Selling the American Way by Laura A. Belmonte
How did the “selling of America” become a critical strategy for fighting the Cold War
during the Truman and Eisenhower administrations? What were the strengths and
limitations of this effort?
In addressing these questions, be sure to:
1. Draw on evidence from Belmonte’s book (Selling the American Way) from both administrations, paying attention to
the content of different programs and the difficulties supporters of the program faced.
2. Evaluate Belmonte’s book, explaining how effectively she presents her argument and
defends it with substantive historical evidence.
3. Draw on relevant material from the Herring text and at least two primary documents from
the “Ideological Foundations of the Cold War” page of the Truman Presidential Library website
(https://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/coldwar/index.php?action=docs) or
the “People-to-People Program” page of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library website
(https://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/people_to_people.html). Use
this material to help explain the broader history of the Cold War and the development of
propaganda programs.
Do NOT use any outside sources beyond the above websites and class materials.