Title: The Truman Doctrine: Definition, Summary & Purpose - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
Headings: The Truman Doctrine: Definition, Summary & Purpose
The Truman Doctrine: Definition, Summary & Purpose
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Purpose of the Doctrine
Historical Background
Mr. X
The Truman Doctrine
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Content: The containment policy was similar. Essentially, Truman was recognizing that the Soviet Union had established communist control over Eastern Europe. But the Truman Doctrine basically said that's as far as the Soviet Union would be allowed to spread communism - it strove to impose a figurative 'fence' to keep Communism from spreading further. Legacy of the Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was the prevailing American foreign policy during the next 45 years of the Cold War. The United States determined that it would go to whatever lengths to prevent the spread of Communism. Consequently, the US became involved in military action in Korea, Vietnam, and a variety of smaller interventions by the CIA in Latin America. Sometimes, the United States' support aided fledgling democracies, like in the case of Greece and Turkey. But other times, the United States ended up aiding right-wing anti-communist dictatorships. An example of this was Augusto Pinochet, the right-wing military dictator in Chile. Pinochet came to power through a US-backed military coup against the democratically elected socialist president, Salvador Allende.