What was the US's primary reaction to the Soviet Union's activities in Eastern Europe?

The U.S. primarily viewed the Soviet Union's activities in Eastern Europe as a significant threat of Communist expansion. After World War II, the establishment of Communist governments in several Eastern European countries was alarming to American policymakers, who feared that such developments could lead to a wider spread of communism throughout Europe and possibly beyond. This perspective was rooted in the context of the Cold War, where the ideology of communism represented not just a political challenge but also a competing system of governance that opposed the principles of democracy and capitalism championed by the United States.

The American reaction was shaped by a desire to contain communism, leading to policies like the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to prevent the influence of the Soviet Union while promoting democratic governance and economic stability in Europe. This belief that communism needed to be contained formed the basis for many subsequent U.S. foreign policy decisions during the Cold War era.

In contrast, the belief that all governments would become communist, the expectation of a peaceful resolution, and the encouragement of democratic practices do not fully capture the urgency and response that characterized U.S. reactions at the time. Instead, the prevailing sentiment was one of apprehension and a determination to counteract Soviet influence, reinforcing the perception of an ongoing ideological