Question
Document A
Source: "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" by X, Foreign Affairs, April 1947.
Note: This is a short passage from an 8,000-word telegram that was secretly sent to US State Department officials on February 22, 1946. X turned out to be George Kennan, an American Foreign Service officer stationed in Moscow. Earlier in the "long telegram," Kennan makes two main points:
1. Stalin and the Soviets believe that communism is better than capitalism .. Stalin and the Soviets believe they will win
In these circumstances it is clear that the main element of any United
States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of a longterm, patient but vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
Document Analysis
1. Win, r this dou War elegraphed American fia in atingon? a this before,
2. Who was X?
Looking at the Note, what were the two points X wants American policy makers to rememb out the Soviet Unio
4. What would historians probably agree is the most important single word in the document passage?
5. What do you think X would say to an American president who wanted to invade the Soviet Union?
What is your evidence?
6. What is the meaning of containment?
Source: "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" by X, Foreign Affairs, April 1947.
Note: This is a short passage from an 8,000-word telegram that was secretly sent to US State Department officials on February 22, 1946. X turned out to be George Kennan, an American Foreign Service officer stationed in Moscow. Earlier in the "long telegram," Kennan makes two main points:
1. Stalin and the Soviets believe that communism is better than capitalism .. Stalin and the Soviets believe they will win
In these circumstances it is clear that the main element of any United
States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of a longterm, patient but vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
Document Analysis
1. Win, r this dou War elegraphed American fia in atingon? a this before,
2. Who was X?
Looking at the Note, what were the two points X wants American policy makers to rememb out the Soviet Unio
4. What would historians probably agree is the most important single word in the document passage?
5. What do you think X would say to an American president who wanted to invade the Soviet Union?
What is your evidence?
6. What is the meaning of containment?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here’s the analysis based on Document A:
1. **When was this document telegraphed to American officials?**
The document was telegraphed to American officials on February 22, 1946.
2. **Who was X?**
X was George Kennan, an American Foreign Service officer stationed in Moscow.
3. **What were the two points X wanted American policymakers to remember about the Soviet Union?**
The two main points that X wanted American policymakers to remember were:
- Stalin and the Soviets believe that communism is superior to capitalism.
- Stalin and the Soviets believe that they will ultimately win in their ideological struggle.
4. **What would historians probably agree is the most important single word in the document passage?**
The most important single word in the document passage is likely "containment," as it encapsulates Kennan's proposed strategy for dealing with Soviet expansion.
5. **What do you think X would say to an American president who wanted to invade the Soviet Union? What is your evidence?**
X would likely advise against invading the Soviet Union. His emphasis on "longterm, patient but vigilant containment" suggests that he believed in a strategic and cautious approach rather than military aggression. Invading the Soviet Union would contradict his recommendation for a patient containment strategy and could provoke a wider conflict.
6. **What is the meaning of containment?**
Containment refers to a foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of a hostile power or ideology, in this case, Soviet communism. It involves a combination of diplomatic, military, and economic measures to stop the influence and spread of communism rather than attempting to roll it back or engage in outright conflict.
1. **When was this document telegraphed to American officials?**
The document was telegraphed to American officials on February 22, 1946.
2. **Who was X?**
X was George Kennan, an American Foreign Service officer stationed in Moscow.
3. **What were the two points X wanted American policymakers to remember about the Soviet Union?**
The two main points that X wanted American policymakers to remember were:
- Stalin and the Soviets believe that communism is superior to capitalism.
- Stalin and the Soviets believe that they will ultimately win in their ideological struggle.
4. **What would historians probably agree is the most important single word in the document passage?**
The most important single word in the document passage is likely "containment," as it encapsulates Kennan's proposed strategy for dealing with Soviet expansion.
5. **What do you think X would say to an American president who wanted to invade the Soviet Union? What is your evidence?**
X would likely advise against invading the Soviet Union. His emphasis on "longterm, patient but vigilant containment" suggests that he believed in a strategic and cautious approach rather than military aggression. Invading the Soviet Union would contradict his recommendation for a patient containment strategy and could provoke a wider conflict.
6. **What is the meaning of containment?**
Containment refers to a foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of a hostile power or ideology, in this case, Soviet communism. It involves a combination of diplomatic, military, and economic measures to stop the influence and spread of communism rather than attempting to roll it back or engage in outright conflict.