46-49 conatinment Flashcards
(16 cards)
What was the U.S. policy of containment?
A Cold War strategy to prevent the spread of communism by resisting Soviet expansion through diplomatic, economic, and military means.
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Who developed the idea of containment?
George F. Kennan, a U.S. diplomat, outlined the idea in his 1946 Long Telegram from Moscow.
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What did Kennan argue in the Long Telegram (1946)?
He claimed the USSR was expansionist and that communism had to be contained through strong, patient resistance.
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What was the Truman Doctrine (1947)?
A U.S. policy pledging to support nations threatened by communism, beginning with aid to Greece and Turkey.
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Why was the Truman Doctrine significant?
It marked the start of active U.S. involvement in global anti-communist efforts and set the tone for Cold War foreign policy.
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What was the Marshall Plan (1948)?
A U.S. program that provided over $13 billion in economic aid to help rebuild Western Europe and prevent communism from taking root.
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How did the Marshall Plan support containment?
By strengthening European economies, it reduced the appeal of communist movements and Soviet influence.
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Which countries rejected the Marshall Plan and why?
Eastern Bloc nations under Soviet control rejected it, pressured by the USSR, which saw it as a threat to its influence.
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What was the Berlin Blockade (1948–49)?
The USSR blocked all ground access to West Berlin in an attempt to force the Allies out of the city.
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What was the Berlin Airlift (1948–49)?
A massive effort by the U.S. and Britain to fly supplies into West Berlin for nearly a year, successfully breaking the blockade.
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Why was the Berlin Airlift important?
It demonstrated Western commitment to resisting Soviet pressure and was a key early victory for containment.
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What did the Berlin Crisis reveal about Cold War tensions?
It showed how divided Europe had become and how quickly disagreements could escalate into major standoffs.
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How did containment affect U.S. foreign policy?
It led to increased American involvement around the world, especially in areas seen as vulnerable to communism.
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How did the USSR respond to U.S. containment efforts?
The USSR tightened control over Eastern Europe and created its own aid system, the Molotov Plan, as a counter to the Marshall Plan.
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What was the overall impact of U.S. containment from 1946–49?
It solidified the Cold War divide, strengthened Western alliances, and set the foundation for decades of U.S.–Soviet rivalry.
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What are the 3 most important stats of the Berlin Airlift (1948–49)?
2.3 million tons of supplies delivered to West Berlin.
Planes landed every 30–60 seconds at the peak.
277,000+ flights conducted between June 1948 and May 1949.
