LAD/Blog #38: Truman Doctrine
LAD #38: Truman Doctrine
On March 12th, 1947, President Harry Truman announced what is known as the Truman Doctrine. Following WWII and the rise of the USSR as a global superpower, America became worried about the spread of communism, and adopted a policy of “containment” in regards to it. Truman issued the Truman Doctrine to address this, regarding the regions of Greece and Turkey. He begins by saying how Greece has sent an “urgent appeal for financial and economic assistance.” He says that Greece doesn’t have very many natural resources, and had a really hard time during WWII. He says that now, Greece doesn’t have enough funds to rebuild and finance imports to help themselves. He also said that Greece was being threatened by communists, and couldn’t defend themselves- they needed our help, and had nobody else to turn to (Britain had helped them, but couldn’t any longer). He said that we had to preserve democracy there, and everywhere. He then spoke about Turkey, and said they were in a similar situation. He said they must keep Turkey’s “integrity” to keep order in the Middle East, and provide financial/economic aid. He says that the US has taken a leading role in the UN, to make sure peace and independence are there for those in it. He said because of this, we had to help countries maintain this against aggressors (in other words, "containing" the spread of communism). He says that America should support free people resisting pressures from minorities forcing ways of life on them. He says it is critical to help Greece and Turkey not only for this reason, but for what might happen if they fall. He asks Congress for $400,000,000 to help the countries, and to send Americans to the countries for supervision, reconstruction, and training. He ends by saying this: “The free peoples 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.” All in all, he was looking to help the countries, but was really trying to preserve democracy in Europe and make sure communism didn't spread.
Truman/the Truman Doctrine
The Marshall Plan (synthesis):
The Marshall Plan was similar to the Truman Doctrine in that it provided funds (over $15 billion) to help countries in Europe (mainly Allies) rebuild after WWII. It also reinforced the ideas of democracy vs communism, based on who the help was given to/how much help was given.
On March 12th, 1947, President Harry Truman announced what is known as the Truman Doctrine. Following WWII and the rise of the USSR as a global superpower, America became worried about the spread of communism, and adopted a policy of “containment” in regards to it. Truman issued the Truman Doctrine to address this, regarding the regions of Greece and Turkey. He begins by saying how Greece has sent an “urgent appeal for financial and economic assistance.” He says that Greece doesn’t have very many natural resources, and had a really hard time during WWII. He says that now, Greece doesn’t have enough funds to rebuild and finance imports to help themselves. He also said that Greece was being threatened by communists, and couldn’t defend themselves- they needed our help, and had nobody else to turn to (Britain had helped them, but couldn’t any longer). He said that we had to preserve democracy there, and everywhere. He then spoke about Turkey, and said they were in a similar situation. He said they must keep Turkey’s “integrity” to keep order in the Middle East, and provide financial/economic aid. He says that the US has taken a leading role in the UN, to make sure peace and independence are there for those in it. He said because of this, we had to help countries maintain this against aggressors (in other words, "containing" the spread of communism). He says that America should support free people resisting pressures from minorities forcing ways of life on them. He says it is critical to help Greece and Turkey not only for this reason, but for what might happen if they fall. He asks Congress for $400,000,000 to help the countries, and to send Americans to the countries for supervision, reconstruction, and training. He ends by saying this: “The free peoples 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.” All in all, he was looking to help the countries, but was really trying to preserve democracy in Europe and make sure communism didn't spread.
Truman/the Truman Doctrine
The Marshall Plan (synthesis):
The Marshall Plan was similar to the Truman Doctrine in that it provided funds (over $15 billion) to help countries in Europe (mainly Allies) rebuild after WWII. It also reinforced the ideas of democracy vs communism, based on who the help was given to/how much help was given.
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