Containing communism

• Give two reasons why Communist parties in Western Europe were growing in popularity after World War II

  1. allies were in a desperate economic shape
  2. recovery and rebuilding was slow
• What did America fear might happen in Western Europe?

  Communist parties would come to power democratically
• What was the Marshall plan also known as?

  European Recovery Program
• Who was the Marshall plan named after?

  George Marshall (Secretary of State)
• Name three things that the Marshall plan did?

  1. raise industrial production
  2. create employment
  3. stimulate coal production
• How did America benefit from the Marshall plan?

  Created a captive market for American goods in Europe and American farmers/businessman who were threatened by falling domestic demand
• How did the Marshall plan promote free trade, and eliminate the need for countries to seize territory?

  Gave all nations access to goods they needed
• How did the Marshall plan support of the ideology of capitalism?

  Created prosperous people who supported democracy and resisted the temptations offered by communism
• Why did the USA invite Eastern European countries to receive Marshall aid?

  they wanted them to join, so it would lessen their dependence on the Soviet union and weaken the Soviet influence
• Name three ways that the Soviets responded to the Marshall plan?

  1. They tighten the grip on eastern Europe (Czechoslovakia)
  2. they produce their own version called Molotov plan
  3. they cautioned the Czechs and Poles against participation
• What convinced Congress to approve the Marshall plan?

  The aftermath of events in Czechoslovakia convinced the Republican controlled Congress
• How much was the Marshall plan and for how long was it?

  $17 billion over four years
• How did Truman pay for the Marshall plan without raising taxes?

  By restraining defence spending, which would later be a source of criticism for Truman
• Name three effects of the Marshall Plan on those countries receiving aid

  1. Industrial production receiving Marshall aid had increased by 35%
  2. economic recovery greatly accelerated
  3. Agricultural output had increased by 10%
• What was the Truman doctrine?

  It was really important and was the cornerstone of US foreign policy up until the end of the Cold War
• What are the background details of the Truman doctrine?

  • It was a speech given to Congress on the 12th of March 1947
  • it outlined and defined the policy of containment
  • Truman addressing relatively hostile Congress
  • republicans controlled Congress after 1946, midterm elections
  • The Truman doctrine would require greater spending
  • Congress approved what Truman was seeking
• What is containment?

  stopping communism from spreading worldwide and keeping it in its place
• What are some reasons for the Truman doctrine?

  • Greece and Turkey are threatened with communism
  • communism is bullying and threatening nations, such as Greece and Turkey
  • protecting and upholding the United Nations and stopping another war
  • it would be a waste of US money if the world was forced to turn communism ($341 billion on World War II)
  • provide economic and financial aid, which is essential to economic stability
• Other reasons for the Truman doctrine?

  • Totalitarian regimes, imposing, so need prevention
  • The domino effect – if Greece and Turkey fall to communism
  • enhance the security of the US by preventing war
  • freedom is a founding principle of USA, so must protect it
  • countries fought for freedom during World War II
  • communism spreads due to 'misery and want'
  • America is the leader of the free world, and now has an obligation and duty to uphold this
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine postwar situation?

  Physical devastation of World War II made socialism and communism, more attractive to desperate European voters
• Reasons for Truman doctrine, lessons from World War II?

  In Italy and in France Communist parties might come into power if steps weren’t taken
• What are the reasons for Truman doctrine because of China?

  The civil war between non-Communist, KMT and communist CCP meant communism, was likely to spread, as well as the Soviet union entering war against Japan
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine because of Korea?

  The division of Korea into north and south meant Americans were keen to prevent Soviet control and dispatched troops immediately - South were threatened by communist neighbour North
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine because of Iran?

  Soviet union tried to spread across Iran, and the USA were concerned the Soviet union had ambitions on controlling Iran, which was really oil-rich, so didn’t want it being controlled by the Soviets.
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine because of Germany?

  Soviet union took advantage of German factories and sent the dismantled factories to the Soviet Union , received reparations and sent nothing in return. It was not fulfilling the Yalta agreement by not sending raw materials.
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine because of Stalin's election speech?

  Stalin almost threatened war between capitalism and communism as communism threatens to spread throughout the world, meaning its expecting/preparing for war with the USA
• Reasons for Truman doctrine because of Kennans long Telegram?

  If there was a stiff resistance towards Communist Soviet union they would back down. The USSR were not as strong as said it was
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine, “Iron Curtain” speech?

  Churchill expresses threats of communism, spreading all throughout Europe with the “Iron Curtain“ covering up the empire - speech was in the USA in Trumans home in Missouri, which sent a message to the American people and government
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine, the Clifford-Elsey report?

  Soviet union planning world domination, starting with aggressive acts in Iran and Manchuria (China)
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine, Truman administration?

  Some Administration of Truman didn’t share the same views as Truman‘s approach towards Soviets and were sacked because they weren’t tough enough
• Reasons for the Truman doctrine, Greece and Turkey?

  Britain could no longer financially aid, Turkey and Greece against the Russian encroachment as both were threatened with the spread of communism
• After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones France, Britain, USA and USSR
• July 1946 America and Britain had merged two zones into one single political and economic area of occupation called the Bizone
• There was a new currency introduced to Berlin in June 1948 called the Deutschmark to which Stalin responded by blockading Berlin
• The Berlin blockade meant that rail, road and inland waterway access to Western Berlin was cut off to France, USA and Britain
• To supply Berlin Americans began, the Berlin airlift without resorting to military confrontation
• Truman publicly sent three squadrons of B29 bombers to Britain, which were capable of delivering atomic weapons and bombs if needed
• Soviets lifted the blockade May 1949, after lengthy negotiations where Western allies made clear, they wouldn’t abandon Berlin.
• The creation of West Germany followed in September 1949, closely countered by the creation of East Germany by Soviets, which meant another communist country created for Communism to spread
• Why was Stalin not happy after the postwar division of Germany and Berlin agreed at the Potsdam conference in 1945?

  • He can’t spread communism
  • it’s more difficult to spread communism in Germany when it’s not fully controlled by them
  • soviet sector is surrounded by other allies' sectors
  • soviets perhaps wanted more of Germany to represent the defeat of Hitler during World War II
  • soviets wanted more of Germany, as some parts are more 'valuable' than others
  • US and British zone is a bigger area than the Soviet sector