The Impact Of The Truman Doctrine And The Marshall Plan On The Cold War

I believe to partial extent that the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan caused the Cold War. Both documents made interference in Europe and other countries. The US wanted to support them financially and economically. They also believed in giving them choices, even though they may not have been the best. The real blame should have been partially on the Soviet Union. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan had very little impact on the Cold War.

The US Department continuously sent telegrams back and forth between the countries. In Source C, the Truman Doctrine explains the telegrams from Hungary, Greece, Germany and relief needs. The telegrams say exactly what the countries are demanding. The US was extremely concerned with the amount of rapid expansion of communism in Europe. After World War 2, the countries were left in disaster. The US was against communists attempt to create poverty and hunger to gain support. This is when the telegrams came into effect. Each telegram says what the country wants and the US' respond to their request. I don't think that this what the complete cause of the Cold War but did have some fault. Hungary complained that the intervention of the Soviet Union in the conspiracy case made a possibility of local settlement and that they threatened their democratic process. Germany complained that the US was recruiting the Germans into armed forces against their will. This shows how the US tried to be generous but still failed in many aspects.

Truman gave a speech, which is Source D, asking congress for $40 million to help Greece and Turkey. Their government was facing rebellions from communists because of Stalin Marshal Tito, a Yugoslav Communist leader. Britain had been, at first, helping the Greek government, but because they couldn't afford to anymore, Truman felt it was his duty to take control. Turkey however, was under a lot of pressure to give access to the Mediterranean to the Soviets.