Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

• Truman Doctrine: 1947

  • states US to support countries threatened by communism
  • Greece at risk to becoming communist due to neighbouring countries and civil war against communist militia
  • USA abandoned policy of isolationism before WW2
• Marshall Plan:

  • Help economies of war-torn countris to stop communism spread on Western Europe
  • Eastern Bloc countries denied aid by USSR
  • 1948-52: USA gave $12 billion in aid
  • Plan was successful - economy of countries with funds grew from pre-war levels by 1952
• Soviet response:

  • USA to grow empire with money - "dollar imperialism"
  • USSR thought USA wanted to extend influence in Europe
  • Thought it undermined UN's job - now was USA's job to protect world
  • Argued that this was way to divide Europe into 2
• Impact on international relations:

  • Grand Alliance gone - USA directly opposed to USSR
  • USSR believed USA wanted to destroy USSR
  • Marshall Plan got Western European countries to support USA
  • Europe divided into 2 economic and political camps