The US's Cultural and Military Actions During the Cold War Era

This essay examines the United States' cultural and military actions during the Cold War, focusing on President Truman's policies and the broader geopolitical context. It analyzes the Truman Doctrine, highlighting its aim to contain Soviet expansion through political, military, and economic aid to democratic nations. The essay discusses Truman's domestic policies, including attempts at agricultural reform, full employment initiatives, and social security enhancements. It addresses the political challenges faced by Truman, such as accusations of corruption and the rise of communism, particularly in the context of the Greek Civil War. The essay explores the creation of new national security bodies like the CIA and the use of nuclear weapons against Japan. It also examines the impact of the Truman Doctrine, including its role in the Vietnam War, the formation of NATO, and the intensification of US-Soviet rivalry. The essay concludes by emphasizing the significance of the Truman Doctrine in shaping American foreign policy and its lasting impact on global politics.

Running Head: THE US CULTURAL AND MILITARY ACTIONS IN THE COLD WAR
The US Cultural and Military Actions in the Cold War
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The World War II was fought between the Unites States allied with the Soviet Union
against the Axis powers. However, their relationship was undergoing a lot of tension.
President Harry Truman designed a policy of containment, known as Truman Doctrine on
12th March 1947, which aimed at countering the geopolitical expansion of the Soviet Union
during the Cold War (Foner). According to the doctrine, US was supposed to provide
political, military and economic aid to the democratic nations who were intimidated under
dictatorial forces, to prevent them from entering into the Soviet sphere.
Truman’s domestic policies included his gallant attempt at rationalizing the
agricultural production of the nation. It involved direct subsidies for the smaller units, instead
of the governmental loans. The Deal proposed full employment, and impartial employment
practice bills, and also a compensation program as well as growth of natural resources.
Truman also promised in his domestic policies an increase in the social security of the
nations, an associated aid to education, as well as a compulsory health insurance. There was
another grave domestic issue during the Truman administration (Foner). The Republicans had
accused the President of supportive of corruption. The President thus had to deal with the
Communism charges against him. The plea was made during the emergency of the Greek
Civil war. According to him, Greek and Turkey were in much need of the assistance or else
they would have fallen into the consequences of communion. The doctrine granted $300
million to Greece and $100 million to Turkey for military and economic assistance (Foner).
It was mere replacement of the British aid since Britain was unable to provide any sort of

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financial assistance to Greece. Truman had said that if the domestic policies is known to a
politician, it will be easier for him to learn the foreign policies. He incorporated the American
democratic ideal that anybody had the power and ability to become the president of United
States.
Truman’s speech was in a language that could be apprehended by the Americans. His
declamation established “the guiding spirit of American Foreign Policy” (Foner). His foreign
policies were successful in containment of communion and both the Republicans and the
Democrats in Congress were persuaded to assist his policy (Foner). The speech led an
exemplar for the American help throughout the globe to anti-Communist regimes, and for a
set of military alliance worldwide against the Soviet Union. There was also the development
of new national security bodies which were not subjected to democratic supervision, such as
the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence
Agency(CIA),the last to collect intelligence and perform covert military activities overseas, w
as quickly pursued (Foner). The prime agenda in Truman’s foreign policy had been the
decision that America could use nuclear weapons against Japan. He dropped the atomic
nuclear bombs on the two Japanese cities, Hiroshima on 6th August and Nagasaki on 9th
August 1945. (Foner). He also had decided to alter the American standpoint in the
international affairs. America had gained momentum from abstention to participation of
matters. This change altered the American’s viewpoints of Truman and he was considered as
one of the greatest Presidents of all times. The economic and political chaos that US had been

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facing after the World War II was resolved by this Doctrine and America was believed to
preserve its long lost freedom.
As a consequence of the Truman Doctrine, United States was involved in the
Vietnam War, and also the Non Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created. It also
helped to prevent the spread of communism into weaker European countries. The
communists were eventually defeated by the Greeks and there was an increase in the rivalry
between the United States and the Soviet Union. The non-communists and the communists
were divided into two different groups after the Truman policies.

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Work cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty. 5th ed., Norton & Co., 2016, pp. 905,906.

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