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Period: to
Cold War 1947-1966
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Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine, announced in 1947 by U.S. President Harry Truman, was a foreign policy aimed at containing the spread of communism. It marked the start of the Cold War by pledging U.S. support military and economic to countries like Greece and Turkey threatened by communist influence or insurgencies. The doctrine established the U.S. commitment to intervene globally to resist Soviet expansion. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan, launched in 1948, was a U.S. program that provided over $13 billion in economic aid to help rebuild Western European countries after World War II, aiming to revive economies, prevent the spread of communism, and promote political stability. -
Rio Pac
The Rio Pact, signed in 1947, was a mutual defense treaty among countries in the Americas, stating that an attack against one would be considered an attack against all, reinforcing regional solidarity during the early Cold War. -
Truman's Loyalty Program
Truman's Loyalty Program, established in 1947, aimed to identify and remove communist influence from the U.S. government by requiring background checks and loyalty investigations of federal employees during the early Cold War. -
Brussels Pact
The Brussels Pact, signed in 1948, was a mutual defense agreement between Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, pledging military and economic cooperation to resist aggression, especially from the Soviet Union. It later became a foundation for the creation of NATO in 1949. -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was a Soviet attempt to force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by cutting off all road, rail, and canal access to the city. In response, the U.S. and its allies launched the Berlin Airlift, flying in food and supplies for nearly a year until the blockade was lifted. -
NATO ratified
NATO ratification refers to the process by which member countries formally approved the North Atlantic Treaty, signed on April 4, 1949, creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Each founding country had to ratify the treaty through its national legislative process, confirming their commitment to mutual defense and collective security.