The Truman Doctrine

On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman spoke before Congress. His message, known as the Truman Doctrine, asked Congress for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Turkey and Greece. The money was to be used to help those governments resist communist uprisings. This doctrine, closely related to the “domino theory,” guided U.S. foreign policy until the end of the Cold War in the 1980s.

In his speech, Truman declared America would support resistance against communist groups and governments. 

"It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures."

- President Harry Truman

Impacts of the Truman Doctrine

Future presidential administrations would use similar reasoning to justify military actions in Korea, Vietnam, and other places in Africa and the Americas America.