Marshall plan (June 1947)

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Marshall plan (June 1947)

Causes

  • Part of the Truman Doctrine
  • Truman believed that communism succeeded when people faced poverty and hardship
  • Truman aimed to stop the spread of communism (Policy of Containment)

Effects

  • Primary goal was to repair Europe and regenerate European economies
  • Second goal was to prevent these countries from turning communist
  • The aim was to eradicate conditions in which communism thrives
  • Four forms of Marshall aid:
  • - All European countries damaged by war were offered aid
  • - This would enable them to rebuild and re-equip industry and farming
  • - Assistance took the form of money, food, machinery and technological help
  • - In return, European countries would buy US goods and allow US companies to invest
  • Due to the policies, American businesses could take over European countries (they would become totally dependent on US finance

Overall summary

Truman described the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan as "two halves of the same walnut": a dual strategy for dealing with communism.

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