The Truman Doctrine and Its Consequences Flashcards
truman doctrine
12 March 1947
truman addressed congress to appeal for economic assistance to be given to Greece and Turkey
impact of truman doctrine on foreign policy
revolutionary
move away from self-isolationist foreign policy
growth in globalisation made isolationist policy impossible
President Truman
became president after Roosevelt’s death on 12 April 1945
had little prior foreign policy experience/influence
religious, provincial and saw the world in Manichaean terms
George Kennan
US embassy in moscow
argued for a hardline approach to USSR
approached the matter in both ideological and great power conflict terms
saw the Soviet Union as a threat to the US way of life and the power of the US
Clark M Clifford
special counsel to president
Argued for a hard-line approach to the USSR
argued that military strength would deter the Soviets, and pushed for an arms race
Dean Acheson
undersecretary of state
first sought a conciliatory approach, however he later changing his approach to become a ‘cold war warrior’, and he was responsible for the wording of truman’s speech
quote from doctrine - ideological appeal
“One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and freedom of political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and repression.”
quote from doctrine - end to isolationism
“I believe it must be a policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”
quote from doctrine - issue of idealism
“The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want. they spread and grow in the evil soil of poverty and strife. They reach their full growth when the hope of a people for a better life has died. We must keep that hope alive”
quote from doctrine - strategic factor
“If Greece should fall under the control of an armed minority, the effect upon its neighbour, Turkey, would be immediate and serious. Confusion and disorder might well spread through the entire Middle East… should we fail to aid Greece and Turkey in this fateful hour, the effect will be far reaching to the west as well as the east.”
quote from doctrine - appeal to self interest
“The free people of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world - and we shall surely endanger the welfare of our own nation”
aid from doctrine
truman called for $400 million from congress to aid greece and turkey, arguing that the US needed to protect the freedom of other countries
Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan launched in 1948 and provided financial aid to rebuild Europe.
America saw the economic weakness in Europe as an open door to communist influence.
in return for aid, each country had to commit to free elections and free traid
soviet response to Marshall Plan
soviets rejected marshall aid and labelled it an example of American economic imperialism
they formed COMECON, which effectively tied trade and economic development in Eastern European countries to the Soviet Union
judgement about Truman Doctrine
beginning of the policy of containment
showed that the US was willing to interfere overseas to contain communism
ramped up tensions between East and West
Stalin responded by creating COMECON and COMINFORM
