Exam (elaborations)
To what extent did the US policy of containment determine the course of superpower relations in the Cold war
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1. To what extent did the US policy of containment determine the course of superpowerrelations in the period 1947-1953?
Between the years of 1947-53, the US policy of containment massively determined the
relationship between the superpowers, eventually leading to relations collapse. US Iron Fist
policies in containing communism through the Marshall Plan (June 1947) and Truman
Doctrine (March 1947) had massively deterred relations through Stalin rejecting aid and
tightening his control of the satellite state in order to stop fears of US expansion in eastern
Europe. As well as this Truman's Containment policy in Germany eventually caused the
collapse of relations through his actions in wanting a separate superior Germany as seen in
the formation of Bizonia (Jan 1947) and the turning point Deutschmark causing the blockade
initiated by Stalin resulting in the formation of two separate Germany and NATO and
confirming the formation of two blocs. However, Stalin played a role in the collapse of
relations but not as much as US Containment policies through his ‘Revolution without
permission’ Causing cooperation to end but also US containment to start., But also situation
expansion in Asia through China and the involvement in the Korean War, however, all these
other factors are overshadowed by the US policy of containment because of the policies
being continuous but also escalated through Eisenhower's New Look policy
With your last sentence make it clear what your argument is. Be more direct.
Mention the big turning points in the course of superpower relations in your intro.
Truman's *Containment Iron Fist policy massively played a role in the downfall in relation
between the superpowers in the years 1947-53. This can be seen with the introduction of
policies such as the Truman Doctrine (March 1947) and the Marshall Plan (June 1947), these
policies were a result of numerous concerns that were expressed by ambassadors to
Moscow, such as Keenan, and even Churchill in his Iron Curtain speech in March 1946.
Countries include Turkey and Greece which 400 million in aid. in the assumption, that Stalin
had been providing aid to the KKE. This in turn caused relations between the superpowers
to deteriorate with Stalin rejecting Marshall's aid and tightening control of the satellite
states fearing these countries may be attracted to Marshall's aid thus reducing Stalin's
sphere of influence in which he formed Comecon later in retaliation into Marshall plan (Jan
1949). But also getting rid of any leader's opposition to Stalin's ideology eg Feb 1948 Slow
Revolution. Therefore, Truman's Iron Fist policies significantly caused the downfall in
relations through containment policies causing Stalin to reject it and tighten his grip on the
satellite states in fear that the Satellite states may be swayed to Aid provided by the US.
Make it a bit clearer what your argument is, especially the Stalin one. Make sure this
paragraph remains centred on the US foreign policy of containment and its impact to
superpower relations.
US intervention in Germany could be argued as a fundamental turning point in ending
cooperation and relations. This is seen through Truman's approach in Germany in wanting a
separate and superior Germany which would’ve gone against what had been agreed in Yalta
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