George F.Kennan / Kent State Massacre

George F Kennan: The Containment Policy and the Domino Theory



Kennan's Long Telegram

(primary source)





                 After World War II, the world was aligned with one side of either democracy, capitalism, communism, pro-America or pro-Soviet Union. George F. Kennan was an American diplomat and historian best known for his successful advocacy of a containment policy to oppose Soviet expansionism following World War II. Kennan strongly believed that the Soviet communists would in its cliche for "dominate the world". However, Kennan also argued that a "firm and vigilant containment" would control the Soviets and their expanding power. The way communism was set up in the 1940s should not be tampered with, therefore nothing should be done to stop it.

                However, any attempts of its growth should definitely be detained by the United States or any other democracy. Kennan's containment policy describes that communism should not be stopped where it currently exists but not allowed to expand. George Kennan also developed the Domino Theory, which stated that if one nation fell to communism every other country. He compares this to a domino effect and that the spread of communism will occur rapidly and the United States would be left standing alone.

                In a primary source document, George Kennan sent President Truman a lengthy telegram ad advocating containment. He sends this from Moscow and sends to the Secretary of State.  In this telegram he describes the basic features of postwar Soviet outlook, the background of this outlook, its projection in practical policy and official level, and practical deductions from standpoint of U.S policy. He introduces the containment policy and describes the immense internal conflicts of communism and ssocialism.







Kent State Massacre (1970)

               The entire Kent State University in Kent, Ohio was plagued by disdain at the fact that President Nixon announced the invasion of Cambodia. In general, many universities were angered already at the fact that the Vietnam War was going on. Therefore, students organized protests in which they resisted and expressed their views against the war. At Kent State, for four days students protested and on the fourth day, the ROTC building was bombed and the Ohio Governor sent the Ohio National Guard to establish order on the campus. The protests intensified with the presence of the men and the National Guard opened fire at the students claiming that they felt threatened. On that day, four were killed instantly. In response, the governor pardoned the National Guard for their crimes in order to establish order at the university.

                In a poll done the following day, the majority of people believed that it was the students' own fault and disobedience that led to the massacre. Days later, 400 colleges and universities striked and students refused to go to class and considered the largest strikes in America. The shootings and the strikes are meant to symbolize one of the greatest American tragedies at the height of the Vietnam War. There is still much debate on why the National Guard opened fire and if it was true that he was being attacked. After the incident, education was heavily impacted- Kent State was closed for six weeks and had to resume again in the summer.


 The Kent State Massacre Video