Marshall Plan

• Why did Britain receive lots of aid?

  US traded with them. US would lose their connection with Europe
• Why did Italy receive lots of aid?

  Communist party had 2 million members
• Why did France receive lots of aid?

  Communist party had a large following (1.7 million members). Ally of USA. Occupied by Germany during WWII
• Which countries received the largest portion of Marshall aid?

  France, Italy and Britain
• Was the Marshall Plan motivated by American self interest?

  Potentially because they wanted to restore their economy and prevent the spread of communism; aiding Europe was the best way to achieve those goals
• Why was one of the aims of the Marshall Plan to prevent another Hitler emerging from poor countries?

  To prevent another tragedy. Wanted everyone to be able to live and think freely with no external influences
• Why was one of the aims of the Marshall Plan to provide money to European countries on the condition that they'd trade with the USA?

  Strengthen the USA's economy and unite Europe
• Why was one of the aims of the Marshall Plan to aid the economies of west Europe in their recovery?

  would make those countries stronger and they can recover from WWII. Less likely to fall to communism
• Why was one of the aims of the Marshall Plan to stop the spread of communism in Europe?

  USA wanted to achieve it because they feared that if communism continued to spread it could take freedom off people and Stalin would reach a wider sphere of influence. They also feared that countries closer to them or allies may fall to communism. Wanted to secure capitalism
• What were the four aims behind the Marshall Plan?

  - stop the spread of communism in Europe- aid the economies of west Europe in their recovery- provide money to European countries on condition that they trade with the USA- prevent another Hitler emerging from poor countries
• How did the USSR respond to the Marshall Plan?

  - establishing cominform in 1947: to circulate propaganda and coordinate other communist parties to try to obstruct their elected government- establishing comecon in 1949: provided economic assistance to the countries of Eastern Europe
• What was the Soviet and Eastern European reaction?

  - Soviet Union viewed it as an attack on communism- Molotov said it was foreign interference and labelled it 'dollar imperialism'- Stalin felt USA were trying to interfere with USSR sphere of influence
• What were the results of the Marshall Plan?

  Living standards improved in Western European nations and support for communist parties decreased
• When did all European states including the USSR receive aid?

  1948
• What was a condition of receiving the aid?

  Some of it had to be spent on American goods and economic information had to be shared with the US. To strengthen the US economy and unite Europe
• How many countries accessed the aid?

  16 countries
• How much aid did the Marshall plan provide?

  $13.5 billion
• When did Marshall unveil the European Recovery Programme?

  5 June 1947
• May 1947


  Kennan's policy planning staff thought the real issue was the impact of WWII upon the economic, political and social structure of Europe. The focus should be repairing Europe's economy rather than battling communism
• What happened after the announcement of the Truman doctrine?

  The president sent general George Marshall to assess the state of Europe where he saw the problems shown earlier
• Why would $11.5 billion owed to the US worry them?

  Could diminish US economic growth. Raised the likelihood of financial crisis
• Why would the damage of roads worry the US?

  Would affect trade
• Why would the cost of rebuilding worry the US?

  US would have to pay
• How effective was US involvement in Europe?

  - got involved to help rebuild- war guilt- wanted to keep dominant