The Truman Doctrine Essay Research Paper The

The Truman Doctrine Essay, Research Paper The Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine was the force for the change in United States foreign policy, from isolationism to internationalism; which was the main reason of the involvement into the two wars of containment and into world affairs. The Truman Doctrine began a major change in U.S. Foreign policy, from its beginning, aid to Turkey and Greece, to its influence on Korea and Vietnam. The aftermath of WWII inspired the U.S. to issue a doctrine that would stop Communist influence throughout the world. However, the U.S.’s passion in the achievement of the Truman Doctrine sent our soldiers to die in Vietnam and Korea for a pointless cause. “It must be the policy of the U.S. to support free peoples. This is no more than a frank

recognition that totalitarian regimes imposed on free peoples?undermine the foundations of? peace and security of the United States.” The Truman Doctrine would change the foreign policy of the United States. This policy would first go in aid to support the democratic governments in Turkey and Greece. These nations were being threatened by rebels, which were supported by the Soviet Union, to topple the government and install a Communist regime. A direct influence of this Doctrine was the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was designed to give aid to any European country damaged during WWII. It tremendously helped ravaged European Nations such as Italy and France. By helping them economically, The Marshall Plan indirectly helped to suppress growing Communist sentiment in these

countries. The process whereby the Truman Doctrine came to fruitions was a long and arduous one. After WWII, the Soviet Union and the United States stood at the pinnacle of world power. By the late ’40’s, the U.S.S.R. had caught up to the United States’ nuclear weapons programs. In addition, they were very land-hungry. Throughout Russia’s history, they have been in search of a port. The Soviets in that respect were direct threats to their non-Communist neighbors; Greece, Turkey, and Iran. In Iran, the U.S.S.R. was not evacuating Iran’s northern provinces despite entreaties from the United States. In Turkey, the Soviet Union coveted several naval bases along the Straits of Dardanelles. Further, they pressured Turkey for border cessions that Turkey had taken form Russia

after World War I. In Greece, the Soviets encouraged the rising leader Markos Vafiades with arms and economic support. The British troops which were helping the Grecian government were strangled of supplies due to poor economic times in Britain. When Truman saw the deteriorating relations that the U.S. had with the Soviet Union, he issued two statements about “agreements, violations, reparations, and Soviet actions threatening U.S. security.” “1. The Middle is of strategic importance to the U.S.S.R. 2. The U.S. must be prepared to wage atomic and biological warfare.” (Ferrel 247) Soon after, he sent bombers to the Middle East. He wanted the return of all arms given to the U.S.S.R. under the Lend-Lease Act. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Russia intends an

invasion of Turkey and seizure of the Black Sea straits to the Mediterranean. Unless Russia is faced with an iron fist and strong language another war is in the making, How many divisions have you?” Truman had his eye on the Soviets and on war. However, the U.S.S.R. never made such invasions and thus calmed Truman’s fears. The Truman Doctrine was starting to develop during 1947 when Truman issued several statements. 1. The present Russian ambassador does not belong in Washington. 2. Urge Stalin to pay us a visit. 3. Settle the Korean question, give them their own government 4. Settle the Manchurian question, support Chang Kai-Shek for a strong China. 5. Agree to discussion of Russia’s lend-lease debt to the U.S. 6. Agree to commercial air treaty. 7. Make it plain that we