Truman delivered an address to the United States Congress on March 12, 1947,
later known as the “Truman Doctrine.” 

Portrait of President Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States of America

A S.O.A.P.S. Analysis of the Truman Doctrine

The source is President Harry S. Truman’s address to Congress on March 12, 1947, also known as the famous “Truman Doctrine.” In this address, President Truman made it clear that it is in the best interests of the United States and our foreign policy to free nations from totalitarian regimes that impose mass restrictions on people’s freedom. He mentions both Türkiye and Greece as examples.

This source is very important as the Truman Doctrine was introduced during the start of the Cold War, a pivotal moment in American and global history. The Truman Doctrine was famous as it advocated for the United States to intervene in nations to help those people resist totalitarian regimes while also containing communism in global politics. The Truman Doctrine is one of the major factors that pushed the United States to fight in many proxy wars against communism and the Soviet Union.

The historical significance of the doctrine is significant because it helped shape American Foreign Policy at the beginning of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine specifically said that it would intervene or help any nation willing or oppressed by totalitarian regimes with military support. The Truman Doctrine helped make the United States commit to supporting nations willing to fight oppression by the armed minority, regardless of their origins. This doctrine helped shape American foreign policy for the rest of the Cold War. This doctrine also contributed to the United States’ intervention in many countries during the Cold War, in what was known as “Proxy Wars.” This was to contain the spread of communism.

There are many inferences I can draw from this document, for example,

The Truman Doctrine clearly states that the United States will support the peaceful development of nations by actively intervening against totalitarian governments that impose mass restrictions on the people, such as free speech or human rights violations. In this case, Truman is referring to communism as a totalitarian government.

It also says that the United States must support people from all nations who suffer from subjugation or oppression from armed minorities or outside pressures (Soviet Union).

Lastly, it states that the United States will help people who free themselves from totalitarian regimes by giving them economic and financial aid so that they may have economic stability and convince the people that they won’t need a totalitarian regime to bring them to glory; they just need the people who are willing to fight for the people.

The Truman Doctrine was an address that was written by Harry S. Truman and was introduced on March 12, 1947, and it served as a basis to future foundation of American foreign policy.

To understand the idea of why this address was created, we must understand world politics during the time. The world was still recovering from World War II and so Europe and the Soviet Union were devastated during the war. The United States along with some allies were one of the only nations to avoid the mass devastation of the war and so the United States became one of two superpowers in the entire world. However, the Soviets, whilst also devastated from the war, they had massive military equipment from the United States to which they refused to give back. Which meant that the Soviets had many resources to become powerful militarily. As a result, the Soviets became the most powerful country in Europe, and they became a military superpower alongside the United States. Soon, the Soviets influenced the areas they occupied and made them communist whereas the American occupation were made into democracies. As a result of this, two blocs containing two ideologies soon became cold towards each other and soon had a cold war over which ideology was better or was worse. Many countries at the time either turned to democracy or communism and as a result the question to if Türkiye or Greece should turn communist or democracy was because of this tension and hate both blocs had towards each other.

Therefore, there was a serious decision needed to be made whether to let Greece or Türkiye to fall in either’s hands. This is because both nations were very unstable and were threatened with a communist takeover. That is why Harry S. Truman wrote this doctrine, to reinforce the values for which the United States stood for ever since their foundation. To fight for and help those who are under risk of oppression. The United States reinforced its policies to become a police-force in the world, to stop nations from becoming communist and having a totalitarian government that would oppress the people and instead have a government that would have fair democracy. That wouldn’t restrict the people or oppress the people.

So, knowing all this, it gives so much meaning to the United States and this address as it gives a new meaning to what the United States should stand for in future roles and politics. With the beginning of the cold war, this greatly help give so much meaning to the document.

There are many people that Harry S. Truman wanted his address to be seen by. These groups are primarily the U.S. Congress, American people, and the United Nations.

He wanted the U.S. Congress to see it so that he could get their support to impose the policies that President Truman wanted to enact so that his vision of fighting totalitarian regimes could be real. He himself cannot impose these policies as they need to be decided fairly in Congress through a rigorous process. Which is so crucial, he states his reasons and his desires so clearly so that they know exactly why it’s such a serious issue.

He also wanted the American people to see his address and support him more for his re-election and to have public opinion support the idea so there is a more likely chance that Congress agrees to the policies.

An important group not to forget is the international community. This address will be seen as a firm view of the United States’ desires to keep its interests and will defend its values overseas if prompted to. Which showed a clear message to the Soviet Union that they will never back down and never give up when faced with serious predicaments.

Considering the historical context at the time, this address does tweak some things in favor of the United States and so it may not be as reliable because it glorifies its argument as the best possible way whilst not actually figuring out if it’s truly the best way by evaluating other situations. However, because the address was introduced at such a critical moment during American history, it was widely accepted by the American people and Congress that many policies supporting free people were passed.

Whether it was reliable or not depends on the other arguments presented at the time. However as of now, I think this was the best possible outcome, given the situation within U.S. politics in 1947.

The source was produced on March 12, 1947, and was introduced at a critical moment in global politics. The serious question is whether the United States shall intervene on the side of the free people against totalitarian regimes. It was written to deter influence from the Soviet Union and its communist bloc. It could realistically force its influence on nations to have totalitarian governments rather than democratic ones. During the time it was written, there was a robust insurgency in favor of the communists in both Greece and Türkiye, and it was up to the United States to let these two nations fall under communist rule or democratic rule. This is because both countries at the time asked the United States if they could intervene to help quell the insurrection. This was also to be a strong statement against the Soviet Union that the United States was just as strong as the Soviets and would fight dirty if it meant to free people from totalitarian rule.

Truman hoped his address would convince the public to fight for nations that may fall under communism to help contain communism. He mainly wanted the U.S. Congress to be confident that totalitarian regimes were a real threat to democracy and that it was in the best interests of the United States to intervene and give aid to those fighting for a democratic government.

He hoped to accomplish many things, such as gathering public support and the U.S. Congress to allow policies that would let the United States intervene in nations to give them a fighting chance at a democratic government instead of a totalitarian one.

The speaker is President Truman who served as the United States 33rd president. As I researched his biography, he apparently served as a senator in Missouri before he was selected to become Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. After Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945, Harry S. Truman then became the official 33rd President of the United States.

While President Truman wasn’t the most qualified to handle such serious tasks, he did his absolute best despite having flaws. He used his experiences during WW2 to shape his perspective on handling a significant political rival that threatened the values for which the United States stood.

Despite his flaws, he and his administration worked tirelessly to solve global issues such as the PLA’s victory in China, the Korean War, and how to handle a war-torn Europe.

He managed to come up with great ideas, such as the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe by donating American wealth to their allies, showcasing an example that if you are a democratic nation and are willing to free the people from oppression, you will receive aid from the United States to help keep that way of life.

He presents the United States as a savior in the world, and it must act accordingly by paving the way for other nations to be democratic and giving economic aid to those struggling with democracy. He makes the U.S. proudly state that it would defend the values of freedom and self-determination that have happened in our history.

Although as great as this sounds, the address seems biased. This is because President Truman is an anti-communist and, therefore, views communism in a negative light. He frames the Soviets as a totalitarian regime that wants to spread its oppression to other nations. That is true, but communism was never intended to turn out that way. Communism was built on values like the values for which the United States stands today.

“Let racist ignorance be ended, for respect makes the empires fall.”

“Freedom is merely a privilege extended unless enjoyed by one and all.”

These two quotes are from the “Internationale” song, which was the very first communist song and served as the song for the Paris Commune in 1871.

However, despite his bias, he made choices that greatly benefitted many people at the time.

The U.S. provides aid to the global community through many ways such as economic aid and military aid. One example the United States supported a nation against a totalitarian regime would be Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War from 2014 to present day. I think this support is justified as Ukrainians are dying to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine. Whilst also protecting the very democratic values for which the Ukrainians fought so hard to implement in their government. For this reason, is why I think it is necessary for the United States shall go through lengths to give Ukraine Economic and Financial aid as many Ukrainian men, women, and children fight and band together to preserve their rights and democracy. Something that is in line with the interests of the United States and to the security of the American people.

The United States is built on fighting for democracy and freedom, so for the American people to give economic aid and military aid to Ukraine is to support a nation that agrees with the American values and way of life.

I do not want to accuse Russia of being the real perpetrator as Russia is a nation with rich history and many people in Russia do not agree with the actions of the SMO and the Russian Federation Government. By not accusing Russia, I demonstrate the very thing that the Truman Doctrine was trying to tell us all about from the very beginning. To fight to free people from oppression. Currently both Ukraine and Russian people are suffering, both from different circumstances.

Which is why not only should the United States continue to aid Ukraine, but to help free Russian people from the oppressive government it has. Like what the address said, to protect free people from the armed minority.

Leopold Kory Song