Truman Doctrine

When was the Truman doctrine announced

Announced in March 1947 by president Harry Truman in response to growing the fears of Soviet expansion in Europe after world war 2

What was the policy influenced by

George Kennans Long Telegram in 1946 which argued that the USSR aimed to expand communism and should be contained

2 main consequences of Truman doctrine

Led directly to policy of containment

Led to Marshall plan

Consequence 1: Led directly to policy of containment

It established containment as the foundation of US Foreign Policy

Truman promised the USA would support any country threatened by communism, marking a big shift from isolationism.

This meant the USA became actively involved in global conflicts, using money, political influence and military advice to resist soviet expansion

As a result, US began taking responsibility for protecting non communist governments worldwide (Greece and Turkey) increasing superpower rivalry and turning Cold War into more global conflict

Consequence 2: led to marshal plan

Paved way for Marshall plan

Following doctrines promise to help nations threatened by communism, USA offered $13bn of economic acid to rebuild Europe so countries would be economically strong and stable so less likely to turn to communism

Stalin saw this all as an attempt to create an economic empire from America so he refused Marshall aid for Eastern European countries and set up comiform to tighten control

This deepened divide, turning Europe into 2 hostile blocs and intensifying Cold War