Courtesy of National Archives, Truman, Harry S., "Truman Doctrine," 12 March 1947
Description
President Harry S. Truman presented this address on March 12, 1947, before a joint session of Congress. His message, known as the Truman Doctrine, asked Congress for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Turkey and Greece, to provide U.S. intervention to halt the spread of communism that dictated U.S. actions during much of the Cold War.
Full Transcript of the Truman Doctrine
Transcribed Excerpt from the Truman Doctrine
Source-Dependent Questions
- What ideals does Truman directly call upon in his support of free people?
- How would Ho Chi Minh have seen his request in keeping with U.S. ideas? How did Truman have categorized Ho Chi Minh's request?
- Consider the phrase "I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." What does Truman mean by this statement? Who might the armed minorities or outside pressures be? Why didn't he just name specific groups or people he was referring to in the document?
Citation Information
Truman, Harry S., "Truman Doctrine," 12 March 1947. Courtesy of National Archives