Cold War Effect

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The Cold War of 1947 created a tumultuous period between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (U.S.S.R.). After World War II, both America and the Soviets suffered through political disputes, and communism in their nation. The Yalta became the cornerstone of tensions between U.S. and U.S.S.R. as it shaped the Cold War. The Yalta Conference of February of 1945 highlighted distrust between the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union (Kennedy 867). The relationships between communists and non-communists was further strained and exacerbated when Berlin was blockaded by the Soviets. During the 1940’s, West Berlin was free and located in East Germany which was under Russian control (Kennedy 872). However …show more content…
Secretary of State George C. Marshall was called upon to help the devastating economy of West Germany. In order to help West Germany, the Marshall plan was created. Marshall Plan was essentially an economic aid to pull countries like West Germany out of poverty (Kennedy 874). The Marshall plan caused direct anger and irritation to the Soviets. The Marshall plan was successful in “drenching Europe in prosperity” (Kennedy 875). However, the Marshall plan reduced the power of the Communists parties in Western Europe, which was seen as an anti-communists move by the Americans and initiated the Cold War. With prosperity and opulence, countries could reject communism and stay away from the second red hunt. Back in the United States, Harry S. Truman was serving his presidency in 1945 and took action on the Red Scare hysteria growing in the U.S. Truman 's biggest foreign policy and goal was based on George Kennan 's “Containment Doctrine”. The “Containment Doctrine” said the U.S.S.R. were expansionist by nature but could be held in check by firm American containment (Kennedy 874). The primary goal of the “Containment Policy” was to stop the spread of communism by economic and political ways. The containment policy was made official after the Truman Doctrine was announced. The Truman Doctrine of 1947 gave four million dollars to Turkey and Greece to advocate a peaceful solution to the rising communism problem (Kennedy 875). The Truman Doctrine put much of its focus of giving financial aid to ailing countries rather than enforcing troops or military regime to stop the Soviet empowerment. The Truman Doctrine was successful in halting the expansion of Soviet ideals by reducing Soviet influence in European nations. The creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was also part of the Containment Policy adopted by Truman 's administration. NATO, consisting mainly of European countries

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