Which term best describes the policy of preventing the spread of communism by aiding free nations?

• A. Deterrence
• B. Détente
• C. Containment
• D. Isolationism

Answer: (C)

Preventing the spread of communism by aiding free nations is containment. The idea is to stop communism from gaining ground by helping other countries resist Soviet influence—through political support, economic aid, and, when needed, military backing—so that communist expansion is checked at its borders rather than by waiting for outright invasions everywhere. After World War II, this approach showed up in actions like the Truman Doctrine, which pledged aid to Greece and Turkey, and the Marshall Plan, which rebuilt Western European economies to reduce the lure of communist movements.

This differs from deterrence, which relies on threatening punishment to deter aggression; from détente, which aims to ease tensions; and from isolationism, which seeks to avoid foreign entanglements. So containment best fits the idea of supporting free nations to resist the spread of communism.