The Cold War was an icy rivalry that developed between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II. This rivalry first developed because the two conflicting nations had different ideas of successful economies. The United States believed that capitalism, in which private owners control trade and industry was more efficient than Communism, in which the state or government control trade and industry. In addition, many of the events that occurred at The Yalta Conference played a significant role in the cause of this era of competition that lasted from 1947 to 1991. At Yalta, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed that Poland’s government would include members of the pre-war Polish government and that free elections would be held …show more content…
By establishing the Truman Doctrine, his main goal was to keep other nations who were resisting Communism to be able to stand up for themselves. Since the Soviet Union was in the midst of all Communist activity, Truman knew that Stalin would eventually spread his beliefs into other parts of the world. Fearing that he would lose yet another nation to Stalin, Truman quickly decided that he had to do something to help other countries who were in need of political and monetary aid. As a result, the Truman Doctrine was first created when Truman stood before Congress on March 12, 1947, and asked for $400 million to fight Communist aggression in Greece and Turkey. When Congress approved Truman’s request, he was able to send political, military, and economic assistance to Greece and other democratic nations that were under threat from Stalin (history.state.gov). Truman supported helping the Greek government because he believed that if he did not, a Communist victory in Greece would jeopardize the political stability of Turkey’s government and the Middle East would eventually fall to Communism (history.state.gov). Truman also argued that the security of the United States depended on the safety of other nations worldwide. The Truman Doctrine was efficient because Truman was able to stop Communist aggression in Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. He was also able to prevent the Soviet Union’s
Following the end of World War II, relations between the Soviet Union and the United States quickly deteriorated, with tensions rising and both nations pushed to the brink of war. This strain arose largely due to animosity and secrecy from both parties, as each side wondered what the other was planning and tried to create policies to protect themselves from these possibilities. In the case of the United States, President Truman often incorrectly interpreted Soviet intentions, which ultimately led to the Cold War. He believed that Stalin wanted war when the Soviets were just trying to protect themselves after the war, were retaliating against aggressive Western policies, and were using the same rhetoric that the West was using.
Why Can’t We Be Friends?: The Rise of Tension between the US and USSR post-WWII Dating back to at least the start of communism, the world saw the gradual rise of the Cold War between the United States of America (USA) and the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). Although the Cold War was may have been inevitable because of these countries differing visions of economic policy, governmental systems, and the postwar world in general, it was during the years 1941-1949 when it became imminent. In this time, suspicion and tension between the Superpowers increased due to the battle between communism and capitalism, as well as their different governmental systems.
Truman also prompted the Marshall Plan, which provided significant amounts of U.S. aid to the corrupt economies of Western Europe and also vetoed the Taft-Hartley Labor act. This act helped expand federal control over labor quarrels and allowed the government to force a hiatus if a strike was considered horrendous to national security or well being [3]. Truman also intervened with American troops in the conflict between North Korea and South Korea and also supported the creation of the state of Israel in the Middle East. In short, Truman’s foreign policy created some of the basic principles and commitments that marked American foreign policy for the rest of the 20th century
The Cold War was a period of tension and hostility between the United States of America and the Soviet Union from the mid-40s to the late 80s. It began as World War II was ending, and was called “cold” because both sides were afraid of fighting each other directly with nuclear weapons. Many events contributed to the rising tensions between the two nations during the early years of the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union were allies throughout World War II, though suspicious of each other at times.
Protecting America Protection of the United States has always been a priority. Specifically, during the Cold War Truman was fighting for the protection over the United States government. The Cold War brought threats to the government by Stalin attempting to spread his communist ideologies. The different ideologies and visions that prevented the U.S. and Soviets from working together. Stalin wanted to continue Soviet government as communist to protect from future invasions and Truman wanted democracy because he thought that democracy was the best way to guarantee stability.
It should be noted that, from the point of view of some American researchers, it was not the case with Greece and Turkey that was fundamental for the formulation of the Truman Doctrine. Just this case for the first time required the allocation of a fairly large amount of money.
Presented by President Harry S Truman in a joint session of Congress, the Truman Doctrine was a plan to rebuild Europe and its economy after World War II. Helping Europe also presented a geographical advantage. The first sentence of the Truman Doctrine states “As in the case of Greece, if Turkey is to have the assistance it needs the United states must supply it.” President Truman picked Greece and Turkey because those European countries directly border the Soviet Union. If Europe became much more stronger and powerful than how it previously was, it would be able to enforce containment and keep communism within Soviet borders.
The Cold War was a political conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that lasted about 45 years. The original dispute was that the USA did not want communism to spread to other parts of the world. Named after President Harry Truman, the Truman Doctrine was credited as one of the actions that began the Cold War because it was an American foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine aimed at stopping the Soviet Union from spreading communism. Both governments tried to gain impact in the political arena by putting their economic and military power into more small proxy wars with other countries in their alliances.
The United States initiated peacemaking deals with European countries to give them a choice instead of Communism for commercial and military protection. The Truman Doctrine aided Greece and Turkey in the 1950s. This doctrine provided financial assistance, weaponry, and troops to help train their militaries and bolster their governments against Communism.
Fearing they would fall under Soviet influence, Truman wanted to supply them monetary and military help. In response to the Truman Doctrine, Congress granted $400,000,000 to the
The Soviet Union began demanding adjustments to its relations and control over Turkey, as well as Iran. Though Stalin backed down at the threat of U.S. Naval forces, his actions led to the containment policy. This policy is used to prevent the spread of communism. Later, in 1947, the United States took over the responsibility of providing economic aid to Turkey and Greece and announced that they would be helping the nations affected by Communism. The Marshall Plan was put into effect later that year and it offered reconstruction aid to much of Europe.
Some historians believe the Cold War was inevitable because of the hostilities from both America and the Soviet Union after World War II. America believed that the USSR was an expansionist country trying to spread an evil, communistic idea throughout the world. Although the countries never directly fought against each other, as they only fought in proxy wars, there was still extreme conflict. The United States responded to the Soviets actions in Germany, Europe, and their national actions. These responses were justifiable, or so many Americans at the time believed.
According to author Colonel George C. Woolsey, on March 12, 1947, President Truman issued “a Presidential pronouncement declaring immediate economic and military aid to the governments of Greece, threatened by Communist insurrection, and to Turkey, under pressure from Soviet expansion in the Mediterranean area” (Woolsey 2008). Consequently, Congress allocated $400 million to aid the implementation of this doctrine. The Truman Doctrine pledged to support other countries in their struggle to resist communism. The implementation of the Truman Doctrine not only affected 1940s America, it changed the scope of our national foreign policy. As reported by professor Dennis Merrill at the University of Missouri, “The administration 's concern over communism domino effect, its media-sensitive presentation of the doctrine, and its mobilization of U.S. economic and military power to modernize unstable regions, marked the advent of a modern U.S.
American support was given to both Turkey and Greece... Turkey fought the Soviet Union 's pressure over communism; and the Greek government exited communism by October 1949. Overall, by giving aid to Turkey and Greece, President Truman exceeded his main goal of turning countries from communist to capitalist just by offering money/other ways of giving
Truman greatly emphasized on the freedom of people for who did not want to join the Soviet Union for the sake of being weak. United States of America offered help to these free people to impose and reinforce democracy in the world. The Truman Doctrine had democracy as the centre part of his policy to bring good and positive changes in the world. The American foreign policy feared totalitarianism to be common and practiced in the world if democracy was not supported therefore more and more emphasis was given to democracy in the Truman Doctrine.