...After world war II Europe was devastated, they were in need for help. Europe was destroyed economically also. Millions of people were killed and hurt. Europe’s agricultural production was disrupted by war. There were no transportation methods. The only major country that wasn’t damaged was the United States. Graduating from Harvard University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall issued a call for a comprehensive program to rebuild Europe. The Marshall Plan was officially known as the European Recovery Program or ERP. It was a program during 1947 to 1951 to support with aid. The United States rebuilt and created a stronger economic democracy for the countries of Europe. It was the reconstruction of Europe. President Harry Truman sent Congress...
Words: 715 - Pages: 3
...policy of Marshall Aid sparked both huge appraisal and significant opposition, and to this day it is debated whether it was purely a policy of self-interest and an imposition of America’s political and economic views on a weak and vulnerable Europe, or alternatively one of the greatest acts of altruism and generosity in modern history. It was enormously successful, ‘It was the most unambiguously and triumphantly successful of all America’s post-war policies’ , and helped to create a foundation on which Europe could become an economic power. While there were benefits to America which may have been interpreted as attempts to increase American power and inflamed opposition to the Marshall Plan, the administering of economic aid to Europe provided such a firm foundation for Europe to recover and progress that it must be said that the benefits of the Marshall Plan to Europe outweigh the apparent use of the Aid to pursue America’s interests. Sources such as the Harvard Address show us that an element of self interest was required for the Marshall Plan to be an efficient investment for America, but that the core idea of the Aid was fundamentally to help pull Europe out of the turmoil caused by the most destructive War in history, and that it was largely successful in doing so. The benefits to America both economically and politically were hugely significant. Hugh Brogan argues that ‘The health of the American economy needed a healthy Europe for mutual trade’ , by rebuilding Europe and creating...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...Three Significant Cold War Events that Shaped the Europe of Today In 1947 at the beginning of the Cold War the European continent was devastated by the events that had just transpired on the continent over the past decade. World War II had just ended and the former allies were struggling to keep an alliance together. Because Germany had started the war, there was mistrust amongst the allies that Germany would again rise and create the turmoil that the continent had just witnessed. And there was also a larger mistrust, bordering on an animosity, between the two superpowers the Soviet Union and the United States as these one time allies vied for supremacy of the world. Caught in between this superpower struggle was the European continent. As the European continent was divided between the superpowers there were many events that occurred that had an impact on the Europe of today. I believe the three most significant events affecting the development of Europe during the Cold War and helping to shape the European continent, was the United States implementation of the Marshall Plan, the signing of the Washington Treaty of 1949 and the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1950. Each one of these events would lead to further expansion on the initial premise of each program or policy further enhancing the security or prosperity of the European continent. After the War, "with Western Europe on the verge of not only economic ruin but also...
Words: 2503 - Pages: 11
...The Marshall Plan and its Legacy The Marshall Plan, which pumped $13.3 billion into the European economy between 1948 and 1952, was probably the most effective piece of lasting cultural propaganda of the twentieth century, despite stiff opposition from the Nazis and the Rise and Fall of Soviet Communism, and the possible eventual winner of the Chinese version of Communism. Learning from the mistakes of the First World War, when the allies of America, principally France sabotaged Woodrow Wilson’s dream of a League of Nations, President Truman ensured that not only did Europe re-emerge as a strong economic force, but that American culture has been the dominant force in the world ever since . The Plan was named after the Secretary of State of the time, General George Catlett Marshall, who was army chief of staff in World War II, Secretary of State 1947–49, and Secretary of Defence from September 1950–September 1951. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1953 for launching the Marshall Plan for European economic recovery in June 1947. However, James Reston, among others has suggested that maybe the Acheson Plan would have been more appropriate name. Acheson was working in the State Department with Marshall and the internal memos certainly give a clearer indication of the aims of the plan than the rather toothless speech that Marshall made at Harvard in June 1947 to launch the program. An anonymous scribe in the Department outlined the aims of the programme succinctly...
Words: 2108 - Pages: 9
...How did the Cold War develop between 1944-53? 1947 – Truman Doctrine (March) Marshall Plan (June) 1948 – Communist regime established in Czechoslovakia (Feb) Berlin blockade begins (June) US relationship with Europe after WWII: * Truman was under pressure to adopt a more hard-line approach towards communism following Kennan’s Telegram and Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech and the threat of communist takeover in Greece. * No suggestion that the US envisaged any long-term military or political entanglement in Europe beyond the time it took to establish political and economic reconstruction there. * Each side regarded the other as a threat to national security and being expansionist and a global strategic threat. * By September 1946 the emergence of the Cold War was seemingly irreversible. Why Truman introduced his Doctrine (first step containment?) * Keep the SU from aiding the Greek communist movement * Protect democracy and freedom in response to Soviet aggression and ideological expansionism in Eastern Europe * Demonise SU and Communism * Threaten and provoke USSR * Truman wanted a Cold War because that would justify the US’s role as a defender of the freedom and function as world power * Develop the US’s global economic power – if the US is protector, other sates would be militarily and economically dependent of the US – close trade relations. Truman emphasised in his doctrine the differences between Capitalism...
Words: 1517 - Pages: 7
...more to Soviet expansionism. However, it was not the main factor. The USA’s desire to boost their economy and influence in Eastern Europe, discussed in Source 8, and the need to secure the USSR’s boarders, the focus of Source 9, also l,aged s key role in the development of the Cold War. Perhaps one can argue that all three aims of both superpowers acted as catalysts and contributed to the development of the Cold War. In essence, Source 7 argues that the USSR had an “ambitious aim” of insuring Communist control in its sphere of influence. This is true in the sense that Stalin aimed to take advantage of the military situation in Europe and strengthen Soviet influence which resulted in occupying as much of Eastern Europe as possible. Following the Yalta and Potsdam conferences of 1945, Pro-Communist governments were set up in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. As well as this, the Soviet Union allowed Communist politicians to hold key positions in Coalition governments before elections were held meaning that elections could be manipulated to ensure communists controlled the levers of power. As a result of such measures, by the end of 1947 every state in Eastern Europe, except from Czechoslovakia, was controlled by a Communist government. Stalin had also failed to keep the promise made at the Yalta conference to hold free elections in Eastern Europe. In this respect, Source 7 is entirely correct in supporting the view that the development of the Cold War owed more to Soviet expansionism...
Words: 1130 - Pages: 5
...The Marshall Plan was significant as it initiated an economic divide in Europe, by triggering a response from USSR. However, it was not the primary cause as political and military rivalry also contributed to the division of Europe. The introduction of the Marshall Plan by the Americans signified the move from the second stage of the recognition of incompatibility between the two superpowers to the final stage of initiation of action, and hence was significant in showing how the change in relations from co-operation to rivalry eventually led the the separation of Europe into two spheres of influence. Another factor that played a major role in the separation of Europe was the difference in security aims of the Americans and Soviets. Military rivalry, ultimately, is to be primarily blamed for the complete separation of Europe as the arms race that broke out contributed to the severing of friendly and diplomatic ties between the Soviet Union and United States of America. Politically, containment also led to the division of Europe. It influenced American foreign policy towards USSR in a long run. Its objective was to contain the power influence of USSR. One example is the implement of Truman doctrine which clearly showed USA’s political commitment to take over seemingly democratic countries and intervene parts of the world that would fall into Communism. Another example is the Berlin Blockade which was seen by the west as evidence of USSR aggression. And USA response...
Words: 285 - Pages: 2
...The execution of the Plan began in April 1948. It had been worked out by the top leaders: George C. Marshall, Paul G. Hoffman, and Averell Harriman. The funds were administered by the Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA), which was formed for the purpose of the Plan. The first aid went to Greece and Turkey, who were then followed by Italy. Most of the funds from the ECA went to purchase goods for the European countries. Although these represented only a small part of the European GNP, this drastically helped to improve their economies. However, there is criticism in this method of execution because most of the goods purchased for the countries were manufactured by American companies. Many believe that it was a way for the U.S. to try and gain economic control of Europe, making the plan a selfish reason instead of to help better the world. The counterargument to this is that there was no way for the United States to gain the amount of control needed for imperialism when their aid only contributed to about 2.5% of the GNP of the recipients. Much of the money went...
Words: 631 - Pages: 3
...June 2013 – A World Divided: Superpower Relations, 1944 – 1990 Use sources 7, 8 and 9 and your own knowledge. How far do you agree with the view that, in the years 1945 – 1950, the Cold War developed as a result of US and Soviet security needs? Explain your answer, using sources 7, 8 and 9 and your own knowledge of the issues related to this controversy. (40 marks) | Agree | Disagree | Source 7 | * Blames the US for its need to have total control of all democratic countries and zones ‘sphere of…’ * Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan & German and Japanese ‘rehabilitation’ * Truman’s response was violent ‘hydrogen bomb…’ * SEATO – America’s ‘alliance system’ | | Source 8 | * Each side felt they had to adopt these safety measures in order to protect their security * The Russians had to help Eastern Europe and the Americans had to help the West * Each side felt the other was a threat of Communism or Capitalism – felt like they had to protect their ideologies | | Source 9 | | * The Cold War developed as a result of conflicted ideals and interests * Both powers wanted an increase in their global power * Each side had no fear of war ‘armed to the teeth’ * Each side used underhanded methods to get their way * Neither side understood the government and the people of its enemy | The view that, in the years 1945 – 1950, the Cold War developed as a result of US and Soviet security needs is partly true as both sides feared what the other would...
Words: 1245 - Pages: 5
...During the years 1945-1948, the development of the Cold war seemed to have been catalysed by various factors. The Second World War created a power vacuum in Europe into which the USA and the USSR were both drawn; large areas of Europe were left without meaningful government or administration. Subsequently much of Europe was left devastated and was in desperate need of reconstruction. The USA and the USSR were to provide the inspiration for alternative methods of recovering Europe, the USA aimed to invest billions into Europe hopefully mending the economy and to prevent the temptation of communism which seemed very attractive to those countries whose economy were in ruins. Moreover by doing this, the American economy also benefitted as countries who accepted the financial aid would have to open up there economy to American capitalist interests. On the other hand the Soviets were looking to expand Soviet territory and create a sphere of influence, whether this was to create a buffer zone for the USSR or to spread communism, it developed the Cold War as America felt threatened. Many historians have differing views on the matter which is evident in sources 7, 8 and 9, all of which feature modern historians posing some very different arguments. Some historians, as stated in the question believe that the expansion of the Cold War within 1945-48 was due to Soviet Expansionism whereas others believed it was because of USA’s economic interests. Either way, it seems most likely that both...
Words: 1608 - Pages: 7
...The Truman Doctrine was launched in 1947 by the US. It was the US’ attempt to tighten control on Europe, as the soviets had continued to expand and impose their communist ways on countries in Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslovakia. This doctrine promised to support any country who was anti-communist. In the same way, the Marshall Plan was launched in 1947 offering financial aid to any country who needed it. Theoretically, this did not exclude Eastern Europe but it was assumed that it didn’t apply to them as they were not capitalist. These two events did contribute to the development of the cold war as it was one of the first times that the west had directly taken action against the East and their ideology and actions. In addition to this, in 1947 the soviets responded by starting Comintern which was a unity of all communist governments – allowing the Soviet Union to gain more control over their sphere of influence. This was soon followed in 1949 by Comecon, which rivalled the Marshall plan in that it too offered economic help to the eastern European countries who were now suffering from poverty after the war – although this was much less effective than the Marshall Plan. Therefore, these events did play a significant role in the development of the Cold War as it made the two nations rival each other for power, ideology and economies. Source G primarily supports this idea that the events contributed to the development of the Cold War. It directly compares...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...Soviet expansionism as the most important factor as it claims that the USSR were ‘seeking to expand its influence into Western Europe’ and so causing Western Attitudes to increasingly worsen. However there is still evidence in the sources to support the view that the USA’s economic interests owed more to the development of the Cold War in the years 1945-48. For example in source 8 it suggests that the USA wanted a war with the USSR to help its economy, emphasising the impact of Truman’s ‘military industrial complex’ on aggressive foreign policy which played a huge role in the development of the Cold War. Furthermore it can be argued that it was the misunderstanding and confusion, caused by fear and suspicion, between the two nations which owed more to the development of the Cold War in the years 1945-8. Soviet Expansionism played a huge role in the development of the Cold War in the years 1945-8. Evidence to support this view is found in source 7 which claims that although in 1945 the West had accepted the Soviet’s influence in Eastern Europe; the West became suspicious of the USSR’s intentions, fearing that the Soviets wished to ‘expand into Western Europe itself’. An example of Soviet expansionism within this time period is the Czechoslovakian Crisis of 1948 where the communists, who feared defeat in the upcoming elections after rejecting Marshall Aid, staged a coup. This shows that Soviet expansionism did occur and had a huge effect on the development on the...
Words: 1013 - Pages: 5
...Stalin’s errors, as a result of acts and policies such as the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine in 1947. Both providing evidence to support this view are sources 8 and 9, with source 7 giving the impression that it was the errors of Stalin that contributed most. In addition to these two factors, conflicting ideologies also played a small role in provoking the Cold War, as shown in source 8. Despite this, it was fundamentally the economic and national interests of the USA that was mainly to blame for the start of the Cold War in 1945 and its development through to 1949. Europe was destroyed physically and economically after the Second World War. America saw this as a chance to become a world hegemony, as well as economically advancing the nation - source 9 proves this, saying, “The liberal capitalist US economy needed ever-increasing trade and investment opportunities”, as well as “The Marshall Plan was designed to implant an informal American Empire in Europe”. This shows that the USA not only used Europe’s fragile situation after WW2 to prosper itself, but more importantly increase its world influence, aiming to produce some sort of Empire of its own. For this to happen, the USA became hostile towards its rival superpower, the USSR. This point is supported by Source 8 by quoting “the illusion of being all powerful, fostered by American economic strength”, suggesting that the US government blindly influenced Europe, ignoring the Soviet sphere of influence. Supporting the evidence...
Words: 1496 - Pages: 6
...was the need to eliminate Adolf Hitler and wipe out his army of Nazis. Knowing their essential differences, Adolf Hitler was at last beaten in 1945. Truman passionately detested communism and felt with the purpose of that it was the US obligation to obstruct the development of those principles. Throughout the Cold War, the US established harmony and detained back the Soviet development in addition to build financial and political solidity in the course of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This Cold War started for the reason that Stalin started to shatter the agreements among partners that were established at the 1945 meeting at Yalta. The single most important agreement prepared all through the meeting, was that free or democratic elections were to obtain a position in East Europe. As an alternative, however, Communist regimes with the intention of being compliant to Moscow were put into position and also have numerous troops in Eastern Europe. It was the same as Churchill confirmed in Fulton. The Soviets brought down an Iron Curtain on...
Words: 1004 - Pages: 5
...supplying day in day out. Due to the growth of the Soviet power, which was becoming very frightening to America, the British let Truman know that they will not be able to keep their soldiers in Greece. As action had to be taken from Truman, he took over in March 1947. Truman addressed the congress and let them know, that it is America's job to make a halt for communism to grow any stronger. This was known as the Truman Doctrine. George Marshall visited Europe to see what was needed, and came back thinking Europe was so poor that the whole of Europe would have to turn to communism. This is when Marshall and Truman requested the congress for $17 billion in hope to fund the Marshall Plan. The main aim of this plan was to get the economy of Europe going again. For one year no action was made and congress hesitated, until 1948 when Czechoslovakia turned communist. So due to this, aid was given in the form of food, medicine, fuel, equipment and a few more things needed for Europe, like improvements for transport systems. Due to the Marshall plan it helped alot in the rebuild of West Germany in later years, supplying various goods. Berlin came to be a cause of world tension because it was not a small matter between 2 countries, but it involved many substitute countries and allies, which put other countries at risk not knowing the consequence of decisions that may be made during that period of time. ...
Words: 495 - Pages: 2
