After World War II Stalin achieved domination over many of the countries of Eastern Europe in late 1945 creating a huge communist bloc including Poland, Romania, Hungry, Bulgaria and Albania. Truman, the new president in 1945, after Roosevelt died was much more anti-Communist than his predecessor. By 1946, the "friendship" between the two allies had broken down and they did not trust each other.

In response and in order to prevent the spread of communism, the US developed the Marshall Plan which offered US aid to European countries after the war, but in return, the US could exert influence on the internal governments of those countries receiving aid. The countries had to adopt democratic policies and purchase American goods. Obviously, the Soviets and other communist countries rejected the plan. In addition, the Truman Doctrine, known as the doctrine of containment allowed the US to

President Truman says in 1949, "We refused to be forced out of the city of Berlin. We demonstrated to the people of Europe that we would act resolutely, when their freedom was threatened. Politically it brought the people of Western Europe closer to us. The Berlin blockade was a move to test our ability and our will to resist."

There was an ongoing competition between the two superpowers with each trying to get the upper hand. This continued through the years, even with changes in leadership in both, the US and the Soviet Union. It encompassed virtually every aspect of life including military, weapons, the space race, sports etc.

This crisis concerned many that there could be another war this time between the Soviet Union and the US. The Western powers decided to band together and they formed a group called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

"Each contained the other until there gradually developed something of a mutual understanding. The basis of this coexistence was an unwritten but apparent acceptance that, in Europe at least, neither side would trespass on the territories of the other."

send money, advice and equipment to countries to prevent communist takeovers. This plan and doctrine shows quite clearly that the US had no intent to remain separate from Europe unlike its previous Isolationist policy, and it had no intent to allow the spread of communism within Europe.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Soviet Writers, West Berlin, Soviet Union, Truman Doctrine, Democracy Soviet, Western Europe, Social Realism, Stalin Truman, Europe Stalin, Marshall Plan, soviet union, west berlin, western europe, western powers, warsaw pact, spread communism, cold war, social realism, poland romania,
Approximate Word count = 1307
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)