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The Truman Doctrine and Containment: U.S. Strategy During the Cold War

Explore the origins and significance of the Truman Doctrine, which emerged during the Cold War in response to Soviet expansion. Advocated by George Kennan, containment aimed to limit Soviet influence globally, particularly after Britain withdrew support from Greece and Turkey. The U.S. implemented the Marshall Plan, providing $13 billion in aid for European recovery. Tensions escalated with the Berlin Blockade, leading to a U.S. airlift to sustain West Berlin. The establishment of NATO reflected a commitment to collective security, marking a pivotal shift in U.S. foreign policy.

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The Truman Doctrine and Containment: U.S. Strategy During the Cold War

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Fighting a Cold war 19-2

  2. What was the Truman Doctrine? Why was it issued? • Kennan (former diplomat to USSR) thought USSR believed Western powers wanted to surround & dis-empower them • Recommended using long-range policies to patiently limit the expansion of their power • Recommended Containment • Since eastern Europe already lost to communism, US should try to prevent spread of communism to other countries • Some thought too moderate

  3. What led to the Truman Doctrine? What was it? Why was it significant? • Due to economic problems Britain pulled support from Greece • Turkey also needed aid • Created crisis (USSR could enter this vacuum) • Truman Doctrine- US should be support “free people who are resisting subjugation” • Asked congress to approve economic and military aid to Greece & Turkey.

  4. What led to the Marshall Plan? What was it? Effects of the plan? • Secretary of State Marshall told European countries (including USSR) to develop an economic recovery plan & the US would help to fund it • Representatives came up w/ plan (USSR dn participate) • Marshall Plan=13 Billion $ of aid to rebuilding Europe

  5. Marshall Plan cont’d • Reflected US desire to fight growth of communism in Europe • US believed aid would help • Europe economically; democratically & eventually make strong markets for US products

  6. What led to the Berlin Blockade? • USSR blocked plans to reunite Germany • June 1948 Allies merged all sections of Western Germany into one independent nation • As a result • USSR begins blockade of Berlin in 1948 • stopped all rail, road, river traffic • 2 million people left w/out supplies from outside world

  7. How did the U.S. respond to the Berlin Blockade? • Blockade put Truman in difficult position • Opposing it aggressively could lead to war • giving in would strengthen USSR position • For 15 months US airlifted food, fuel etc • Stalin saw US was determined to save West Berlin’s independence so ended the blockade May 1949

  8. Supplies Unloaded in Berlin

  9. How and why did NATO develop? • April 1949 Western European Nations, Canada signed NATO “armed attack against one or more shall be considered an attack against all” =collective security • Meant the US was becoming actively involved in European affairs (major change of policy since Monroe Doctrine

  10. How did events in Asia challenge U.S. post-war confidence? • By the end of 1949 Mao’s communist troops took over China • Nationalist troops (Chiang Kai-Shek) fled to Formosa (now Taiwan) • US refuses to recognize communist govt • 1950 began providing aid to Nationalist China

  11. Mao's Red Army AP / Wide World Photos Jennings and Brewster, p. 310. [also: Eastfoto - Athearn [Vol. 16] p. 1364]

  12. Chinese refugees (at right) stream into Hong Kong from China in 1950 -- passing others going the opposite direction

  13. Events in Asia cont’d Joe-1, the American nickname for the first Soviet atomic test, referred to Joseph Stalin. Image: Courtesy of Stepanovas • 1949 Soviets tested atomic device ending US superiority • US then steps up the arms race by developing a more powerful hydrogen bomb • US also retooled rest of military, much of which became part of NATO

  14. Why were the NSA & CIA developed? What recommendation did the NSA make? • Developed to gather & analyze data from abroad regarding cold war threats • Advise president • Predicted an extended period of tension between communist & non-communist countries • Recommended that the US protect the non-communist world, therefore needing significant military buildup

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