Truman Doctrine Theme of Responsibility

You know what Uncle Ben said: "Perfect every time."

Oops—wrong Uncle Ben. Spiderman's uncle said: "With great power comes great responsibility."

The allied victory in World War II saw the emergence of the United States as a global super power defined by a strong military, economy, and international political presence. "Responsibility" is a major theme in the Truman Doctrine: Truman tries to make the case that, because we are a new world leader with abundant resources, the U.S. is directly responsible for protecting countries fighting communism / making sure democracy's sworn enemy doesn't spread.

Questions About Responsibility

  1. What sort of American ideals and values come to mind when you're reading about Truman's interpretation of U.S. "responsibilities" towards the people of the world?
  2. Why can't someone else take care of some of the stuff Truman is describing? Why does America have to be the adults?
  3. Would (Spiderman's) Uncle Ben agree with Truman's statements?

Chew on This

Check out some potential thesis statements about Truman Doctrine.

Truman's emphasis on upholding the global responsibilities of the U.S. line up pretty well with the "responsibilities" he believed in upholding as president, such as accountability, honesty, and equality.

The idea of "taking on too many responsibilities" can be used to describe the U.S.'s foreign policy approach during the Cold War.