The Containment Of US Policy After The Cold War

In efforts to contain communism, the United States created the Containment Policy. This US Policy was put into effect as response to a series of moves by the Soviet Union to expand and spread throughout Eastern Europe, China, Korea and Vietnam. The doctrine was written by George F. Kennan an American diplomat, in the year 1946. The idea was that if superpower Soviet Union can be contained, Soviet troops would be forced to push back in effort to update their priorities. Four “tools” made the Containment Policy strong enough to prevail and push Soviet troops back, avoiding a third world war and soon ending the Cold War. The first aid in the Containment Policy was the Truman Doctrine. This doctrine made the support of free people and countries who are falling to Soviet powers, a policy of the United States. Truman urged Greece to cease their Civil War of 1949. He argued that if Greece and Turkey did not accept his financial aid and economical support, they would soon too fall to communism. The policy allowed over $400 million American dollars in aid to the region, but no military forces. The Marshall Plan was the second form of reinforcement used in the Containment Policy. Following World War II, Europe was in a wrecked and depressed state.
In 1948 Soviet authorities ceased all road, rail, and barge traffic from entering West Berlin. This became known as the Berlin Blockade and soon to be the Berlin Airlift. Americans knew that occupation of West Berlin was vital and leaving was no option. The airlift originated as a short term policy but was prolonged after Soviets refused to lift the blockades. For over a year American, British and French cargo planes brought vital supplies to those living in West Berlin. 2.3 million tons of cargo was lifted into West Berlin over the course of the plan and maintained occupation until 1949 when the Soviets failed and lifted the