The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

• Domino Theory

  Truman's worry that if Greece and Turkey became communist, other middle East and European countries would follow
• The Truman Doctrine was a speech by Truman 1947 of why USA should get involved and try to stop the spread of communism
• What the Truman Doctrine spoke about

  • Countries have a choice between Capitalism and Communism
  • Communism was bad as people were not free
  • USA must try to hold back this spread of communism
  • The USA would provide money and military power to help free governments prevent communists taking over
• Much of Europe had been destroyed during the war. Many people were homeless and starving. Truman feared that this could lead to people electing communist governments.
• The Marshall plan was the money spent to help the economy of Western Europe after WW2, and make sure they did not receive a communist government
• What the marshall plan did

  • Gave 400 million to Italy and France
  • 13 billion in total was offered to countries in Europe
  • George Marshall an army officer was sent to Europe, in hope that the marshall plan could stop spread of communism
• Soviet responses to the marshall plan

  • Stalin did not allow countries which he controlled to take the money
  • They considered it ' dollar imperialism ' as a way of the USA to take over Europe
  • Set up Cominform, organisation which tightened soviet control in Eastern Europe
  • Set up Comecon, which provided aid to Eastern European countries
• People in France and Italy found communism attractive as it made sure everyone had enough during a time where people were in poverty due to the war