Defense by deterrent was the main objective during the Cold War as the United States moved to defend democracy by blocking the communist infiltration of vulnerable countries. In order to protect targeted countries from communism, Presidents Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower moved to establish doctrines that served similar purposes as the result of different circumstances. Each doctrine was enacted to protect different regions, to protect those regions from communist threat, and to halt the communist influence of independent nations.
The doctrines were both motivated to decrease communist infiltration; however, each doctrine was enacted in order to defend certain regions that were under threat during its time. The Truman doctrine was influenced by the fact that Great Britain could not afford to assist “the Greek Government in its civil war against the Greek communist party” (“The Truman Doctrine, 1947,” Office of Historian). Truman also pressured Congress to assist Turkey because it was also relying on British support in 1947. The Truman doctrine gained the public and congressional support to provide $400 million to aid Greece and Turkey. Similarly, the Eisenhower doctrine “was a continuation of the U.S. policy of containment of or resistance to any extension of the Soviet sphere of influence” (“Eisenhower Doctrine,” Britannica). In January, 1957, the Eisenhower doctrine provided $200 million in aid to Middle Eastern countries which required “military and economic” support in order to cease communist aggression (Berkin, 725).
Both doctrines were intended to halt communism, but they were enacted because of different threats. The Truman Doctrine was intended to obstruct communism in Mediterranean countries because “Stalin had stepped up Soviet support of Communist guerillas in Greece and Turkey” (Conlin, 723). Truman feared that communist influence in Greece and Turkey would eventually infiltrate the Middle East without American intervention. Unfortunately, only ten years later, the Eisenhower Doctrine was enacted because of communist aggression in the Middle East. “Eisenhower feared that radical nationalism would combine with international communism in the region and threaten Western interests” (“The Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957, Office of Historian). He feared this because communist countries supplied Egypt with arms and because Arab states were showing hostility and gaining strong communist support “against an Israeli, French, and British attack on Egypt in October 1956” (“Eisenhower Doctrine,” Britannica).
Both doctrines provided plenty of aid to free and independent nations, managing to substantially halt communist influence to a certain degree. The Truman Doctrine provided more than enough aid. As a result of the doctrine, the rebels were suppressed and “Stalin did not raise the ante and the risk of Soviet-American confrontation; he abandoned the guerillas,” (Conlin, 723). In comparison, the Eisenhower Doctrine was never directly invoked, but it did result in Lebanon’s request for assistance because it was under threat from its president’s political rivals whom had communist ties in Syria and Egypt. Consequently, U.S. troops were sent to Lebanon, where they successfully maintained order. Sending U.S. troops into Lebanon relayed a message to the Soviet Union, informing them not to meddle with independent Middle Eastern nations if they want to avoid American intervention.
While some Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries were vulnerable to communist aggression during the Cold War, the Truman and Eisenhower doctrines established “political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces” (“The Truman Doctrine, 1947,” Office of Historian). Although there are some differences between the two doctrines, each one was enacted to protect certain regions, to protect those regions from communist threat, and to halt the communist influence of democratic nations.
Works Cited
“Eisenhower Doctrine.” Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/181513/Eisenhower-Doctrine>.
“Truman Doctrine.” Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/607195/Truman-Doctrine>.
Berkin, Carol, et al. Making America: A History of the United States. 6th ed. Vol.2. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. 2 Vols.
Conlin, Joseph R. The American Past: A Survey of American History. 9th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. 2 Vols.
United States Department of State, Office of Historian. “The Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957.” <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/EisenhowerDoctrine>.
United States Department of State, Office of Historian. “The Truman Doctrine, 1947.” <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/TrumanDoctrine>.
The doctrines were both motivated to decrease communist infiltration; however, each doctrine was enacted in order to defend certain regions that were under threat during its time. The Truman doctrine was influenced by the fact that Great Britain could not afford to assist “the Greek Government in its civil war against the Greek communist party” (“The Truman Doctrine, 1947,” Office of Historian). Truman also pressured Congress to assist Turkey because it was also relying on British support in 1947. The Truman doctrine gained the public and congressional support to provide $400 million to aid Greece and Turkey. Similarly, the Eisenhower doctrine “was a continuation of the U.S. policy of containment of or resistance to any extension of the Soviet sphere of influence” (“Eisenhower Doctrine,” Britannica). In January, 1957, the Eisenhower doctrine provided $200 million in aid to Middle Eastern countries which required “military and economic” support in order to cease communist aggression (Berkin, 725).
Both doctrines were intended to halt communism, but they were enacted because of different threats. The Truman Doctrine was intended to obstruct communism in Mediterranean countries because “Stalin had stepped up Soviet support of Communist guerillas in Greece and Turkey” (Conlin, 723). Truman feared that communist influence in Greece and Turkey would eventually infiltrate the Middle East without American intervention. Unfortunately, only ten years later, the Eisenhower Doctrine was enacted because of communist aggression in the Middle East. “Eisenhower feared that radical nationalism would combine with international communism in the region and threaten Western interests” (“The Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957, Office of Historian). He feared this because communist countries supplied Egypt with arms and because Arab states were showing hostility and gaining strong communist support “against an Israeli, French, and British attack on Egypt in October 1956” (“Eisenhower Doctrine,” Britannica).
Both doctrines provided plenty of aid to free and independent nations, managing to substantially halt communist influence to a certain degree. The Truman Doctrine provided more than enough aid. As a result of the doctrine, the rebels were suppressed and “Stalin did not raise the ante and the risk of Soviet-American confrontation; he abandoned the guerillas,” (Conlin, 723). In comparison, the Eisenhower Doctrine was never directly invoked, but it did result in Lebanon’s request for assistance because it was under threat from its president’s political rivals whom had communist ties in Syria and Egypt. Consequently, U.S. troops were sent to Lebanon, where they successfully maintained order. Sending U.S. troops into Lebanon relayed a message to the Soviet Union, informing them not to meddle with independent Middle Eastern nations if they want to avoid American intervention.
While some Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries were vulnerable to communist aggression during the Cold War, the Truman and Eisenhower doctrines established “political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces” (“The Truman Doctrine, 1947,” Office of Historian). Although there are some differences between the two doctrines, each one was enacted to protect certain regions, to protect those regions from communist threat, and to halt the communist influence of democratic nations.
Works Cited
“Eisenhower Doctrine.” Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/181513/Eisenhower-Doctrine>.
“Truman Doctrine.” Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/607195/Truman-Doctrine>.
Berkin, Carol, et al. Making America: A History of the United States. 6th ed. Vol.2. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. 2 Vols.
Conlin, Joseph R. The American Past: A Survey of American History. 9th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. 2 Vols.
United States Department of State, Office of Historian. “The Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957.” <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/EisenhowerDoctrine>.
United States Department of State, Office of Historian. “The Truman Doctrine, 1947.” <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/TrumanDoctrine>.