The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy whose stated purpose was to contain Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. It stated that the US should give support to countries or peoples threatened by Soviet forces or Communist insurrection. First expressed in 1947 by US President Truman in a speech to Congress seeking aid for Greece and Turkey, the doctrine was seen by the Communists as an open declaration of the Cold War.
In the [file] link below, is an excerpt from a Presidential address by Harry S. Truman in which he outlined his vision of the Truman Doctrine.
the_truman_doctrine-_primary_source.docx |
Assignment:
Read the excerpt and then answer the following questions. You may need to do some additional investigation using the internet.
Answer the following questions in complete sentences providing as much detail and discussion as necessary to support your responses.
Read the excerpt and then answer the following questions. You may need to do some additional investigation using the internet.
Answer the following questions in complete sentences providing as much detail and discussion as necessary to support your responses.
- What evidence does Truman cite to support the claim that Greece and Turkey were in urgent need of American financial assistance? [3 marks]
- Explain the relationship between the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. [You will need to research the Marshall Plan in order to discuss this relationship.] [5 marks]
- What is Truman's conception of America's position in international affairs? [3 marks]
- How does Truman connect financial and political stability in Europe to American security? [4 marks]
- Some historians consider this speech to have marked the official beginning of the Cold War. Using Truman's speech as evidence, write a persuasive paragraph [at least 9-12 sentences] either supporting or refuting this claim. *Your paragraph should include at least two quotes from his speech. [10 marks]
*As always, if there are any questions or concerns, please post them on this website by clicking on the "Comments" tab (as your question(s) may help others); otherwise, email me your assignment at: [email protected]