Final answer:
The Truman Doctrine initially provided aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent the spread of communism. $400 million in military aid was approved by Congress to support their struggles against communist factions, marking a significant U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two countries that were originally designated to receive aid from the Truman Doctrine were Greece and Turkey. Post-World War II, both nations were coping with internal struggles and the prospect of communist insurgencies. The United States stepped in to provide support to these countries, with the intent of curbing the spread of communism during the Cold War. President Truman's policy was framed as a struggle against totalitarian regimes, with a commitment to support free peoples resisting subjugation. This led to Congress approving $400 million in military aid to bolster the right-wing monarchies in Greece and Turkey, which proved crucial for defeating communist factions in these nations and maintaining control over significant strategic regions like the Dardanelles in Turkey.
Truman's assertion that it was the United States' duty to oppose totalitarian regimes and support free countries against armed minorities or outside pressures was a key element of the Truman Doctrine. This policy became foundational to U.S. foreign policy throughout the period of the Cold War, representing a shift from isolationism to active engagement against the spread of communism globally. The popular acceptance of this doctrine was instrumental in the containment strategy that was pivotal to U.S. foreign policy decisions during this era.