During the Cold War, the United States engaged in many aggressive policies both at home and abroad, in order to combat communism and the spread communist ideologies. Faced with a new challenge and global responsibilities, the United States had to preserve what it had fought for in World War II. It was necessary to contain communist ideas from the Soviet Union while preventing communist influence in America, without provoking a Third World War. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The United States successfully used containment through the application of 3 methods, the Berlin Airlift, the Truman Doctrine and the use of naval blockade. The Berlin Airlift was an effective containment method by which unrelated states responded to the Soviet blockade of Berlin, successfully delivering food and medical supplies to areas controlled by Berlin's allies. In June 1948, the Soviets blocked all external access to Berlin from the west. This retaliatory measure was intended to send a sign to the United States and its allies that the Soviet Union did not tolerate Western interference in its territories. In response, President Truman made a decision that would allow the United States to deliver supplies to the people of Berlin without fighting the Soviets. His proposal called for American planes to transport supplies to West Berlin. This plan was immediately accepted and the Berlin Airlift began delivering thousands of food and supplies to Berlin daily. In May 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade and allowed the free flow of supplies to West Berlin. This caused the Soviet Union to lose what was essentially a public relations war. This dispute proves that the Berlin Airlift was an effective method of containment. The Truman Doctrine was another effective method of containment in which President Truman declared that the United States should provide military support to countries threatened by Soviet forces or communist insurgency. In August 1945, the Soviet Union invaded Korea, which had been under Japanese control since 1910. As the Soviet Union moved to take over the entire peninsula, the United States quickly sent its own soldiers to South Korea. South. Japanese armed forces surrendered to the Soviets in the north and the Americans in the south. In order to avoid long-term controversy regarding Korea's future, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel. In 1950, the Korean peninsula was divided between an American government in the south and a Soviet government in the north. When North Korean soldiers invaded South Korea, the Truman administration used the opportunity to defend a non-communist government against invading communist armed forces. Determined not to allow another country to be defeated by communism and eager to support its anti-communist credentials, the Truman administration decided to provide military support to South Korea. The war continued for several years and finally ended in 1953, very close to the original borders. The Truman Doctrine was an effective method of containment in which, because the Truman administration decided to defend South Korea and its democratic ways, it effectively contained another nation from the Soviet Union's communist ideologies. Another effective method is the enforcement of the naval blockade imposed by the United States..