Activity 1---The Truman Doctrine

"At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms. I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic stability and orderly political process."


-- President Harry S. Truman, March 12, 1947 in an Address Recommending aid to Greece and Turkey.


Discussion Questions


1. Who is Truman addressing?


2. What is Truman asking for?


3. What are the first and second "ways of life" that Truman refers to?


4. Who is President Truman referring to when speaking of the two different "ways of life"?


5. Give a modern day example of a country that lives by the first "way of life".


6. Give a modern day example of a country that lives by the second "way of life".


7. How are the conditions in these two countries different today?