Fred Wang

P2
Period 8 - Chapter 29 Questions
1. How did post-World War II foreign policy represent a fundamental change from
previous foreign policy?
World War II definitely introduced the United States into an unprecedented era of
interventionism in foreign and international affairs. Ever since George Washington assumed a
position of leadership during the countrys inception, the United States had followed a doctrine
of isolationism in regard to the international order. However, as World War II required the United
States to play an increasingly growing role in international politics, it represented such a
fundamental change from the traditional isolationist role the United States used to play.
2. Analyze the degree of success the policy of containment achieved.
Containment as a U.S. foreign strategy was first conceptualized as a necessary and sufficient
way to prevent the spread of communism and aid the promotion of democratic values through
the world. However, in the end, such a proposed strategy failed to result in any tangible and
effective forms of change. For example, the Marshall Plan was met by a Soviet strengthening of
its grip in its European buffer zone. George Kennans strategy was thus met with Soviet
retaliation, which would render the U.S. policy of containment futile in its attempt to restrain
communism spreading.
3. How did the United States prepare to avoid a serious economic recession following
World War II?
The United States ultimately created a domestic and foreign policy strategy to ensure that the
enabling conditions for the Great Depression would not repeat themselves following World War
II. For example, the United States adopted the Marshall Plan in order to reconstruct and
financially aid a weakened Europe after the war. This ensured that foreign economic turbulence
would not wreck the economy. The United States also continued to see the growing trend of
farmers entering better economic jobs within urban areas.