Truman Doctrine: A Turning Point In American Foreign Policy

Truman Doctrine: A Turning Point in American Foreign Policy Harry S. Truman was sworn into presidency after the unexpected death of Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. In March of 1947, Truman delivered a dramatic speech to a joint session of Congress which later became known as the Truman Doctrine (Cold War). This doctrine is often cited as the official declaration of the Cold War (Announced). As a direct response to a crisis, the Truman Doctrine fabricated a policy to prevent communism and became the foundation of American foreign policy (Merrill). In February 1947, the British government announced that they could no longer provide economic and military assistance to Greece and Turkey (Announced). Truman feared that both nations
He declares that, ‘it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” (Rhetoric). Both Greece and Turkey were at risk of losing their free institutions and independence that they “sacrificed so much for” (Rhetoric). In response to this crisis, Truman requests $400,000,000 in aid for these nations to help prevent them from falling to communism (Rhetoric). In order to strengthen his request, Truman also argues that the free people of the world look to America for support and if they were to, “falter in [their] leadership, [they] may endanger the peace of the world” (Rhetoric). The Truman Doctrine served a great importance in the Cold War, and set many principles for the United States for years after (Cold War). It emphasized that the Soviet Union was the center of communist activity and would take over if the United States did not provide appropriate assistance to these nations in need (Announced). Harry Truman successfully gained support for his communist containing policy and set the guidelines of the U.S soviet relations for the next forty years