed to create a UN organisation after the war ended. This is important because it would maintain peace between European countries and prevent a Third World War. However, there were also some disagreement during the conference. However, the allies had delayed opening the second front in Poland. Stalin believed that the west was waiting for the USSR army to be badly injured. This is important because it shows the suspicion between the allies. The Yalta Conference was important because it was the last meeting of the Big Three...
Words: 878 - Pages: 4
...initiated an economic divide in Europe, by triggering a response from USSR. However, it was not the primary cause as political and military rivalry also contributed to the division of Europe. The introduction of the Marshall Plan by the Americans signified the move from the second stage of the recognition of incompatibility between the two superpowers to the final stage of initiation of action, and hence was significant in showing how the change in relations from co-operation to rivalry eventually led the the separation of Europe into two spheres of influence. Another factor that played a major role in the separation of Europe was the difference in security aims of the Americans and Soviets. Military rivalry, ultimately, is to be primarily blamed for the complete separation of Europe as the arms race that broke out contributed to the severing of friendly and diplomatic ties between the Soviet Union and United States of America. Politically, containment also led to the division of Europe. It influenced American foreign policy towards USSR in a long run. Its objective was to contain the power influence of USSR. One example is the implement of Truman doctrine which clearly showed USA’s political commitment to take over seemingly democratic countries and intervene parts of the world that would fall into Communism. Another example is the Berlin Blockade which was seen by the west as evidence of USSR aggression. And USA response to Berlin Blockade also showed their firm stand...
Words: 285 - Pages: 2
...During the Second World War, the Allies had the common objective of defeating Nazi Germany and their ruthless leader, Adolf Hitler. Once the war was over, their difference in ideology led to Cold War which lasted much longer than World War II and it had a large impact on the economic, political, and cultural landscape of the world. The debate on who is responsible for the start of the Cold War has been debated for many years and is very complex. The Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill plays a key role for future actions taken by the United States. The introduction of the Truman Doctrine is an example of a reactionary measure undertaken by the Allies that may not have occurred if Churchill did not give his famous speech. This essay will argue that the actions taken by the Western Allies between 1945 and 1948, albeit aggressive, were merely reactive, precautionary and preventative measures in response to the aggressive actions already taken by the Soviet Union. The outbreak of the Cold War can be tied to the aggressive nature of the Soviet’s actions behind the “Iron Curtain”, not the reactive, aggressive measures taken by the remaining Western Allies. The Iron Curtain Speech given by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a warning to the United States public that if precautionary measures were not taken, another ruthless leader and country would dominate Europe and possibly other parts of the world with their policies. In the months prior to giving his famous...
Words: 1444 - Pages: 6
...The Cold War and US Diplomacy II Carter and the Doctrine Dr. Igor Barsegian Pol 300 Contemporary International Problems March 7, 2015 Abstract January, 2010marked the 30th anniversary of the Carter Doctrine as recited by former President Jimmy Carter. The State of the Union, along with his Presidency moved forward without notice. The Carter Doctrine has had a transformative impact on U.S. national security policy. Both massive and lasting, its impact has also been almost entirely pernicious. Put simply, the sequence of events that has landed the United States in the middle of an open-ended war to determine the fate of the Greater Middle East begins here (Bacevich, April 2010) The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by the president of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union address on January 23, 1980, which stated that United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interest in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union-the Cold war adversary of the United States-from seeking hegemony in the Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed “a grave threat to the free movement of middle east oil,” Carter proclaimed (Bracevich, 2010). Carter’s new policy came about because he wanted to develop a containment strategy for the Persian Gulf area. When Carter came to office, unlike John F. Kennedy, his aim was...
Words: 1415 - Pages: 6
...The Truman Doctrine was launched in 1947 by the US. It was the US’ attempt to tighten control on Europe, as the soviets had continued to expand and impose their communist ways on countries in Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslovakia. This doctrine promised to support any country who was anti-communist. In the same way, the Marshall Plan was launched in 1947 offering financial aid to any country who needed it. Theoretically, this did not exclude Eastern Europe but it was assumed that it didn’t apply to them as they were not capitalist. These two events did contribute to the development of the cold war as it was one of the first times that the west had directly taken action against the East and their ideology and actions. In addition to this, in 1947 the soviets responded by starting Comintern which was a unity of all communist governments – allowing the Soviet Union to gain more control over their sphere of influence. This was soon followed in 1949 by Comecon, which rivalled the Marshall plan in that it too offered economic help to the eastern European countries who were now suffering from poverty after the war – although this was much less effective than the Marshall Plan. Therefore, these events did play a significant role in the development of the Cold War as it made the two nations rival each other for power, ideology and economies. Source G primarily supports this idea that the events contributed to the development of the Cold War. It directly compares...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...Truman Foreign Policy “Let’s Keep Score” The First Couple of Things He Did • 1. UN Established June 26, 1945 (Tie) ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ April 1945, 50 Nations met in San Francisco HQ in New York Permanent Members-US, UK, China, USSR, France Trygve Lie-1st UN Secretary General • 2. US Drops Atomic Bombs (Win) ▫ Hiroshima August 6th ▫ Nagasaki August 9th 3. German Occupation (Tie) • Potsdam Conference-splits Germany into 4 Occupation Zones ▫ US, UK, France (West Germany) ▫ USSR (East Germany • Also Split Berlin (4 Zones) • Promised to crush NAZI party ▫ Nuremberg Trials-sentenced 11 to death 4. Japanese Occupation (Win) • Only US controlled the rebuilding of Japan ▫ Did not want to split Japan like Germany • Create a Democratic government • Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur ▫ He wrote the constitution ▫ Not militaristic! ▫ No more weapons/army 5. Eastern Europe (Loss) • Right after the war, Stalin takes the Baltic States ▫ Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia • Stalin’s Promise of Free Elections in Eastern Europe ▫ Went back on promises at Yalta • Iron Curtain Speech-Winston Churchill, Missouri • “An iron curtain has descended across Europe…” 6. Containment Policy • Authored by George Kennan • Fundamentally changes US Foreign Policy forever • Learned our lesson from WWII ▫ Appeasement @ Munich ▫ Soviets want to expand, we need to push them back! Truman Doctrine • Announced March 12, 1947 • “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples from conquest...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...“International Communism, of course, seeks to mask its purposes of domination [ . . . ] by superficially attractive offers . . . ,” and if the spread of communism is not resisted gallantly and confidently, the entire world’s freedom will be endangered. In the book American Anthem: Reconstruction to the Present, Edward Ayers describes the Cold War as a time of great tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Then in the Truman Doctrine, President Truman defines the policy of containment as prohibiting the spread of communism. Later, George C. Marshall created a plan to give economic aid to Europe to defend countries vulnerable to communism. Next, John Foster Dulles...
Words: 1146 - Pages: 5
...Union and the USA in the years 1953–61? Mark Scheme: Candidates should have knowledge about the main features of ‘peaceful coexistence’ in the period 1953-61. Developments which helped to ease Cold War tensions might include: the end of the Korean War (1953); Soviet settlement of border disputes with Turkey and Iran (1953) and recognition of Israel (1953); Austrian independence and improved Soviet-Yugoslav relations (1955); the ‘Geneva spirit’ based on east-west summit diplomacy and Khrushchev’s visit to the USA in 1959. Developments which sustained Cold War tensions during the period might include: US attitudes towards communism in the 1950s (domino theory, ‘roll back’, Eisenhower doctrine); Soviet concept of peaceful coexistence based on long-term victory of communism; the impact of the Hungarian Rising (1956) and the launch of Sputnik (1957); the U2 spy plane incident (1960) and the issue of Germany (1958-1961). At Levels 1 and 2 simple or more developed statements will provide either only simple or more developed statements about peaceful coexistence with either only implicit reference to the extent tensions were eased or argument based on insufficient evidence. At Level 3, students should provide some sustained analysis related to the extent tensions were eased but the detail may be hazy in places and/or the material unbalanced chronologically or thematically. At Level 4, there will be sustained analysis of US-Soviet...
Words: 7464 - Pages: 30
...The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy POL 300 January 31, 2012 The key problem for his presidency clearly would be the Vietnam War. It had driven his predecessor from office, and if it were not resolved in a way that could be turned to political advantage, it would drive him from office as well. Two months after Nixon assumed the presidency, American combat deaths exceeded thirty-six hundred, and there seemed no end in sight. Nixon was in a dilemma, for during the campaign he had said that he had a "secret plan" to end the war but could not divulge it because it might upset the Paris peace negotiations. If his plan involved escalation, Democrats could charge that he was abandoning attempts to reach a peaceful solution and could point to mounting American casualties and prisoners of war. If he negotiated a solution that led to the fall of the government in Saigon, Democrats could charge he had abandoned an ally. Nixon had to find a way to cut American commitments while preserving the non-Communist government in South Vietnam—at least for a "decent interval" so that the overthrow of the regime could not be blamed on the United States (Morgan 2002). Nixon, his national security adviser Henry Kissinger, and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird settled on an approach with several elements. First, the Laird policy for "Vietnamization" was adopted. Responsibility for fighting would be turned over to the Vietnamese, in order to reduce American casualties. Gradually...
Words: 1576 - Pages: 7
