Essay On The Truman Doctrine

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The Truman Doctrine On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman changed the course of United States foreign policy when he addressed a joint session of Congress to ask for aid for Greece and Turkey. Truman and his advisors made this decision to protect democracy around the world and stop the spread of Soviet influence and communism. This became known as the Truman Doctrine and was the start of the Cold War. Prior to this speech that changed foreign policy, Americans were averse to giving foreign aid. George Washington and the founders believed that “interweaving our destiny with others would entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rival-ship, interest, humor, or caprice (Cobb).” Presidents Theodore Roosevelt …show more content…

The United Nations was created, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe was implemented, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established along with a buildup of American military might after the Korean War. The Truman Doctrine that started the Cold War lasted for 40 years and saw conflicts in Berlin, Cuba, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. During the Cold War, Americans feared a worldwide catastrophe that threatened all mankind and the world as we know it (Merrill). However, the Cold War ended with the collapse of Soviet influence and the use of military strategy did not result in nuclear war or a worldwide catastrophe.
“Historians” agree that the Truman Doctrine was successful in stabilizing “world politics.” The Truman Doctrine set the tone for American foreign policy following world War II leading to the Cold War but it also stopped the spread of communism by the end of the twentieth century (Truman Doctrine). The question to consider today is should we continue to police the world or adopt the policies advocated by our founders (Cobbs).
In conclusion, the Truman Doctrine expanded the role of the United States as a world power and was successful in stabilizing world politics. The Cold War ended with the collapse of Soviet influence and U.S. foreign policy strategies did not result in nuclear war or a worldwide

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