mar 12, 1947 - The Truman Doctrine

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On March 12, 1947 2 years after the Soviets took Berlin former President Harry Trumen announced the Truman Doctrine signifying the start of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine is a U.S. Foreign policy stating that the United States will provide economic, military, and political aid to any democratic nation under threat from communist powers. This showed that the U.S. was willing to do anything to stop the spread of communism no matter the cost. The doctrine was first put into action for Turkey and Greece receiving a combined $400,000,000 in aid to support them in their fight against communism in their own countries. Additionally, the Truman Doctrine showed a shift in U.S. foreign policy, abandoning our traditional role as non-intraventionists and taking on a role of global intervention shown in the many proxy wars the U.S supported and the Vietnam and Korean wars where we sent in troops. However, this does not mean we were always giving support and resources to the “good guys” the U.S was so focused on not letting communism spread we would support undemocratic repressive groups such as in Greece.


“The Truman Doctrine | Harry S. Truman.” Welcome to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum | Harry S. Truman, https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/online-collections/truman-doctrine. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

“The Truman Doctrine (1947) | The American Yawp Reader.” The American Yawp, https://www.americanyawp.com/reader/25-the-cold-war/the-truman-doctrine-1947/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

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