Changes

In 1947 Truman, a Democrat, convinced the Republican-controlled Congress to support the [[Truman Doctrine]] by sending massive aid to the small country of Greece, threatened by a Communist takeover.  The rest of Europe was still in economic ruin, which Washington feared would help the spread of Communism, so the [[Marshall Plan]] was proposed to help restore the European economies.  When Stalin engineered a Communist takeover of democratic Czechoslovakia in early 1948 and forbade his satellites to accept the [[Marshall Plan]] money, Americans realized that Winston Churchill's warnings about an “iron curtain” had come true.   

In 1947 Truman, a Democrat, convinced the Republican-controlled Congress to support the [[Truman Doctrine]] by sending massive aid to the small country of Greece, threatened by a Communist takeover.  The rest of Europe was still in economic ruin, which Washington feared would help the spread of Communism, so the [[Marshall Plan]] was proposed to help restore the European economies.  When Stalin engineered a Communist takeover of democratic Czechoslovakia in early 1948 and forbade his satellites to accept the [[Marshall Plan]] money, Americans realized that Winston Churchill's warnings about an “iron curtain” had come true.   

The strategy of isolationism had failed by 1941; the strategy of détente(or friendship) with Communism had failed by 1948.  Some argued for a strategy of direct confrontation or "[[Rollback]]"—but this was considered too dangerous, especially when the Soviets tested their first nuclear weapon in 1950.   

The strategy of isolationism had failed by 1941; the strategy of détente(or friendship) with Communism had failed by 1948.  Some argued for a strategy of direct confrontation or "[[Rollback]]"—but this was considered too dangerous, especially when the Soviets tested their first [[nuclear weapon]] in 1950.   

Washington decided on a strategy of containment, as embodied in the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] ('''NATO''') military alliance set up in 1949.  The [[NSC-68]] was a secret 1950 plan adopted at the highest levels of the American government to set the overall strategy, and a further step was taken in 1951 with the establishment of the Mutual Security Agency to coordinate U.S. economic, technical and military aid abroad.  

Washington decided on a strategy of containment, as embodied in the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] ('''NATO''') military alliance set up in 1949.  The [[NSC-68]] was a secret 1950 plan adopted at the highest levels of the American government to set the overall strategy, and a further step was taken in 1951 with the establishment of the Mutual Security Agency to coordinate U.S. economic, technical and military aid abroad.