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The Policy of Containment

Through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, the USA tried to stop communism spreading. This was part of a policy known as ‘containment’.

Spread of communism

Spread of communism

  • Truman (leader of America) was worried that communism would be an attractive option for European citizens, who were very poor after the war.
  • Many countries had been liberated (freed) by the Soviets at the end of the war. He thought that this might give them reason to support communist causes.
The 'domino effect'

The 'domino effect'

  • Poland, Romania and Bulgaria already had communist governments.
  • Truman feared this may spread to countries like Greece and Turkey, who struggled to fight off communist revolutions.
  • This could cause a ‘domino effect’: if one country fell to communism, more countries would too.
Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech

Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech

  • Winston Churchill (no longer Prime Minister) gave a significant speech in March 1946 in the USA.
  • He said that:
    • ‘An iron curtain has descended across the continent of Europe’.
  • This iron curtain speech described Russia's behaviour in Eastern Europe.
The Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine

  • Truman gave a speech in 1947, saying that:
    • Countries had to decide between communism and capitalism.
    • Communism limited people’s freedom.
    • The USA would send troops and economic aid to countries resisting communism.
  • This became known as the Truman Doctrine.
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