What was the strategic doctrine of containment intended to stop?

The strategic doctrine of containment was primarily aimed at stopping the spread of communism. This policy emerged during the early years of the Cold War, particularly following World War II, when the influence of the Soviet Union and communist movements was seen as a direct threat to democratic nations and the capitalist way of life.

The U.S. government, under leaders such as President Harry Truman, believed that if communism could be contained within its existing borders, the ideology would eventually weaken and collapse from internal pressures without further global expansion. This belief guided American foreign policy decisions, such as the Marshall Plan, NATO formation, and military interventions in various regions, including Korea and Vietnam, aimed at preventing the rise of communist governments.

While options dealing with fascism, democracy, and socialism touch upon broader themes of political ideology, they do not align specifically with the primary intent of the containment policy. Containment was focused explicitly on communism as a geopolitical strategy, reflecting the concerns of the time regarding the Soviet Union's ambitions and the overarching fear of communist influence impairing democratic societies.