Containment Policy
America aimed to stop communism from spreading globally after World War II. This approach began with the Truman Doctrine in 1947 and guided U.S. actions throughout the Cold War. Vietnam represented a critical test case for this policy. Military planners considered it essential to draw a line against Soviet influence in Southeast Asia. The U.S. government poured enormous resources into this effort. Over time, containment justified American intervention in numerous countries around the world.
