Cold War High School Report

Cold War DBQ

The Cold War was a time when America was really afraid of Communism spreading throughout the world. After WWII, America had peace with everyone. In 1946 America started to speed up the country’s military buildup. Secretary Henry Wallace thought we were preparing ourselves for an evitable war. In 1947 America helped out Greece from not becoming Communist by giving them 400 million dollars. We didn’t want Communism to spread. The domino theory was if one country fell to Communism, then all the other countries will fall too. In the 1950’s America was so afraid of Communism that even Senator Joseph R. McCarthy had a list of 205 Americans accused of being Communist. Another reason would be JFK explaining why America was in Vietnam, to keep the Communists at bay. Also General Marshall knew that the only way for world peace was maintained by the strong.

            At the end of WWII America finally won the war. America had no more conflict or battles between anyone. Secretary Henry Wallace expressed his alarm at America’s military buildup persuaded by President Truman. Document 4 quotes Secretary Wallace in a letter intended for President Truman. “By actions the things like $13 billion for the War and Navy Departments, the tests of the atomic bombs, plans to arm Latin America with our weapons, productions of B-29s, and the effort to secure air bases spread over half the globe from which the other half of the globe can be bombed. These facts rather make it appear either that we are preparing ourselves to win the war which we regard as inevitable or that we are trying to build up a predominance of force to intimidate the rest of mankind.” Secretary Wallace knew that Truman was planning something, either another war, or complete annihilation. The Communists wouldn’t stand a chance.

            President Harry Truman knew about the domino effect. If one country fell to the Communists then all of them will. President Truman had to stop the Communist guerillas that were thought to be supported by Moscow. Document 5 explains how Truman helped Greece and Turkey. “Declaring that the United States must “assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way,” President Truman asked congress in 1947 to authorize $400 million in military assistance to Greece.” If America gave Greece almost half a billion dollars it would support their democracy government and not fall to those Communists. Quote from Truman shows how he wanted to help others being affected by Communism. “I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.”