The Truman Doctrine
The construction of the Truman Doctrine expanded the imbalance between the United States and the U.S.S.R. In a speech on March 12, 1947, President Harry Truman stated that the U.S. would give aid--both economic and military--to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from plunging into the “Soviet sphere” and Communist government. While the Soviet “threat” to Greece was much more pressing, the U.S. helped both equally because the two countries were historic rivals.Truman’s words intensified the tension between the United States and the U.S.S.R. by blatantly going against them and their views. This moment was considered the beginning of a policy to contain Soviet expansion and, essentially, their domination. In regards to long-term effects, the Truman Doctrine allowed American power to support and modernize unstable countries, as well as avoiding a Communism domino effect.