The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were very important in shaping how the United States dealt with other countries during the early Cold War.

1. Truman Doctrine (1947):

   • President Harry Truman created this policy to fight against the Soviet Union’s growth.
   • It promised to give military and money support to nations that were in danger from communism, especially Greece and Turkey.
   • This policy basically started the U.S. plan to stop the spread of communism, saying that America would help countries that wanted to stay free.

2. Marshall Plan (1948):

   • This plan, officially called the European Recovery Program, was put in place to help Western European countries get back on their feet after World War II.
   • The U.S. gave more than $13 billion to help these countries rebuild.
   • It not only helped boost their economies but also aimed to stop the spread of communism by keeping things stable and prosperous.

Together, these two plans showed that America was serious about fighting Soviet influence. They also set the stage for how the Cold War would unfold, focusing on helping democratic countries and getting involved when needed.