Containment: IGCSE History Definition

What is Containment?

In IGCSE History, Containment was the United States' Cold War policy to stop the spread of communism. First introduced by President Harry Truman in the late 1940s, it shaped U.S. foreign policy for decades. 

A key part of this policy was the Truman Doctrine (1947), which promised U.S. support—both military and economic—to countries threatened by communism. The Marshall Plan (1948) was the Truman Doctrine in action, providing over $12 billion in aid to rebuild Western European economies after the Second World War. By strengthening these economies and preventing economic issues, the U.S. aimed to reduce the appeal of communism and create strong allies against the Soviet Union.

Containment also led to direct military involvement in conflicts such as the Korean War (1950–1953). Although the war ended in a stalemate, it reinforced U.S. determination to resist communist expansion through military force. 

Similarly, the Vietnam War (1955–1975) was another major conflict driven by containment. The U.S. supported South Vietnam against the communist North, fearing that if Vietnam fell to communism, other nations in Southeast Asia would follow (the "Domino Theory"). However, after years of costly warfare, growing opposition at home, and North Vietnam’s eventual victory, the U.S. withdrew in 1973, marking a significant failure of containment in the region.

Despite setbacks, the policy of containment remained central to U.S. foreign strategy throughout the Cold War until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Containment Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

Why did the US Contain Communism? - IGCSE History Note

Who was to Blame for the Cold War? - IGCSE History Revision Notes

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