Containment and the Early Cold War
This lesson introduces the early U.S. strategy of containment and explains how the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan shaped the opening years of the Cold War.
What students should learn
Students should understand that the United States tried to stop communism from spreading without directly going to war. They should be able to explain containment, the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan in simple terms.
Before You Watch
Keep these questions in mind while watching the video:
- What does the word containment mean?
- Why did the United States think communism had to be stopped?
- How can a country fight ideas without starting a war?
Watch
Use a short overview video here. The goal is not deep detail. The goal is to make the reading easier to understand.
Quick Notes
Answer these while you watch. Keep your answers short and clear.
1. Main strategy
What was containment trying to do?
2. Truman Doctrine
How did the Truman Doctrine show containment in action?
3. Marshall Plan
How did economic aid help the U.S. fight communism?