Truman Doctrine Effects

After saving the nation billions of dollars, reforming social security, and practically eliminating job discrimination, President Truman created a doctrine to conduct the way the United States responded to the advance of negative political influence around the world. In addition to the opposition and dark decisions Truman was faced with in World War Two, President Truman was then forced to face a Congress that was the opposite of his executive administration. Not only did President Truman think of how his actions and decisions would effect the nation during his presidency, but also far into its future, as shown through the Truman Doctrine. Richard Neustadt explains this concept quite

Truman supplied the people of Berlin with supplies when they were blocked by the Russians through airlifting in staples for the population (“Harry S. Truman”). He also made the final decision to drop the atomic bombs and Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war with Japan (Kelly). After World War II had ended, he successfully established a prosperous economy when the wars had ended, and the country was at peace (“Truman: HST Biography”). Additionally, Truman implemented the Truman Doctrine in 1947 to aid Turkey and Greece and promote peace (“Harry S. Truman). Truman sincerely served in his Presidency and his legacy exhibits this through his many great

Soon, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. The establishment of this document further ensured that the spread of communism would not be tolerated, as the nation's associated with this treaty will protect themselves from possible

The NATO members were Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands , Belgium, Republic Of

The Cold War began around the time the wartime confederation between the United States and the Soviet Union broke down, during the years 1945 - 1950. The battle between the two dominions, communism and capitalism, battle for more than 40 years. The Cold War essentially began with empty threats about bombing each other with weapons including nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles resulting in nothing but a game of I guess you can say “one on one basketball”. There were two sides to this war the entire time but the main countries that were battling was the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States, along with Canada and ten other nations of Western Europe, signed a treaty known as the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) in 1948.

After World War II, President Truman warned of communism encroaching on nations vulnerable to Soviet control. The Policy of Containment pledged the U.S. would form strategic alliances and support weak independent nations with military support and economic assistance. A $400 million U.S. appropriation was granted in 1947 to support Greece and Turkey which had lost British assistance. This evolved into the Truman Doctrine that included the Marshall Plan which provided humanitarian aid to devastated Western European nations. After four years and $17 billion these nations established economic security, increased trade with the U.S. and rejected Soviet takeover efforts (ushistory.org).

Upon the demise of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman took over office with little to no background in political education or knowledge of the events following WORLD WAR II involving the “Big Three”; Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin. After World War II America was booming technologically and economically. This set up the new President, as well as the American government and people, to feel superior to the rest of the world. The postwar foreign policy of the United States “is characterized…by a striving for world supremacy” and the belief that the “United States has the right to lead the world” (Novikov). The United States acted in a way of self-righteousness and believed that because they were booming after World War II that they had the right to then be the one and only powerhouse of the globe, and so they acted in a way that made sure all other countries were aware of this fact.

The 4 ½ decade long clash between the U.S. and Soviet Union was dubbed “The Cold War” by Bernard Baruch because of the cold relations between the two competitive nations. The tension between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. began primarily because of the polar opposite ideologies of each nation, the U.S. being Capitalist and The Soviet Union being Communist, causing a multitude of disagreements between the two. The disputes between the two countries began during WWII when the U.S. left their Soviet allies flapping in the wind, when they refused to open a second front, which resulted in the Soviets taking a beating. The U.S. later excluded The Soviets from the Atomic bomb project, since the U.S refused to work with their scientists. The U.S was also becoming

Truman was placed as the new Vice President during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth term, but quickly inherited the presidency after Roosevelt’s death. Roosevelt was an extremely successful president who pushed for relief, reform, and recovery. Following such a productive presidency would be tough to do, yet Truman was eager to continue Roosevelt’s legacy. He believed that a free society at home cannot exist without a free society abroad. Truman responded to the spread of Communism to Greece and Turkey by declaring in the Truman Doctrine that “the United States would aid the democratic struggle against totalitarianism by supporting ‘free peoples who are resisting the subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.’”

The end of the Second World War brought dramatic changes to the world, including the role of the United States. In an effort to maintain a global position of dominance, the nation engaged in a Cold War with the Soviet Union. While Americans supported a capitalistic model of society, the Soviets supported a Communist one. These two world powers fought to exchange socioeconomic models for alliance and support from third-world countries. The US was frightened by the spread of Communism, especially to their own nation.

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.

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.

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

Truman was instrumental in the last Greek civil war 1946-1949 outcome and he also played and important part in the evolution of American policies in the Cold War. ( When WWII end it was apparent Russia was influencing other country into actual dominance which got the attention of the British and America after many countries fell under Russia influence. The British was a moderate force in the middle East but the cost of the war depleted them so Britain inform the United States that they was no longer able to support Greeks or Turkish.¬() Suspicion of the Soviets, by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Truman after several conferences develop a level of mistrust of Russia. Steps was taken to stop Russia advancement of communism.

Things increasingly became worse. The threat of the Soviets closing in along the push for communism began to take hold and had the broken European countries were in fear; help was desperately needed. The call was answered when the “Truman Doctrine” was put in place on March, 12, 1947.