Policy of Containment in American History

Containment was a united states government policy uniting military, economic and diplomatic strategies to contain any further spread of communism in the world after the world war II , with the goal of thereby enhancing America’s security and influence abroad . The Soviet Union created an Eastern Bloc of countries that it occupied, annexing some as Soviet Socialist Republics and maintaining others as Satellite States that would later form the Warsaw Pact. The United States and various western European countries began a policy of “containment” of communism and forged myriad alliances to this end, including NATO.

Several of these western countries also coordinated efforts regarding the rebuilding of Western Europe, including western Germany, which the Soviets opposed. In other regions of the world, such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, the Soviet Union fostered Communist revolutionary movements, which the United States and many of its allies opposed and, in some cases, attempted to “rollback”. (Peter) Ans2) In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the United States in the arms race. Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe but U. S. missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union.

In late April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba. For the United States, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 when reconnaissance photographs revealed Soviet missiles under construction in Cuba. USA decided to quarantine the island and tensions began to build on both sides. Finally, negotiations were held and Soviet Union agreed to dismantle the installations if United States assured not to invade Cuba. This is a very important Case of cold war confrontation because this crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war.

(burr & robinson) Ans3) The Vietnam War occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975. The war was fought between the communist North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other member nations of the South Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). The united States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of S The first attempt to avoid the induction into the war was raised by a college student from the National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam. Gradually college campus demonstrations in the U.

S. intensified The United States ceased all bombing and other attacks in North Vietnamese territory on November 1, 1968, to encourage negotiations for ending the war. Aimed at reducing the level of fighting and negotiating a settlement, the Paris Peace Talks began in May 1968. (Zhang) Ans4)The policies followed by united states in Cambodia were -: • No U. S. ground combat personnel in the country, and no U. S. advisers with Cambodian units. • Air missions against enemy supplies and personnel that pose a potential threat to South Vietnam or seek to establish base areas relevant to Vietnam.

• Military assistance to the Cambodian government in amounts and types suitable for their army. • Encourage other countries of the region to give diplomatic assistance. • Encourage and support the efforts of third countries who wish to furnish troops or material (Nixon) Ans5)In 1950 united states of America followed the policy of containment. Containment was a united states government policy uniting military, economic and diplomatic strategies to contain any further spread of communism in the world after the world war II.

In Vietnam, USA decided to support the government of South Vietnam and the other member nations of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). The united States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam. In the 1950s ,America’s policy toward Central Africa was caught between maintaining good relations with allies in Brussels, London, and Paris. (helmreich) Works cited byrd, Peter (2003). “Cold War”. in Iain McLean & Alistair McMillan. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics.

Oxford University Press. Xiaoming, Zhang. “China’s 1979 War With Vietnam: A Reassessment,” China Quarterly. Issue no. 184, (December, 2005) Nixon, Richard. “United States foreign policy for the 1970’s – Laos and Cambodia” www. let. rug. nl/usa/P/rn37/writings/ch6_p2. htm Helmreich, Jonathan E. “U S Foreign policy and the Belgian congos in the 1950” The Historian, January 1 , 1996 Leon robinson, Jeremy &burr,William. “chronology of submarine” Contact during the Cuban missile crisis, October 1, 1962 – November 14, 1962