LAD #36

Truman Doctrine

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman presented what was known as the Truman Doctrine. This Doctrine established that we would provide assistance to all nations that are threatened by Soviet or communist forces, it would also lead us into the Cold War. This was a new form of US foreign policy; we went from a long term of isolationism to what was known as intervention. This doctrine, Truman stated, would involve the national security of our country. The main reason for the formation of this document was to help out the Greek Government financially in this time of need and if we did not, they would not be able to survive as an independent nation. Truman believed it should be our duty to help them out because no other nation was willing to support them and their democratic government. When the British stopped aiding them, they turned to us for help, as did Turkey. In order to preserve peace between nations, Truman stated that the United Nations had been created solely for that reason. Lastly, he said that if we did not help them, the effects might reach not only the West but even the East including us.