Question

To what extent was the Truman administration successful in implementing the policy of containment by 1950?

Answer 1

US president Harry S Truman implemented Truman doctrine also known as the containment policy against the spread of communism.In 1947 Truman pledged that it would help other nations to prevent the spread of the communism.Truman also announced that US will be actively taking part in the world affairs and will not go in to isolation after the world war.Truman also introduced Marshall plan to help other nations after the world war and pledged $13 billion to help Europe.
After world war when United Kingdom notified United States that they cold no longer fight against the communism US declared that it will offer any economic help to reduce the spread of communism around the world.
After the world war ll it had a great impact on Europe.US feared that the Europe may turn in to a communist nation.Thus to prevent Europe turning in to a communist nation and to make European economy more stable Marshall plan was introduced.George Kannan was the first one to suggest the containment policy.

The containment policy was quite successful during the early stages of its implementation.Trumans containment policy helped Greece and Turkey to prevent the spread of communism.It also helped the European to recover from aftermath of the second world war through Marshall plan and prevented Europe from turning in to a communist nation.Containment policy also helped Berlin to spread communism.

Containment policy had certain limitations also.Containment policy only helped few nations to spread the communism.Marshall policy was only offered to Europe only and not to other nations of the world.when Hungary tried to break away from communism during 1956 it US didn't offer any help to Hungary.The consistency of containment policy is to be questioned.