Monroe Doctrine

Provide two definitive reasons why the Truman doctrine is one of the most signifcant documents in American Foreign Policy.

1. Thesis/Topic Sentence

After the fall of Germany and Japan in 1945, World War 2 concluded leaving the world with 2 major powers the United States and the United Kingdom. A power struggle emerged between the two powers beginning the Cold War. The United States, being led by Harry Truman followed the Truman Doctrine, aimed at decreasing the spread of Communism and Soviet influence on the world. This doctrine was one of the most significant document in American foreign policy as it permanent led the United States to global interventionism and marked the start of using foreign aid as a political tool.

2. Transition into First Argument

Before the Truman Doctrine the United States had primarily engaged the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. However, the Truman Doctrine marked the start of increased international interventionism in foreign policy.

Evidence: Following the Truman Doctrine from 1945-1991 America would engage in a large multitude of proxy wars in Central America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Prominent examples of America intervening are the Korean War and Vietnam War where American went as far as sending troops in to these countries. Not only that in other countries the United States support various insurgent groups that were pro-capitalist as shown in the Greek Civil War and Soviet-Afghan War. Before Truman and the World Wars, post-civil war America the only major international war the country had taken part of was the Spanish-American War. The US had less than 20 foreign military bases before WW2 but today has hundreds of overseas bases.

3. Transition into Second Argument

In addition to getting militarily involved in all sorts of foreign conflict, the Truman Doctrine led to the United States beginning to use foreign aid as political tool. With the goal preventing the spread of communism and increasing its influence on global affairs America began incentivizing countries to align with them through economic aid.

Evidence: America began the Marshal Plan in which it gave over 10 billion dollars to European nations to help economic growth as long as they were aligned with capitalistic values. They also gave Taiwan, Greece, and Turkey hundreds of millions to decrease communist influence. Today the United States has continued this policy and leads the world in giving foreign aid, with countries like Israel, Ukraine, and Jordan receiving much aid.

4. Concluding Sentence

The Truman Doctrine is one of the most impactful documents in American Foreign Policy, as it shifted America towards a interventionism and using foreign aid as a diplomatic tool.