Changes

Let's begin by reviewing some key aspects of the Cold War that continued into the 1950s and beyond.

Let's begin by reviewing some key aspects of the Cold War that continued into the 1950s and beyond.

First recall that in 1947 President Truman announced what became known as Truman Doctrine to counter the growing communist threat:  "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures."  Truman declared that assistance shall be "primarily through economic and financial aid."  Also in 1947, a theory of "containment" became popular to keep communism from spreading beyond the Soviet Union.  But communism continued to spread.  China became communist in 1949.

First recall that in 1947 President Truman announced what became known as the Truman Doctrine to counter the growing communist threat:  "Support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures."  Truman declared that assistance shall be "primarily through economic and financial aid."  Also in 1947, a theory of "containment" became popular to keep communism from spreading beyond the Soviet Union.  But communism continued to spread.  China became communist in 1949.

The United States sought to protect western Europe against inroads by communism by enacting The Marshall Plan of 1947, which provided financial assistance to European economies struggling in the wake of World War II.  A primary motive of this assistance was to strengthen the countries to the point when they could resist communist revolutions.  The Marshall Plan was extremely effective, and led to a period of the most rapid growth in European history.

The United States sought to protect western Europe against inroads by communism by enacting The Marshall Plan of 1947, which provided financial assistance to European economies struggling in the wake of World War II.  A primary motive of this assistance was to strengthen the countries to the point when they could resist communist revolutions.  The Marshall Plan was extremely effective, and led to a period of the most rapid growth in European history.