Miss Harris "Cold War Truman Doctrine Sources 1-3"

Comprehension
1a. Look at the first paragraph. According to Truman, what actions have been taking place which the USA is unhappy about? Who is he criticizing?
- Truman is criticizing Stalin, saying that many countries of the world have recently “had totalitarian regimes forced upon them against their will”. The United States is unhappy about the coercion and intimidation, (violating the Yalta Agreement) specifically in Polan, Rumania, and Bulgaria.
1b. Look at paragraphs 2-4. What is the choice facing the people of the world.
- Democracy, (?)
1c. Put Truman’s policies into your own words.
- It is the United States’ responsibility to follow up on our protests and help the countries who are being coerced and intimidated. We need to help by way of economic and financial aid to give those countries orderly political processes in order to let them have the will of the majority as their way of life, to have free elections, most importantly.

Analysis and Interpretation
1d. From your knowledge of the events of the time, do you agree with Truman’s analysis of the situation?
- Yes.
1e. Truman’s speech was well received in the USA. Does this surprise you?
- No. He also says that if we did not stop it now, we could not later.
1f. Stalin was very critical of Truman’s speech. He said that the USA giving massive aid to Greece and Turkey meant the USA would demand military bases and have huge influence over the running of these countries. This was exactly the same as the USSR controlling Eastern Europe. Do you think he had a good case or do you think Stalin would have criticized Truman whatever he said?
- I think that Stalin would have criticized Truman about whatever he said, but I do think he has a good point.

Comprehension
2a. Which papers supported Truman’s speech?
- The independent and catholic papers.
2b. What concerns did Truman’s supporters express?
- The fear that a war between the US and the USSR was closer.
2c. Is it fair to say that the Belgians generally believed the Truman Doctrine was a case of American imperialism?
- No, Belgium was very diverse -- they had strong supporters on both sides.
2d. Did they seem happy or unhappy with this?
- They seemed to have one more paper that was against this then for it.
2e. Make a list of the criticisms if Truman in the Belgian press.
- American action was not dictation by true democracy, but by dollar diplomacy, and that is was American Imperialism.
Analysis and Interpretation
2f. Is the example of press reactions in Belgium useful for historians trying to assess the effect of the Truman Doctrine on opinions in Europe? Explain your answer.
- It is really only helpful to show which political parties’ opinions were expressed.
2g. Are there any quotes or points in this source you could use to ask Truman some tough questions.
- Yes, like ‘how do you plan on not going into war with Russia’ as the big one.

Comprehensions
• 3a. Write your own summary of the situation in
• Hungary: The Soviet occupation in Hungary is threatening to render impossible the functioning of democratic processes.
• Greece: The level of chaos and need for basic supplies has risen to the point where the Greek Charge has presented the Department for a formal request for assistance.
• Germany: We (Joint US, UK, Soviets) are not allowing Germans to join any armed forces and that we will settle this at the Moscow Conference.
• 3b. What is the total estimated need for relief?
- $1,220,000,000.
• Analysis and Interpretation
• 3c. Does this document suggest that the USA was extremely generous? Explain your answer.
- I think yes, as as are giving $1.22 billion to other countries to let them have free elections.
• 3d. Critics of the USA called this relief ‘Dollar Imperialism’. What do you think they meant?
• - I think they meant that we are giving $1.22 billion to ‘force’ other countries to fall under a democracy.

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