Cold war in the Amercias (1) Truman: containment and its implications for the Americas

Question 1

Place Truman’s policy of Containment in Context

Answer 1

■The Monroe Doctrine was a United States foreign policy position that opposed European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. It held that any intervention in the political affairs of the Americas by foreign powers was a potentially hostile act against the U.S. The doctrine was central to U.S. foreign policy for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
■After the Second world war, leaders and people of latin american nations believed their contributions to the war effort (subordinating and linking their economies to the needs of the US) had earned the right to greater recognition and influence in the hemisphere.
■ Confirmed by the Inter-American Reciprocal Assistance and Solidarity agreement of march 1945.
In reality, as the cold war developed, Latin american countries looked at postwar relations with the US in a hemispheric and global context while Truman saw them through the lens of the cold war
○ The US would assist latin America when the US felt threatened in the region.
From 1946 to 1950- Latin america received only 2% of US overseas aid (almost all military in nature)

Question 2

Describe the Rio Treaty of 1947, present a perspective and highlight its significance

Answer 2

signed on 2 September 1947, this treaty facilitated US intervention in Latin America if there is seen to be a threat to regional stability or communist encroachment. That year, communist organizations were banned by Brazil, Chile and cuba. Also cut off diplomatic relations with the soviet union. - facilitated the rise of autocratic regimes instead of communist regimes (anything but communist mentality). Over next years, several south american and caribbean governments turned away from democratic systems to more autocratic and right leaning regimes

Perspective:
Narciso Bassols Garcia, Mexican jurist and political commentator said that the worst thing about the treaty was that latin American countries became compulsory automatic allies of the US

Significance:
In the eyes of many latin americans, the nations of the region were falling into truman’s containment plan without any choice and without receiving reciprocal benefits

Question 3

Describe Truman’s inaugural address, present a Consequence and a perspective

Answer 3

At his inaugural address on January 20, 1949, Truman announces “Point four” programs provided scientific-technical & monetary aid to developing nations. The program was approved by Congress on June 5, 1950 in the Foreign Economic Assistance Act, which allotted to the program a budget of $25million for fiscal year 1950/51
○ Unlike Africa and asia however latin american received little benefit

Consequence:
○ Anonymous article written by Louis Joseph Halle (state dept.) in July 1950 criticized the lack of economic support for Latin America
○ But article had little effects as events in Asia commanded Truman’s attention

Perspective:
Historian Garabiel Kolko asserts that Point Four’s scant first-year funding left it “in the realm of abstractions rather than material fact,” and could produce any meaningful impactful results to match the lofty rhetoric of Truman’s inaugural.

Question 4

Describe formation of (OAS), present a perspective and highlight its significance

Answer 4

The Truman administration approeached the spring pan American Conference in Bogota with the sole focus on defense issues. Led to the Organization of Amercian States (OAS) being founded on 30 April 1948 for the purposes of solidarity and co-operation among 21 members states within the Americas. Brought together leaders from nations across America to address hemispheric issues and opportunities.
● The objectives of the OAS were to;
○ Strengthen peace and security
○ Provide action in the event of aggression
○ Helped preserve democracy in Latin American Countries such as Haiti, Peru, Guatemala, and Paraguay

Significance:
The OAS crystallized the US influence in Latin America

Question 5

Describe the Mutual Security Act of 1951 and highlight its significance

Answer 5

With the rise in the Korean war, Truman’s administration intensified ant communist assistance to Latin America as an extension of the policy of containment. Led to an American foreign aid program through the Mutual Security Act of 1951 Aimed to help poorer countries develop and contain communism
● 38 million of military assistance to latin America
● Though the assistance was beneficial, latin American countries were in more need of government stability and internal security

Significance:
In eyes of Latin America developments in 1951 showed US continue to ignore calls for economic assistance

Question 6

Bolivia AND 1951

Answer 6

1951 - Bolivia
Following a legitimate election in 1951 in Bolivia that was annulled u the ruling rightist government and the subsequent resolution in april 1952 to remove autocracy US withheld formal recognition of the left leaning government of Victor Paz Estenssoro (brought universal suffrage and land reform)
Autocracy: a system of government by one person with absolute power
Concern from US, national security council → eradicate communism in Latin America