38. Regarding Soviet foreign policy, President Harry Truman believed that the Soviet Union was
a. an implacable foe that required direct opposition.
b. a regional threat.
c. not a threat to its neighbors, Europe, or the United States.
d. likely to evolve into a true democracy within a decade.
e. None of these answers is correct.
i SEE A and B as a correct answer.
check please
b. The Soviet Union was a worldwide threat. I would exclude B
To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the statement and Truman's beliefs. President Harry Truman was in office from 1945 to 1953 and was responsible for shaping U.S. foreign policy during the early years of the Cold War. The Soviet Union was the primary rival of the United States during this period.
Option a states that Truman believed the Soviet Union was an implacable foe that required direct opposition. This is consistent with Truman's containment policy, which aimed to prevent the spread of communism and confront Soviet expansionism. Truman saw the Soviets as a significant threat to global stability and believed that direct opposition was necessary.
Option b suggests that Truman considered the Soviet Union a regional threat. While the USSR did exert significant influence over Eastern Europe, Truman's concerns extended beyond just the regional level. He viewed Soviet influence as a threat to global balance of power and saw the need to contain and counter their expansionist aspirations worldwide.
Option c posits that Truman did not see the Soviet Union as a threat to its neighbors, Europe, or the United States. This is an inaccurate statement. Truman recognized Soviet expansionism and sought to counter their influence through policies like the Marshall Plan and the creation of NATO.
Option d implies that Truman believed the Soviet Union would evolve into a true democracy within a decade. This is not accurate. Truman did not anticipate a democratic transformation in the Soviet Union. Rather, he believed in the need to contain Soviet power and prevent its further expansion.
After examining all the options, we can conclude that neither option c nor option d accurately reflects Truman's beliefs. Therefore, the correct answer is e. None of these answers is correct.