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Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Truman Doctrine

Remember that this is a speech given by President Truman directly to Congress. What points stand out as directly supporting containment? Use specific quotes, please. Also, what is the POV? Might Truman have an ulterior motive? If so, what is it? Pay attention to his appeal to human emotion.

Please also make general comments about this important document.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, March 22

posted by RJS at 11:19 AM

6 Comments:

  • Truman certainly isn't subtle about his views on containment. Then again, he made this speech to shock congress into action, not to be subtle. At any rate, the Soviet Union isn't even mentioned until the third page of the speech. He spends the first half of the speech praises the various valient struggles of Greece and Turkey- portraying them in a favorable light. He then gives a negative portrayal of the Soviet Union as that country built "upon terror and oppresion, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections, adn the suppresion of personal freedoms."
    So, to summarize that part, this country is good. They're being attacked by these bad countries. We should help.
    Now, POV is interesting is his portrayal of Greece and Turkey. He gives them the qualities of being a land of saints. He doesn't do this out of any special value for their respective cultures, but rather to glorify opponents of the U.S.S.R. as much as possible. If Greece or Turkey had been fighting anybody else, Truman wouldn't have batted an eyelid. But because they opposed communism, suddenly they were the perfect coutnries being attacked by vicious, unworthy enemies. On the other hand, Truman was sincere in his desire to stop communism. Just don't make a complete saint out of a moderate sinner.

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Thursday, March 22, 2007 8:47:00 PM  

  • "Greece must have assistance if it is to become a self-respecting democracy" sums up the main theme of Truman's speech to Congress and directly ties into the U.S.'s new commitment to promoting the self-determination of democratic countries in the post-war era. Along with this productive rebuilding of the war-ravaged Greece comes the aspect of containment regarding the communist minorities and outside pressures, illustrated by this quote: "As a result of these tragic conditions, a militant minority, exploiting human want and misery, was able to create political chaos which, until now, has made economic recovery impossible." This was said to further the grief Congress might have felt when Tuman previously described the destruction the Germans had left in the wake of their retreat. Not only did Truman use the tragedies of the Greeks' situation to tap into the emotions of the checks and balances, but he described the horrors that would await the world if the communists took over Greece: "If Greece should fall under the control of an armed minority, the effect upon its neighbor, Turkey, would be immediate and serious. Confusion and disorder might well spread throughout the entire Middle East." I think, having read the next passage of the textbook, this also exposes an ulterior motive of the U.S., a country dependent on Middle Eastern oil supplies. Communism and turmoil in the Middle East would not be in the U.S.'s favor economically as well as ideologically. I don't think this is the only reason for wanting to protect Greece and Turkey, two nations with a shared fate, but I'm sure it crossed somebody's mind. Anyway, Truman obviously made an effective point and his plan was approved. I agree with Thomas in that the fact that Truman's portrayal of each side in such contrasting lights was a major factor in gaining crowd support. He also did well in comparing the cost of aid to Greece and Turkey with the cost of WWII. Anything seems small in comparison to that.

    By Blogger Victoria, at Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:08:00 PM  

  • Containment and an early form of the domino theory are fairly clearly stated late in the speech, summed up as "Should we fail to aid Greece and Turkey in this fateful hour, the effect will be far reaching to the West as well as to the East." Truman stressed containing the Communists, because after all, "The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms." Truman appeals to emotion in a few hideously overdone passages, such as when he says that "The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want. They spread and grow in the evil soil of poverty and strife. They reach their full growth when the hope of a people for a better life has died." Truman clearly has a POV as leader of the western bloc, and needs to support countries in his gigantic sphere of influence and by all means never appear weak to the Soviet Union. Appeasement is well out of vogue at this point. Truman isn't usually the sort you hear much about as an orator, and there's no quote from him I can think of other than "the buck stops here." (inspiring!) It would seem like a president who dropped two atomic bombs and served through the first phase of the Cold War would be remembered for saying something, but not really.

    By Blogger Unknown, at Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:29:00 PM  

  • Truman's avid stance on containment can be seen in this speech in the way he portrays communism. He says "Communists, who defy the government's authority" are invading Greece and its americas duty to protect it. rather to keep the communists at bay. He speaks again, at the end, of "The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio; fixed elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms" making it appear that the future lies in one of two extremes. the hands of america or those of the communists. As an american he obvioulsy thinks quite highly of this country. His speech represents america as being the final solution to the problems Europe had been facing. A final beacon of hope, a savior. He wants to instill his country's politics on other countries, especially if its keeping communists out. He appeals to human emotion by first, displaying greece as a failing impoverished country of invalids. and secondly, having it seem that america was the only country who could possibly help. Americans love to play the hero so this was a good way to get people on his side.
    I see what mrs. stone meant when she said this was the beginning of america getting into other countries' business. The whole thing with turkey seemed a little odd to me. "Well we're helping greece and turkey is right there so we should help them too" or just feel important by messing around with things that arent americas business. whichever.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Thursday, March 22, 2007 11:33:00 PM  

  • "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." --Can't get much more 'We must conatain' than that. Truman's constant references to a new "democratic nation" and "Help from the United States" say that the aid the US can give Turkey and Greece is the only aid that can protect both nations from the spread of communism. Truman paints communism as a rapidly spreading disease. He says that if Greece were to be taken over by its pressures, then Turkey would be taken over by the same forces. He uses human emotions to create a stir against COmmunism and to get aid for Greece and Turkey. His main motive seems to be aid for Greece and Turkey, but his long term commitment is to stopping the spread of communism. Those motives are his reasons for being so passionate in this speech. It's interesting that he puts down the oppressive nations "imposing their will and way of life on other nations" and moves to conatin those nations, but the US has numerously, even in this instance, moved to instate democracy in other nations. The sole difference is that the US doesn't do nearly as much damage in their attempts as communist nations tend to do.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Saturday, March 24, 2007 8:37:00 PM  

  • Truman's chief methods of supporting the policy of containment are describing the struggles of Greece and Turkey as long and difficult and their need to be extremely dire and views their blight as only curable via aid by the United States. Greece and Turkey are seen as courageous and hardworking and the USSR the terrible country that seeks to spread its "evil soil".
    Truman's POV is largely evident in these portrayals. A victory in this particular arena will add many good karma points to the bracket, making the United States the hero saving the poor but virtuous countries under attack from those evil communists.
    Which I believe, in part, is Truman's ulterior motive. Winning in Turkey and Greece would prove capitalism and democracy's superiority to communism. His appeal to emotion is the same of that evoked by protecting a helpless child from a malevolent bully.

    P.S.- My house doesn't have internet access yet, hence the late-ness.

    By Blogger laura, at Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:32:00 AM  

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