Primary Source Analysis
This paper aims to analyze two primary sources that are linked to the American involvement in the cold war, particularly during the late 1940s and 1950s. The cold war was seen between the United States and the Soviet Union and went on for almost a decade. It led to anti-communist suspicions and international incidents that led the two superpowers to the edge of a nuclear disaster. The articles under review include the “Truman Doctrine Calls for the United States to become the World’s Police, 1947” and “Senator Joseph McCarthy Describes the Internal Communist Menace,1950.” The sources focus on foreign policy and the national security of the United States. Though the United States has been at the forefront to encourage countries to do things according to their will. Basing the information that soviet nations had sought to change the will of people from other countries. There exist forces within the united states that are not supporting the government in making sure they achieve their foreign policy.
The Truman Doctrine argues that there is a need for the United States to defend countries that are under oppression by other nations[1]. The government of the United States should be able also to fund those countries for them to be able to achieve their set objective in making sure they are more independent. According to Truman, the main concern was the problems that Greece and Turkey were going through. Therefore, presenting the issue to congress would be key in helping the countries in solving the current underlying issues. During those periods, the United States was always pioneering for countries to have economic freedom. With economic freedom, countries can depend on themselves in doing development and also dealing with the issues that affect their people. Greek government statement illustrated that for Greece to survive as a free nation, then the United States governments should consider their urgent appeal for financial and economic assistance. In doing so, they would be able to cater to the needs of its people, and also it is an opportunity for the country to avoid external forces, which they consider as not being healthy for their growth.
The Truman doctrine believes the United States is the only solution in the case of Turkey since the British government is unable to support them. The doctrine is clear in putting the United States in a position of being the savior of struggling nations[2]. For them to prove what they stand for, there is a need to support Turkey since their only hope of assistance doesn’t exist. During the period of the Cold World War, the main objective of the foreign policy of the United States was to create a condition that will favor the Americans and still be able to help other nations to be free from coercion. Many countries during that period were suffering from the hands of other stronger nations. However, then united states were able to win the war of protecting the rights of people who were protesting against doing things against their will.
Senator Joseph McCarthy argues that after the world war had come to an end, many people expected that peace and free from the thought of war. However, that is not the case because he believed there many other issues that were not yet solved. [3]He sees the world from the perspective of being in a cold war where countries are after proving to other countries how great they are in terms of being armed. The argument is that the world is still apart, and peace doesn’t exist because of selfish interest. Joseph McCarthy believes that after World War II, many countries were on the sides of the United States since they were the major force behind the end of the war. However, as time goes by, many people are going against the United States. Hence, the United States losing the war against numbers. He argues that with the loosing of numbers, it shows how the United States is losing the cold war.
McCarthy also states that when a great democracy is destroyed, it will not be because of people from outside, but people that are within the government that are making the wrong decisions for the country[4]. The people who are destroying the United States are the people who have been benefiting from the government. That is through gaining the best shares of things offered by the government. They are there to destroy the foreign policy instead of shaping it to be in the best interest of the people.
In conclusion, the United States was essential in making sure that all the countries that were being dictated by the soviet union have freedom. In doing so, they would be able to build their economic structure and be in a better place to grow and be independent. Therefore, the existence of foreign policy was to help in making sure that both the Americans and other countries under oppression benefit. That is why the Truman Doctrine is arguing for the need for the government to support countries that are under oppression for them to be independent. However, the existence of selfish people within the United States government, according to McCarthy, is making it hard for the American people and the shaping of the foreign policy.
Bibliography
Senator Joseph McCarthy Describes the Internal Communist Menace,1950
Truman Doctrine Calls for the United States to become the World’s Police, 1947
[1] Truman Doctrine Calls for the United States to become the World’s Police, 1947
[2] Truman Doctrine Calls for the United States to become the World’s Police, 1947
[3] Senator Joseph McCarthy Describes the Internal Communist Menace,1950
[4] Senator Joseph McCarthy Describes the Internal Communist Menace,1950