Policies of Containment

Definition

Policies of containment were strategies employed by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism and Soviet influence. The goal was to "contain" or limit communist expansion through diplomatic, economic, and military means.

Related terms

Truman Doctrine: A policy announced by President Harry Truman that provided financial and military aid to countries threatened by communism.

Marshall Plan: An American initiative that provided economic assistance to Western European countries after World War II as a means of preventing the spread of communism.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): A military alliance formed by Western democratic countries, including the United States, aimed at collective defense against potential aggression from the Soviet Union.