how did the USA react to Soviet expansionism?

What was George Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’? (1946)

• USSR was hostile due to its insecurity

• No Soviet government would try to make a peaceful settlement with USA

• Communist ideology didn’t create insecurity but justified hostility to the outside world

• Defeat Soviets using a firm policy of containment

• USSR would collapse after internal struggle for control- USA just had to contain and wait

What was the Greek Civil War?

• 1946

• Britain announced it could no longer afford to support the war

• Against royals and Yugoslav backed Communists

• Policy of containment developed to stop spread of Communism

What was the Truman doctrine?

• Policy of containment

• America pledged to halt further Communist expansion

• Truman persuaded Congress to provide $400 million in economic and military aid for Greece

When was the Truman doctrine created?

1947

Why did Truman develop this policy?

• In 1947, most of Eastern Europe was under Communist control

• Truman explained the world was dividing into ‘two ways of life’: Capitalist and free and Communist and unfree

• The shattered economy of Europe was a fertile ground for Communism to take root and spread

• The Greek Civil War from 1946-1949

What was the Marshall Aid?

• Financial aid to help rebuild European economies after the war, preventing the growth of Communism

• $13.3 billion for European recovery

• European countries became markets for US goods

What impact did the Marshall aid have?

1. Europe was divided

   • Countries in the USSR’s sphere of influence were banned from accepting Marshall aid

   • Strong ties built between West Europe and the USA

2. Gaps in living conditions in East and West increased

   • Soviets embarrassed by wealth of Capitalist nations

3. Stalin became concerned about the US involvement in Europe

   • Stalin forbid Eastern bloc states to participate

When was the Marshall Aid created?

1947

What was COMINFORM?

• 1947

• Communist Information Bureau

• Maintain unity of assembled nations under Soviet control

• Ensure that they followed Soviet model of Communism

• Tightened control over Czechoslovakia, only country which retained independence

• Developed as a response to the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid