What was the primary goal of the U.S. foreign policy of containment?

The primary goal of the U.S. foreign policy of containment was to prevent the spread of Soviet influence. This strategy emerged during the early years of the Cold War as a response to the perceived threat of communism expanding beyond its existing borders. Containment aimed to limit Soviet power and maintain global balance by preventing communism from taking root in new regions, particularly in Europe and Asia.

The policy was articulated by key figures, including diplomat George Kennan, who argued that the U.S. needed to adopt a firm stance against Soviet expansionism. This led to initiatives such as the Truman Doctrine, which provided support to countries resisting communism, and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to rebuild European economies to help them resist Soviet pressure.

While promoting democracy and establishing trade agreements with communist nations were goals of U.S. policy at various times, they were not the central aim of containment. Supporting anti-war movements did not align with the containment strategy, which was primarily focused on confronting and countering the spread of Soviet ideology rather than fostering internal dissent in the U.S. or abroad.