Truman Doctrine

• 1.On 12 March 1947 Truman delivered a speech to the US Congress outlining the Truman Doctrine.
• 2.He said choosing democracy over communism was like choosing good over evil.
• 3.He said that America should be prepared to send troops and economic aid to any country trying to resist communisms.
• 4.This signalled the intention of the USA to move away from isolationism and replace it with containment.
• 5.This shaped American foreign policy throughout the Cold War, eg it led to the Marshall Plan and to the decision to introduce the Berlin Airlift.
• When did Truman deliver his speech outlining the Truman Doctrine?

  12 March 1947
• What analogy did Truman use to describe choosing democracy over communism?

  Choosing good over evil
• What did Truman suggest America should do for countries resisting communism?

  Send troops and economic aid
• What shift in policy did Truman's speech indicate for the USA?

  Move away from isolationism to containment
• How did the Truman Doctrine influence American foreign policy during the Cold War?

  • Led to the Marshall Plan
  • Resulted in the Berlin Airlift
  • Established a policy of containment