Containment of Communism
With the Truman Doctrine, the United States took on the responsibulity of defeating communism. They provided countries with economic and military aid and used propoganda. Later on in the war, the United States allied with South Korea in their battle againts communist North Korea The propaganda was used to evoke a sense of pride and passion in Americans and drive their anti-communism attitude. The United States was determined to contain the Soviet Union because they fueled communism. In his speech, instead of refering to communism, he refers to containing the Soviet Union specifically. Preventing the spread of communism contains the Soveit Union and allows the United States to act like they are doing it for the greater good of democracy instead of appearing as power hungry. They wanted to contain the Soviet's influence over Europe to decrease their global power. The confidence and strength of America allowed for weaker European nations to rally behind and support the U.S., increasing their own influence over Europe. The United States was "'too strong to be beaten and too determined to be frightened"' by the Soviets and used to Truman Doctrine to send a message of intimidation(Gaddis 1). America asserted tehir strength and power in order to shift the global power scale in favor of the United States instead of the Soveits. By weakening the Soviets, they weakened the power of communism, and increased the global power of America.
Harry S. Truman refers to past victories, such as America's victory over Germany and Japan, to instill fear and intimidate the Soviets. He reminds his opposers of the authority and power of the United States. The goal of America is to create "conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work out a way of life free from coercion" (Truman Doctrine 1) and the Soviets threaten this fundamental belief. The United States will not stand for the Soviet's imposition on other countires and they will be defeated, restoring America as the sole global power. Communism and its "force of coercion" will be prevented from spreading under the opposition of the global powerhouse United States.
To keep communist ideals from leaking out into Europe, Truman "proposed, in effect, that America poliece Russia's every border" (Wallace 1). The policing of borders would create a metaphorical wall to contain communism and the Soviets. The United States are fullfilling their role as global poliecemen by "policing" the borders, therefore preventing the expansion of Soviet ideas and power. The U.S. exherts their power by containing the Soviets because they are guarding them and preventing them from doing as they please, displaying the power that America has not only in Europe, but over the Soviet Union aswell.
Truman and America have the support of the United Nations. Being backed by the global organization that protects "lasting freedom and independence for all its members" (Truman Doctrine 1) increases the global power of the United States, as they have support of many countries all striving for peace. The global power of America is increased becasue it is a leading member in the global organization that strives for peace.Truman weakens the reputation of the Soviets Union by implying that they "imposed on free peoples, by direct or indirect aggression" and "undermine the foundations of international peace" (Truman 1). He weakens their hold over Europe and therefore their power in Europe. The United States earns the title of "Global protectors of democracy and defeaters of communism" through their efforts to stop the expansion of Soviet and communism power, which earned them the position of sole global power.
These two drawings display how both nations attempted to spread or use their influences in order to take down the other nation, in efforts to become the sole world power.