a. Cold War:

The term Cold War is applied to the post-World War II international situation.

The atmosphere of artificial tension due to mistrust between two Superpowers-USA and USSR, came to known as the Cold War.

In this Cold War there is no scope for ‘warm war’, only the tension is emphasized.

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b. Truman Doctrine:

The Cold War started operating on the ground level with the announcement of the Truman Doctrine in March 1947.

The immediate purpose was to help the non-communist government in Greece that Bulgaria, Albania and other communist countries wanted to oust.

In the Truman Doctrine it was clearly stated that the USA would help every independent country to maintain its independence from all the external influences.

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In reality the Truman Doctrine aimed as follows: (1) American intervention into the free countries if they were threatened by ‘totalitarian regimes’.

(2) The assistance promised by the USA to the weaker powers were in fact an attempt to bring them closer to the USA.

(3) The Truman Doctrine also was a reply to the formation of the Soviet Bloc forming a security ring round the Soviet Union.

The Truman Doctrine that was announced by the American President was criticized by the Soviet Union and her allies.

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c. Marshal Plan :

George Marshall was an American-General. In June 1947 he announced his famous plan, known as the Marshall Plan which was an extension of the Truman Doctrine.

It was stated in the Plan that the USA was ready to help the European countries, shattered by the World War II, for their recovery.

Also it was stated that the USA was ready to help them in order to fight poverty, shortage of food in them, etc.

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But it was also made clear that the countries who would like to receive the assistance must take the first initiative. In reality the Marshall Plan was an assistance program for the recovery of the European countries devastated by the World War II.

At the same time the Plan desired to make the European countries free from the Communist influence and bring them in alliance against the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union realizing the real objective of the Marshall Plan asked its allies to stay aloof from the Plan.