19.1.7

Containment

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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’.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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