The conflict in ideologies between capitalism and communism resulted in one of the greatest conflicts of the twentieth century. The belief that freedom and democracy would die under communist rule caused the United States to start a conflict that would last for decades. The decisions made by the United States in W.W.II caused tensions to rise between the U. S. and the Soviet Union. Fear of Communism in capitalist nations, caused the United States government to use propaganda to raise Cold War anxieties.
             The Cold War, seen as a battle between communism and democracy in reality was a more complex struggle over a broad range of ideological, economic, and strategic issues. Over the next several years the United States would spend more money on military and defense than ever before. One of the first measures to act as police of the world and leader of capitalism, Truman drafted the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan, which complemented the Truman Doctrine, was a program of large scale economic and military aid to Europe. This act was considered by some as the most innovative piece of foreign policy in American History. Over the next four years the United States contributed over $12 billion to a highly successful recovery effort. The Soviet Union stilled commanded a blockade on highway, rail, and river traffic to West Berlin. As a result, the United States responded by entering into a peacetime military alliance; this being the first time since the American Revolution. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) a project costing $1.3 billion, enabled the basing of all four United States Army divisions into Western Europe. Twelve nations agreed to sign this pact that stated an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. Consequently, a few months later, Stalin lifted the blockade which had made the city a symbol of resistance to communism. Between the ...