Question

1. Briefly explain how each attempted to contain communism:

Truman Doctrine

Marshall Plan

Reconstruction of Japan

Berlin Blockade

NATO

Creation of the CIA

Answer 1

Truman Doctrine-

Truman issued what would become known as the Truman Doctrine: a promise that the United States would do whatever was necessary both economically and militarily to contain the spread of communism around the world. Painting of Harry S. Truman during his time in office.

Marshall Plan-

By vigorously pursuing this policy, the United States might be able to contain communism within its current borders. ... To avoid antagonizing the Soviet Union, Marshall announced that the purpose of sending aid to Western Europe was completely humanitarian, and even offered aid to the communist states in the east.

Reconstruction of Japan -

With Japan's defeat in the war, the political parties, which had suspended party activities during the war, reemerged, and they resumed their active rolls. The Japan Socialist Party, the Japan Liberal Party, the Japan Progressive Party, and the Japan Cooperative Party were formed one after the others, and the Japan Communist Party was legalized. Japan's initial postwar election held in April 1946 (Showa 21), saw women exercise their franchise for the first time. Thirty Nine were elected as well as many other freshmen Diet members. The Japan Liberal Party emerged as the leading party.

Berlin Blockade -

In a June 1945 meeting, Stalin informed German communist leaders that he expected to slowly undermine the British position within their occupation zone, that the United States would withdraw within a year or two, and that nothing would then stand in the way of a united Germany under communist control within the Soviet orbit. Stalin and other leaders told visiting Bulgarian and Yugoslavian delegations in early 1946 that Germany must be both Soviet and communist.

NATO-

In 1949, the prospect of further Communist expansion prompted the United States and 11 other Western nations to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Soviet Union and its affiliated Communist nations in Eastern Europe founded a rival alliance, the Warsaw Pact, in 1955.

Creation of the CIA-

The Soviet Union took an increasingly hostile view of the Marshall Plan, refused East Bloc participation, and called it an "imperialist ploy" for the enslavement of Europe. In September 1947, the Soviets founded the Communist Information Bureau (COMINFORM), which ordered party members to mobilize against the Marshall Plan. French and Italian Communists, in particular, responded by staging strikes and intensive propaganda campaigns.

Washington's increasing concern over Soviet behavior was one of several factors that lead to passage of the National Security Act of 1947, creating the National Security Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in September. One of the NSC’s first acts was to grant CIA authority to conduct covert action and to assign the Agency the task of countering Soviet activities, especially those hindering Marshall Plan programs.