“Why and in what ways did the United States change its foreign policy from 1918-1953?” Since World War I, the united states had always had a problem with forcing its foreign policy. Throughout the past 100 years, the foreign policy has changed depending on public opinion and what was going on in other parts of the world. One of the largest changes in the foreign policy occurred from the end of World War I (1918) up until the ending of the Korean War (1953). Essentially the U.S foreign policy evolved from isolationist “prevention of war” to interventionism “protective containment of communism”.
Being the president of the United States comes with the responsibility of making tough decisions that aren’t always perceived as the best, especially when it involves the war. In 1945, President Harry Truman had to make a difficult decision that ultimately gave americans a leg up in the war. President Harry Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan in WWII is surrounded by much controversy but holds many positive advantages that helped end the war. Presidents Harry Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb posed nearly no significant dilemmas overall.
Following the end of the Second World War, both the United States and the Soviet Union emerged victoriously as leading world powers. The United States and the Soviet Union held vastly different ideological, economic, and political views which led to their long descent as adversaries during the Cold War. The Soviet Union violated their promises they made during the Yalta Conference and proceeded to impose a communistic political system on the nations of Eastern Europe. President Truman responded by creating the "Containment Policy," this policy operated under the ideals that if communism were to exist, then it must be prevented from spreading into other countries. A manifestation of this policy came in the form of the Truman Doctrine of 1947,
Thesis/Argument: Although my original thesis and a few other answers resembled that of Dr. Carey’s, I think this one may work as well. “An examination of the origins of the NSC illuminates our understanding of Truman as president as well as our understanding of bureaucratic politics. Ultimately, it even informs our knowledge of foreign policy, for the NSC was the newest weapon in the Cold War.” (Page 361. first paragraph)
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, being in office from 1945 to 1953. Truman demonstrates uses of both expressed and inherent powers throughout his presidency. During the years of his first administration, Truman attended the Potsdam Conference alongside Churchill and Stalin to discuss post-war matters regarding the decision to split up Germany. Throughout this time period of war filled with tension among nations, Truman approved the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in efforts to end the war in the Pacific and prevent any possible future casualties that Japan may inflict on the United States. The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, and the second was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9.
Sarah Paroya D period I hate MUSH The end of World War II should have marked a period of relief in America but instead, it lead America into a completely different type of war called the Cold War. The Cold War was an ongoing state of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This constant state of tension and fear had been embedded deep in the American public.
Harry Truman thought that giving up on berlin would lead to the loss of all Germany under the control of the Soviets. Western Germany was thinking of responding to the blockade, but due to the lack of manpower, they didn’t. The U.S. agreed with their allies to supply western Berlin through air hallways. Supplies were sent every day. 1948 became very tense as Soviet planes went over the U.S. planes that were over East Germany, The Soviets didn’t try to shoot down any of the Western, because such it might lead to war.
Truman’s Policy of “Containment” was made in March 1947.Truman’s Policy had economic, cultural, and political aspects. The Political aspect of his policy was the Truman Doctrine which said that the United States of America would support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside forces or pressures. The cultural aspect of this doctrine was the freedom and choice government versus totalitarian and no choice government, so pretty much, you never got to choose anything and you were forced to do the things that the Soviet Union wanted you to do. Then lastly the economic aspect of this doctrine was the Marshall Plan which said that it would prevent countries from falling to communists and it would aid the Americans. The Marshall Plan also gave $17 billion to 16 countries(not the soviet union).
Rhetorical Analysis of The Truman Doctrine The Truman doctrine was a new foreign policy introduced by U.S President Harry S. Truman in 1947. It states that the United States must provide military and financial assistance to foreign nations in attempt to combat the uprise on communist nations. The doctrine was created after the idea that soviet expansionism was a security threat to the United States and a threat to international peace.
Imagine if you lived in a place where you had no freedom, and you were ruled by a man like Joseph Stalin. That is what it would be like in many countries if it weren’t for the United States’ policy of containment. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union wanted to take over other countries and make them have the government system of Communism. The United States didn’t like that, because they thought their governmental system of Democracy was better. As a result, the U.S. adopted a policy of “Containment”.
The U.S. created a few policies after WWll that began the hatred and competition of the cold war. One of these documents was the Truman Doctrine. The United States made the Truman Doctrine in 1947 to contain the spread of communism. This act aggravated the soviets because it prevented the soviet union from expanding its powers, and nation. Truman’s actions forced the United States into the Korean and Vietnam wars because the communist party was present.
Berlin Airlift: Before WWII,the Soviet Union blocked the roads into Berlin, (not allowing goods or people to enter and leave) while the Western Allies were staying in Berlin, which caused the Berlin Airlift. The Berlin Airlift took place from 1948-1949, the end of WWII. U.S, Britain, and Soviet Union military forces occupied Germany. A direct result of the blockade was that, the people of West Berlin were left without vital supplies(clothing, food, etc.) A few U.S. officials wanted a bellicose retort to the Soviet’s actions but a different plan was made.
This became one of the first of many international crisis of the Cold War, in which America responded well, not destroying the blockade or attacking the Soviets, but by delivering supplies through an alternate route until the USSR had no choice but to acknowledge their actions were futile and remove the blockade. Just before the Berlin Blockade and right before Harry Truman became president he said, “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisted subjugation by armed or outside pressures.” (A) This concept surely followed him into the incident involving West Berlin and he stayed true to his ideas in helping the citizens living there obtain resources, despite the Soviets
The division of the Korean peninsula was a result of World War II, and after the Japanese surrender in 1945; the peninsula was split between the United States in the south, and Soviet Russia in the north. In the 1950’s war emerged on the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War took place pitting the communistic north against the democratic south. Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, high tensions have remained between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Tensions have remained steady throughout the years until recently with the election of President Donald Trump.
The Cold war, the political conflicts, economic contest and military tension between the US and Soviet Union, was incubated and started from 1945. It started because of the suspicion between them and it lasted for nearly half a century. During this half century, the reconstruction in different aspects had being rapid develop all over the world, especially in Europe. Thus, cold war is an important phase of the development of nowadays society.
