In July 1947, U.S. diplomat George F. Kennan argued that the United States should create a "policy of containment" that would keep communism within its existing boundaries and prevent further communist expansion by the Soviet Union. U.S. President Harry Truman carried this idea into his Truman Doctrine, which outlined his support for countries fighting against communism. The doctrine stated,

"It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation (overthrow by conquest) by armed minorities or by outside pressures."

“Outside pressures” came to mean communism. The Truman Doctrine became widely known as the U.S. official policy of “containment” against the spread of communism. Following a “containment” policy would get the United States involved in both the Korean and Vietnam wars to stop the spread of communism.

President Truman outlines his communist "containment" strategy to Congress

Source:President Truman Addressing Congress, Byron Rollins, Associated Press

Decide which of the following words are connected with “containment.” Click and drag each word to the correct category.