George Kennan Research Paper

Improved Essays
George Kennan created, and sent, quite an intricate telegram pertaining to the Soviet Union government, and small details on the people who reside within the USSR. I will attempt to summarize the details to answer critical questions asked of him, pertaining to development of a response for the US considering this matter. While some details are redundant to the US due to previously known details, Mr. Kennan has proposed interesting views that should be given attention too, with the greatest interest. The Soviet Union’s views are of security and military power, not aimed specifically at any country, but rather at any threat to its own government. The citizens of the USSR are not close-minded and aggressive towards new experiences and ideas, …show more content…
The government seeks to spread itself for new opportunities out of need for prosperity, by any means. The Soviet Union finds any differences a threat to itself, and needing to be dealt with. That presents a view where there is Communism and Capitalism. The USSR finds Capitalism a threat since it may away opinion on communism which will create a threat to the government, and appear weak to nearby countries which may seek new opportunities to gain easy to grab …show more content…
Mr. Kennan felt that capitalism is strong, and our government should observe the Soviet Union before action because the government is weak and possess little threat on its own to the US. Mr. Kennan does recommend action, however, concerning communist organizations. George Kennan recommends that the government educates the public on communism and the negative effects it would have on our government, and not rely on the public media, due to not possessing enough knowledge on the subject to educate the American citizens properly, to quell any unrest among them, and prevent destabilizing the government. Overall, the views of the Soviet Union are little threat to the US, and should be observed for its weaknesses, which once better understood, actions should then be taken to slow the development along with spread of their government, to further the development and spread of capitalism to countries which find it desirable for its many benefits like being provided with security from other capitalistic countries and

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Soviet Union on the other hand was the polar opposite. They believed in a communistic form of government, believed in workers revolting against business owners, and they wanted to control countries between Russia and Germany. The United States believed that the spread of communism needed to come to a halt because it posed a threat to their economic prosperity and their “freedom” as American people (Document G). It was this complete and utter distaste for communism that increased tensions between…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A walk through West Berlin: Containment of Communism After WWII , The United States made great efforts to contain communism from spreading around the world. Containment was the idea that the Soviet Union and Soviet communism should not be allowed to spread. A short passage, from a telegram that was secretly sent to U.S. State Department officials on February 22, 1946 from an American foreign service officer in Moscow makes it clear that Joseph Stalin and the Soviets believe communism is better than capitalism.…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cold War Dbq Analysis

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    During the start of the Cold War, the Soviet and the American separated into two political, communist and capitalist. During the era of war crisis, American feared that the Soviet plans a…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    "The Successes and Failures of Containment during the Cold War" With the end of World War II, the growing power and influence of the Soviet Union became worrisome to the West. For the next few decades, the majority of American foreign policy would revolve around the Soviet Union, an era that came to be known as the Cold War. In his Long Telegram, George Kennan outlined the policy for this period, containment. In essence, Communism would be allowed to stay where it is but not allowed to expand. The United States policy of containment was only somewhat successful as seen in the results of the Korean War and the rebuilding of Europe and Japan, but had key failures such as the growth of Communism in Eastern Europe and Asia.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    George Kennan was particularly critical of the Soviet's Communist ideology and also the way in which the Soviet leaders ran their country. He begins his argument by criticising the fanatical views of the Soviet leaders, as their fantasy of grandeur and power resulted in them being far too jealous to imagine there being a greater international power in the world sphere than themselves. All competing power was to be eradicated, and past the border of the Soviet Union, all other nations were hostile and unfriendly. Kennan continues his arguments, stating that when the Russians require something of importance from other competing powers they will push other contentious issues to the background in order to attempt to mislead other nations. Kennan states that the United States in particular would be wise to not listen or take heed of the tactical manoeuvres the Soviets are deploying in order to manipulate and influence.…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kennan's Analysis

    • 101 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Kennan’s telegram caused a sensation in Washington. Stalin’s aggressive speeches and threatening gestures toward Iran and Turkey in 1945-1946 led the Truman administration to decide to take a tougher stance and rely on the nation’s military and economic muscle rather than diplomacy in dealing with the Soviets. These factors guaranteed a warm reception for Kennan’s analysis. His opinion that Soviet expansionism needed to be contained through a policy of “strong resistance” provided the basis for America’s Cold War diplomacy through the next two decades. Kennan’s diplomatic career certainly received a boost–he was named U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union in…

    • 101 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The United States viewed this as a threat, specifically because communism was a direct contrast to its own beliefs and ideologies. In addition to their strong belief in communism, the Soviet Union was also different from previous powers due to its aim to spread its faith around the world. The Soviet Union, unlike…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Discussion 9 1. What role did mutual misunderstandings and mistrust play in the emergence of the Cold War? United States and the Soviet Union, pursued their national interest on the world stage in a dangerous confrontation. Soviet Union believed United States wanted to make the world safe for capitalism, reducing their chances to get economic resources. And the United States saw the Soviet Union as wanting to spread communism which goes against free markets.…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Thus, there was no great push for another, global revolution. A failure would display Soviet weakness, a counter-revolutionary act. Instead the Soviet’s applied patience in the slow yet constant expansion of power. On one hand, making it vulnerable to strong political force. But on the other making a single event unlikely to overthrow the Soviet system.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Long Telegrams Paper In a series of correspondences known as the Long Telegrams of 1946 an ambassador of the United States and an ambassador of the Soviet Union state their interpretations of the current international situation back to their governments. Both sides are biased not only from their nationality, but also their individual ideologies. Nevertheless, the Long Telegrams serve as a useful reference for crafting a better understanding of the turbulent Cold War era and the beliefs that spurred the controversy defining it.…

    • 1263 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the Cold War, America was in a persistent stalemate with the U.S.S.R. Each country would indirectly attack the other’s interests, without actually starting a war. American policy during the Cold War helped cement America as a world power, a force for democracy, and an economic giant. America’s ascent to power can be seen in many ways during the Cold War.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    On no the Russians are coming. We must stop them!! After World War II, the United States and Soviet Union stood face to face. Capitalism, democracy, and freedom of expressions were against communism, dictatorship, and limited freedoms.…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Who Started Cold War

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Capitalism stands for individual freedom, choice, private ownership and entrepreneurship. While the Soviet Union was intent on spreading communism to Eastern European countries,…

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kennan stated that the Soviet Union would try and expand their sphere of influence and that they would only discontinue any expansionist idea’s if ‘strong resistance is encountered at any point’. Kennan’s telegram is an important factor in causing a divide in Europe as it was this, that caused the Truman administration to rely more on their economic and military strength rather than diplomacy. In February 1947, the British Embassy informed the U.S that they would no longer provide financial aid to Greece and Turkey. Both countries needed assistance and were at risk of falling under Soviet control, particularly Greece, who was in the middle of a civil war (Frazier 1984) Dean Acheson the Undersecretary of State presented members of congress with a theory known as ‘the domino theory’ that if one nation…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A lot of the population blames the reform policies for the fall of the Soviet Union. Three major keys were because of it. The first one is that it allowed many people more access to the government’s business. The second one is because it allowed the population to be more apart of the media of different countries. The third one is because it gave people a say for their country.…

    • 1529 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays