Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Us Policy of Containment

Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy of containment

The Truman Doctrine was a highly effective plan that successfully achieved its goal of containment. However the same cannot be said for The Marshall Plan, which was a failure. Both plans had their faults but arguably the Marshall Plan was more of a disaster then the Truman Doctrine. This is because the Marshall Plan all but ended cooperation between the USA and the USSR.

The Truman Doctrine was greatly effective as it delayed the onset of communism, provided military relief and supplied monetary aid. Harry Truman then USA President came up with a grand plan to stop the spread of communism throughout Eastern Europe. The plan was nicknamed the “Truman Doctrine”. In order to stop communism from circulating around in Europe. Truman donated 400 million dollars to Greece and Turkey to help stop communism from taking over in those respective nations. Truman also contributed armed forces if required to combat communism. The Truman Doctrine did succeed because it turned the USA from a previously passive country in international conflicts to an active one and it stopped communism from spreading to Greece and Turkey.

The Marshall Plan did have its strengths however the countless failures that it produced were perhaps the catalyst for the Cold War.  The Marshall Plan created by US secretary George Marshall, had specific aims. The Marshall Plans goal was too donate money too Western Europe countries that were affected by WW2. By donating money the US hoped that the countries would be persuaded by their goodwill into not wanting to become a communist nation. However this backfired as the USSR caught wind of the plan it ended all cooperation between the US and USSR for good. This eventually led to the Cold War. The Marshall Plan was not a successful policy of containment as it failed in its goals.