The Policy of Containment

Objectives• Contrast and compare the leadership styles of

FDR and Truman.• Explain the overall goal of the Containment Policy.• Identify and Explain the individual components of

the Containment Policy.• Evaluate the success of Truman’s enforcement of

the Containment Policy.

Essential Question?• Evaluate if Truman’s attempt to contain

communism was successful or unsuccessful.

FDR VS Truman

• Roosevelto Had a workable relationship with Stalino Wide belief that if he had lived, his good diplomatic skills would have

been able to maintain peace with the Sovietso Had his “New Deal” Democrats

• Trumano Liked to act and talk tough. (made the decision to drop the bombs…)o He let it be known that the US was the only country to have an atomic

bombo Felt like the negotiations with the Soviets were only a one way efforto He was more comfortable with southern or conservative democratso Replaced FDR’s advisors with his own

Mediterranean Crisis• A civil War broke out in Greece, which was in the

British sphere of influence.• Britain announced plan to withdraw from area.• US knew Soviets weren’t directly involved.

o Soviets would benefit greatly from a Communist Government in the area.

• Truman argued that without American intervention, all of the Middle East (Oil rich) would fall to communism.

What was Needed?• Truman needed large expenditure of hundreds of

millions of dollars.• It was a large responsibility to invest so heavily in

a country so far away.• American people were doubtful about this.• One Republican said “Truman would have to scare

the hell out of the country.” to gain support.

The Truman Doctrine• Speech to Congress on March 12, 1947.• He outlined two ways of life in which nearly every

nation must choose from.o First way of life- based on the will of the majority, distinguished by free

institutions, and free from government oppression.o Second way of life- The will of the minority forcibly imposed on the

majority and the suppression of government freedoms.

• Never mentioned the Soviet Union by name.• Truman said that the preservation of peace and

freedom of Americans depended on containing communism.

Accomplishments of the Truman Doctrine

• Congress approved $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey.

• Turned Americans against the Soviets.• Truman gained popularity for the upcoming 1948

election.• Gave Truman the ability to use executive power

much like Presidents did during war times.• United States had declared its rights to

intervene to save other nations from communist subversion.

George Kennan• Foreign Policy Advisor.• Supported continued

economic and diplomatic pressure on Soviets.

• Only way to preserve democracy was to break up communist powers or the gradual mellowing of the Soviet Union.

The Marshall Plan• Introduced by former army chief of staff George

C. Marshall.• Goal: reduce hunger, poverty, desperation and

chaos in Europe.• US Feared political consequences of a ruined

economy, not the Soviets and communism.• More than half of the Aid went to Great Britain,

France and West Germany.

Impact of The Marshall Plan

• Industrial Production rose 200% in Europe between 1947-1952.

• Areas in Europe became major centers for American trade.

• Stalin saw it as Americans trying to rebuild Europe (Especially Germany)

Tension in Germany• June 1948- US, Great Britain, France combined

territories in Germany and formed the Federal Republic of West Germany.

• Stalin was already worried with the Western powers plan to rebuild Germany.

• Sees these actions as a threat to the Soviet Union.

• June 24, 1948. He stops all traffic to West Berlin, (Controlled by Western Powers) which was located deep in Soviet controlled East Germany.

Operation Vittles• Truman refused to show

weakness.o Truman sees this as a threat to the

future governing role of Western Powerso Threatens to use atomic bombs

• With the help of the Royal Air force, the United States began an epic airlift.

• Dropped two million tons of aid and supplies

• By May 1949, Stalin Lifts the blockade.

The Formation of NATO

• The US led alliance against the Soviets was appealing to Western European Nations.o An attack on one, is seen as an attack on all

• Formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)o Strengthened Economic ties between members.o Deepened the division between Eastern and Western Europe.o Military mobilization was beginning to look inevitable.

Truman’s Success• NATO was the first formal military treaty with

European Powers since Revolutionary times.• Step away from Isolationism.• Increased military spending, military bases

abroad

Success In Japan• General MacArthur directed an interim

governmento Reconstruction included: land reform, formation of independent trade

unions, constitutional democracy that banned communist from all posts, woman suffrage, demilitarization, abolition of contract marriages.

• America wanted to incorporate Japan into Anti Soviet bloc, like West Germany.

• Positioned military basis in Japan, conveniently close to the USSR.

• US took control of the economy, built a capitalist one. o Forbid Japan to trade with USSR and China

Condition in China• Corrupt and weakening leader: Chiang Kai-Shek• Had large land holding and mass starvation• US tried to urge Chiang to give over leadership to

a less corrupt group, or make reforms.• Chiang focused on fighting communism instead of

helping his people.• Military and political hero and communist Mao

Zedong took control.• US issued the White Papers in 1949, said the

issue in China was beyond American control.

US Perception• Many Americans blamed Truman for “losing”

china.• Many saw the Far East as the future of American

trade.• Stalin and Mao signed a formal alliance in 1950.

Atomic Diplomacy• Truman relied on US monopoly on the atomic

bomb to pressure soviets into cooperation.• Atomic Energy Act- game atomic energy

commission control of atomic development and research.

• USA began to stock pile weapons in the late 1940’s

• 1949- Soviets began testing atomic bombs.• Within a few years both countries began testing

Hydrogen bombs.

The world is now divided into two

separate and hostile atomic

camps.

Essential Question?• Evaluate if Truman’s attempt to contain

communism was successful or unsuccessful.