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US Foreign Policy Consequences: The 1947 National Security Act in the Context of Central America

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the 1947 National Security Act, a Truman enacted policy that restructured and reorganized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), & the National Security Act (NSC) as key organization concerned with U.S. national security, intelligence, and foreign policy. To do so, I employ an archival approach, reviewing and analyzing mid-twentieth century documents collected from both the National Archive and Records Administration (NARA) offices located in Washington DC and Maryland. Drawing on memos, meeting minutes, and other official U.S. government documents pertaining to the 1947 National Security Act and Central America, I discuss the instrumental role the National Security Act played in developing U.S. foreign policies, as well as procedures for U.S. intervention in Central America. Ultimately, I argue that the Truman administration developed a U.S. foreign policy apparatus that initiated decades-long criminalization Central Americans.

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