1. Containment in Europe

2. Containment in Europe
Truman’s containment policies governed U.S. foreign policy for decades
“A long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies”
The goal was not to eliminate communism, but keep it contained where it is
American leaders had learned the lesson of appeasement- Communist aggression wherever it occurred must be challenged

3. The Truman Doctrine Issued the doctrine in response to two events:
Communist-led uprising in Greece
Soviet demands for some control of a water route in Turkey, the Dardanelles
In the Truman Doctrine, the president asked Congress for $400 million in economic and military aid to assist the “free people” of Greece and Turkey against “totalitarian” regimes

4. The Marshall Plan After WWII, Europe was in ruins
A severe winter in coupled with depression and years of war
Discontent encouraged the growth of the Communist party in many European countries
Truman administration feared many Communist regimes would come to power
1947- George Marshall outlined an economic aid program to help European nations revive their economies and Democratic governments

5. The Marshall Plan
$12 billion in aid was sent to western Europe over a four-year period
Soviets refused the aid, fearing it would lead to a dependence on the U.S.
The Marshall plan worked- massive infusion of U.S. dollars helped Western Europe recover and grow
Ended any real threat of a Communist uprising in that region
Deepened the rift between non-Communist West and Communist East

6. The Berlin Airlift
June Soviets cut off all access by land into Berlin
Truman refused to remove troops but also rejected to using force to end the blockades
Ordered U.S. planes to fly in supplies to the people of West Berlin
Continued for weeks

7. The Berlin Airlift
Truman also sent 60 bombers capable of carrying atomic bombs to bases in England
Stalin decided not to challenge the airlift
End their 11-month long blockade in May 1949
Major consequence of the Berlin Crisis was the creation of two Germanys:
Federal Republic of Germany (democratic West Germany)
German Democratic Republic (communist East Germany)

8. NATO & National Security
Washington warned in his farewell address not to form permanent alliances with European countries
Truman broke this tradition in by recommending the U.S. join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance defending all members from outside attack

9. NATO & National Security
Truman chose Dwight Eisenhower as NATO’s first Supreme Commander
Stationed troops in Western Europe as a deterrent against a Soviet invasion
Containment policies were now leading to military buildups and major commitments abroad
Soviet Union countered NATO in by forming the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of Communist states in Eastern Europe

10. National Security Act of 1947
Helped the U.S. modernize its military capabilities
Provided for:
Centralized Department of Defense to coordinate the operations of ALL branches of the military
Creation of the National Security Council to deal with Cold War policy
Creation of the Central Intelligence Agency to employ spies and gather info on foreign governments

11. Atomic Weapons
After the Berlin Crisis, the U.S. and Soviet Union engaged in an intense arms race
To develop superior weapons systems
Soviets tested their first atomic bomb in the fall of 1949
In response, Truman approved development of the Hydrogen Bomb, which was added to the U.S. arsenal in 1952
A thousand times more powerful than the A-Bomb

12. Evaluating U.S. Policy
National Security Council recommended in a secret report, NSC-68, that:
U.S. quadruple government defense spending to 20% of GNP
Form alliances with non-Communist countries around the world
Convince the American public the arms buildup was necessary for defense
Critics of NATO and defense buildup argue the Truman administration intensified Russian fears and unnecessarily started the arms race
NATO became one of the most successful military alliances in history
Checked Soviet expansion in Europe and maintained an uneasy peace throughout the 20th century

13. ? What was the goal of containment policies?
What was the Truman Doctrine?
What was the Marshall Plan? Was it successful? Why or why not?
What was the Berlin Airlift? Was it successful? Why or why not?
What is NATO?
What is the Warsaw Pact?
What was the significance of the National Security Act (1947)?
What did Truman do in response to the Soviets testing an atomic bomb?
What did the National Security Council recommend in its report NSC-68?
What are some criticisms of U.S. policies in the early years of the Cold War? Despite these criticisms, what are some of the successes of NATO?