The root cause of the U.S. containment policy can be traced back to the geopolitical tensions and ideological conflicts that arose after World War II, particularly the fear of the spread of communism. Following the war, the Soviet Union emerged as a superpower, promoting a communist ideology that was seen as a direct threat to the democratic and capitalist ideals that the United States championed.
In response to this, U.S. leaders, particularly President Harry S. Truman, adopted the containment policy as a strategic approach to prevent the further expansion of communism into Europe and beyond. This policy was articulated in events like the Truman Doctrine, which pledged support to countries resisting communism, and through initiatives like the Marshall Plan, which aimed to rebuild war-torn European economies to make them less susceptible to communist influence.
Overall, the policy reflected a broader strategy of not just military intervention, but also economic and ideological battles to curb the influence of the Soviet Union and to promote democratic governance and market economies worldwide.