why did the truman doctrine happen

The Truman Doctrine was an American initiative introduced in 1947, which marked a change of international policy from isolationism to containment. Introduced by President Truman in a speech to Congress, this was launched to obtain financial aid to help Turkish and Greek monarchists fighting against Communists.

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Where did the Truman Doctrine come from?

The Truman Doctrine arose from a speech delivered by President Truman before a joint session of Congress on March 12, 1947. The immediate cause for the speech was a recent announcement by the British Government that, as of March 31, it would no longer provide military and economic assistance to the Greek Government in its civil war against...

What was the effect of the Truman Doctrine on Turkey?

The effect was to end the Greek revolt, and in 1952, both Greece and Turkey joined NATO, a military alliance, to guarantee their stability. The Truman Doctrine was informally extended to become the basis of American Cold War policy throughout Europe and around the world.

What countries did the Truman Doctrine support during the Cold War?

Direct American military force was usually not involved, but Congress appropriated financial aid to support the economies and militaries of Greece and Turkey. More generally, the Truman Doctrine implied American support for other nations thought to be threatened by Soviet communism.

Why was there no mention of oil in the Truman Doctrine?

Mention of oil was deliberately deleted from Truman's March 12, 1947, address before Congress pledging resistance to communist expansion anywhere in the world; but guarding access to oil was an important part of the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine was named after Harry S. Truman.

What was the goal of the Truman doctrine?

President Harry Truman. The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy with the primary goal of containing Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War.

Why was Truman's draft criticized?

When a draft for Truman's address was circulated to policymakers, Marshall, Kennan, and others criticized it for containing excess "rhetoric.". Truman responded that, as Vandenberg had suggested, his request would only be approved if he played up the threat.

What was the first containment move?

The Truman Doctrine was the first in a series of containment moves by the United States, followed by economic restoration of Western Europe through the Marshall Plan and military containment by the creation of NATO in 1949.

What was the reaction to Truman's speech?

The reaction to Truman's speech was broadly positive, though there were dissenters . Anti-communists in both parties supported both Truman's proposed aid package and the doctrine behind it, and Collier's described it as a "popularity jackpot" for the President. : 548 : 129 Influential columnist Walter Lippmann was more skeptical, noting the open-ended nature of Truman's pledge; he felt so strongly that he almost came to blows while arguing with Acheson over the doctrine. : 549 : 615 Others argued that the Greek monarchy Truman proposed to defend was itself a repressive government, rather than a democracy. : 615

Why did Truman say that the United States must support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by?

Truman told Congress 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." Truman contended that because totalitarian regimes coerced free peoples , they automatically represented a threat to international peace and the national security of the United States. Truman made the plea in the midst of the Greek Civil War (1946–1949). He argued that if Greece and Turkey did not receive the aid, they would inevitably fall to communism with grave consequences throughout the region. Because Turkey and Greece were historic rivals, it was considered necessary to help both equally even though the crisis in Greece was far more intense.

Why did the doctrine of modernization endure?

The doctrine endured, historian Dennis Merill argues, because it addressed broader cultural insecurity regarding modern life in a globalized world. It dealt with Washington's concern over communism's domino effect, it enabled a media-sensitive presentation of the doctrine that won bipartisan support, and it mobilized American economic power to modernize and stabilize unstable regions without direct military intervention. It brought nation-building activities and modernization programs to the forefront of foreign policy.

How much money did Turkey receive in the postwar years?

Turkey received $100 million in economic and military aid and the U.S. Navy sent the Midway -class aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. The postwar period from 1946 started with a " multi-party period " and the Democratic Party government of Adnan Menderes.

What is the Truman doctrine?

The Truman Doctrine effectively reoriented U.S. foreign policy, away from its usual stance of withdrawal from regional conflicts not directly involving the United States, to one of possible intervention in far away conflicts. The Truman Doctrine arose from a speech delivered by President Truman before a joint session of Congress on March 12, 1947.

When was the Truman doctrine first introduced?

The Truman Doctrine arose from a speech delivered by President Truman before a joint session of Congress on March 12, 1947.

Why did Truman withdraw British aid to Greece?

In light of the deteriorating relationship with the Soviet Union and the appearance of Soviet meddling in Greek and Turkish affairs , the withdrawal of British assistance to Greece provided the necessary catalyst for the Truman Administration to reorient American foreign policy . Accordingly, in his speech, President Truman requested that Congress provide $400,000,000 worth of aid to both the Greek and Turkish Governments and support the dispatch of American civilian and military personnel and equipment to the region.

Why did Truman want to support free peoples?

This could not be allowed in light of the region's immense strategic importance to U.S. national security. Truman also argued that the United States was compelled to assist "free peoples" in their struggles against "totalitarian regimes," because the spread of authoritarianism would "undermine the foundations of international peace and hence the security of the United States." In the words of the Truman Doctrine, it became "the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures ."

Why did Truman argue that the United States could no longer stand by and allow the forcible expansion of Soviet total?

Truman argued that the United States could no longer stand by and allow the forcible expansion of Soviet totalitarianism into free, independent nations, because American national security now depended upon more than just the physical security of American territory.

Why did Truman argue that the United States was compelled to assist "free peoples" in their struggles against?

Truman also argued that the United States was compelled to assist "free peoples" in their struggles against " totalitarian regimes," because the spread of authoritarianism would "undermine the foundations of international peace and hence the security of the United States.".

What did Truman ask Congress to do?

Truman asked Congress to support the Greek Government against the Communists. He also asked Congress to provide assistance for Turkey, since that nation, too, had previously been dependent on British aid.

What was the Truman doctrine?

Yet, the Truman Doctrine successfully convinced many that the United States was locked in a life-or-death struggle with the Soviet Union, and it set the guidelines for over 40 years of U.S.-Soviet relations. READ MORE: Soviet Union: Stalin, Cold War & Collapse.

Who announced the Truman doctrine?

President Truman announces the Truman Doctrine. In a dramatic speech to a joint session of Congress, President Harry S. Truman asks for U.S. assistance for Greece and Turkey to forestall communist domination of the two nations.

What did Truman believe about the Soviet Union?

The Truman administration believed that both nations were threatened by communism and it jumped at the chance to take a tough stance against the Soviet Union. In Greece, leftist forces had been battling the Greek royal government since the end of World War II.

What was Truman's policy?

The president declared 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. ”. Truman requested $400 million in assistance for the two nations. Congress approved his request two months later.

What was the official declaration of the Cold War?

Historians have often cited Truman’s address, which came to be known as the Truman Doctrine , as the official declaration of the Cold War. In February 1947, the British government informed the United States that it could no longer furnish the economic and military assistance it had been providing to Greece and Turkey since the end of World War II.

Overview

Turkish Straits crisis

Greek crisis

Truman's address

Long-term policy and metaphor

See also

Bibliography

External links