History 342

Devine

Study Questions for Leffler and Lippmann

Melvyn Leffler, “The Emergence of an American Grand Strategy, 1945-1952”

1. By the end of the Second World War, the US was an economic powerhouse. Why, then, did the nation’s leaders still feel insecure?

2. Leffler notes that Truman sought to “forge an international environment conducive to the American way of life.” What were some of the key elements of such an environment?

3. According to Leffler, in 1946-47 the Truman administration did not especially fear “premeditated Soviet aggression.” What did it fear?

4. How did Truman go about convincing his political opponents – primarily fiscally conservative Republicans – that aid to Europe was necessary?

5. After 1947, the Truman administration began to develop a specific strategy to achieve its policy goals. What were the main priorities of this strategy?

6. How were economic recovery and political stability related? How did achieving both in Europe also help to contain communism?

7. Why did Truman administration officials believe that Communist domination of Europe would undermine the American way of life?

8. Even after the coup in Czechoslovakia and the Soviet blockade of Berlin, why did the Truman administration remain convinced that Stalin did not want war with the US?

9. Why did US desire to spur economic recovery in Japan also focus Washington’s attention on the nations of Southeast Asia? How did this show that concerns about “core” areas had to take into account conditions in “peripheral” areas?

10. Why did the US decide to oppose Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam even though Washington knew Ho had the support of the majority of his people? How was this specific policy decision related to the “grand strategy”?

11. After 1949, why did American policymakers come to believe that increasing US military strength was the only way to pursue Washington’s grand strategy?

12. What were US policymakers chief security concerns in Asia?

13. Why did the Truman administration believe it had to respond to the North Korean invasion of South Korea?

14. How did the Truman administration’s assessment of the USSR shape the war strategy it pursued in Korea? How did its strategy reflect a misreading of how China might respond?

15. Leffler says US strategy was “more than containment.” What does he mean by this?

Walter Lippmann, “Containment of the Soviet Union is Poor Policy”

[Excerpts from Lippmann, The Cold War (1947)]

1. According to Lippmann, what are the main weaknesses of Kennan’s policy of “Containment”? Why does he believe that implementing “Containment” is impractical?

2. Why does Lippmann think Kennan’s policy of Containment will be difficult to implement effectively?

3. What alternative to Containment does Lippmann suggest?

4. To what extent are you persuaded by Lippmann’s critique of Containment?

5. In a word, how would you describe Lippmann’s approach to foreign affairs and the projection of American power?