Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine

Introduction

On March 12 , 1947 , President Harry S . Truman presented the policy that came to be known at the Truman Doctrine . This doctrine was to alter and dominate the tone and direction of U .S . foreign policy1 over the next four decades until the Berlin Wall fell on November 9 , 1989 Many factors contributed to the creation of the Doctrine . The world at the time and the atmosphere of the world were very different from what it is today . Less than two years out of World War II , global

suspicions and tensions at the time were thought to necessitate taking actions to prevent a third global conflict . Although Hitler and Mussolini were dead and the leaders of wartime Japan except Emperor Hirohito had been tried , executed or removed , there was still great concern over the possibility that minor conflicts around the world could possibly lead to global alliances that would lead to war . Premier Joseph Stalin , fear and suspicion of Stalin , concern for the spread of and the desire to take advantage of possible strategic military gains were the major contributors to the creation of the Truman Doctrine President Truman believed that it was necessary to stop the spread of Soviet domination . It was widely believed that every country that fell to the coercion of whereby other countries would do likewise . Although this was largely fear of Stalinism , i .e , Stalin 's brand of communism , it was not viewed as such at the time nor in the decades that followed .2 It was eventually labeled as "communism " from the beginning of the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989

Global Atmosphere after WWII

The global atmosphere that existed after World War II was not conducive to mutual trust but no one desired another global conflict The world had endured two global conflicts in less than 40 years Although Hitler , Mussolini and other Axis leaders were gone , there were still great suspicions and mistrust about Soviet military activity and intentions and Stalin desired to create a buffer zone to protect Russia from foreign invaders . His goal for protecting Russia during and after WWII was to surround Russia 's bs with friendly countries that would serve as a buffer against any invasion into Russia . Stalin 's efforts to surround Russia with countries friendly to the Soviet Union played a major role in the creation of the Truman Doctrine

The Truman Administration did not accept that there was a Soviet threat after WWII , but Soviet refusal to compromise on peace settlements and their activities in Eastern and Western Europe irritated and worried the Administration . Truman was contentious regarding concerns about the Soviet Union until late in 1945 when he became alarmed over Soviet failures to keep agreements and to act aggressively against weaker countries . In 1945 , the Soviets had armed a separatist movement in Azerbaijan and refused to allow the Iranian Shah 's troops access into the province to suppress the movement . Therefore , Truman had witnessed...