In the years following World War II, the United States established a policy of containment to

keep the countries of Easter Europe from becoming communist

ensure that communism was contained to the Soviet Union only.

eliminate all communist governments throughout the world.

prevent the spread of communism outside of Eastern Europe.

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After World War II and at the beginning of the Cold War, the United States established a policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism outside of Eastern Europe.

This foreign policy principle was called the doctrine of containment. It was promoted in 1946-47 by an American diplomat called George Kennan, before being championed by President Harry Truman. It came as a response to the Soviet Union's attempts to extend its influence in Europe and Asia, because the United States and the rest of the Western world viewed this as a threat to international security.

One of the measures taken to stand against communism was the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance which ensured that all members would defend one another against the Soviet menace.