The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, 1947
Why did the USA get involved in Europe?
The Crisis in Greece
When the Germans retreated from Greece in 1944, there were two rival groups – the monarchists and the Communists – who wanted to rule the country. Both had been involved in resistance against the Nazis. The Communists wanted Greece to be a Soviet republic (Part of the USSR). The Monarchists wanted the return of the King of Greece. Churchill sent troops to Greece in 1945 supposedly to help restore order and supervise free elections. In fact, the truth was the British supported the Monarchists and the King was returned to power.
The 1946, the USSR protested to the United Nations that British troops were a threat to peace in Greece. The United Nations took no action and so the Communists tried to take control of Greece by force. A civil war quickly developed. The British could not afford the cost of such a war and announced on 24th February 1947 that they were withdrawing their troops. Truman stepped in. Paid for by the Americans, some British troops stayed in Greece. They tried to prop up the king’s government. By 1950 the royalists were in control of Greece, although they were a very weal government and always seemed to be in crisis.
Greece was significant because it showed a change of policy from the United States. Before, the US had not wanted to become involved in Europe, but due to the spread of communism, Truman felt he had to act.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why did the British intervene in Greece in 1945?
2. Why did the British have to leave Greece in 1947?
3. How did America intervene?
4. Why is the Greece crisis seen as a significant moment?
What was the Truman Doctrine (1947)
This ‘Doctrine’ or ‘policy’ meant that the USA was now prepared to send money, equipment and advice to any country which was ‘threatened by communism’.
Truman accepted that most of eastern Europe was now communist but his aim was to stop Communism from spreading any further.
This became known as CONTAINMENT
However, although this was president Truman’s idea, he needs the American congress to agree with him! This led to the MARSHALL PLAN.
The Marshall Plan (1947)
Truman believed that Communism thrives in poverty and hardship.
He sent American General George Marshall to assess the economic state of Europe. He found that:
Economies had been ruined by the war.
The countries of Europe already owed $11.5 billion to the USA.
Extreme shortages of food.
Coal shortages meant that electricity was scarce. In Britain all electricity was turned off for a period each day.
Churchill described Europe as a ‘rubble heap, a breeding ground of hate.’
Marshall wanted to make money available to the nations of Europe.
Congress accepted the Marshall Plan and made $17 billion available to European countries over a period of four years.
The Impact of the Marshall Plan
Aided European Recovery
The economic aid provided by the Marshall Plan made a huge difference to the European recovery. The USA provided all types of aid: food; livestock for farm; tractors; lorries and factory equipment. By 1952 unemployment had dropped dramatically all over Western Europe. Agricultural production rose, and by the early 1950s, rationing had come to an end in Britain.
Stopped the Spread of Communism
Politically, the Marshall Plan helped stop the spread of communism. Although communist parties were large in France and Italy, they never led either government throughout the Cold War period.
Forced Soviet creation of Cominform and Comecon
The Marshall Plan was rejected by the USSR. It forced the Soviets to set up their own organisations. In 1947 Cominform was created. It forced all communist parties in Europe to follow Moscow’s orders. In 1949 Comecon was created. This was a trading organisation of all communist countries. They could trade with each other but not with non-communist countries.
The Crisis in Greece
When the Germans retreated from Greece in 1944, there were two rival groups – the monarchists and the Communists – who wanted to rule the country. Both had been involved in resistance against the Nazis. The Communists wanted Greece to be a Soviet republic (Part of the USSR). The Monarchists wanted the return of the King of Greece. Churchill sent troops to Greece in 1945 supposedly to help restore order and supervise free elections. In fact, the truth was the British supported the Monarchists and the King was returned to power.
The 1946, the USSR protested to the United Nations that British troops were a threat to peace in Greece. The United Nations took no action and so the Communists tried to take control of Greece by force. A civil war quickly developed. The British could not afford the cost of such a war and announced on 24th February 1947 that they were withdrawing their troops. Truman stepped in. Paid for by the Americans, some British troops stayed in Greece. They tried to prop up the king’s government. By 1950 the royalists were in control of Greece, although they were a very weal government and always seemed to be in crisis.
Greece was significant because it showed a change of policy from the United States. Before, the US had not wanted to become involved in Europe, but due to the spread of communism, Truman felt he had to act.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why did the British intervene in Greece in 1945?
2. Why did the British have to leave Greece in 1947?
3. How did America intervene?
4. Why is the Greece crisis seen as a significant moment?
What was the Truman Doctrine (1947)
This ‘Doctrine’ or ‘policy’ meant that the USA was now prepared to send money, equipment and advice to any country which was ‘threatened by communism’.
Truman accepted that most of eastern Europe was now communist but his aim was to stop Communism from spreading any further.
This became known as CONTAINMENT
However, although this was president Truman’s idea, he needs the American congress to agree with him! This led to the MARSHALL PLAN.
The Marshall Plan (1947)
Truman believed that Communism thrives in poverty and hardship.
He sent American General George Marshall to assess the economic state of Europe. He found that:
Economies had been ruined by the war.
The countries of Europe already owed $11.5 billion to the USA.
Extreme shortages of food.
Coal shortages meant that electricity was scarce. In Britain all electricity was turned off for a period each day.
Churchill described Europe as a ‘rubble heap, a breeding ground of hate.’
Marshall wanted to make money available to the nations of Europe.
Congress accepted the Marshall Plan and made $17 billion available to European countries over a period of four years.
The Impact of the Marshall Plan
Aided European Recovery
The economic aid provided by the Marshall Plan made a huge difference to the European recovery. The USA provided all types of aid: food; livestock for farm; tractors; lorries and factory equipment. By 1952 unemployment had dropped dramatically all over Western Europe. Agricultural production rose, and by the early 1950s, rationing had come to an end in Britain.
Stopped the Spread of Communism
Politically, the Marshall Plan helped stop the spread of communism. Although communist parties were large in France and Italy, they never led either government throughout the Cold War period.
Forced Soviet creation of Cominform and Comecon
The Marshall Plan was rejected by the USSR. It forced the Soviets to set up their own organisations. In 1947 Cominform was created. It forced all communist parties in Europe to follow Moscow’s orders. In 1949 Comecon was created. This was a trading organisation of all communist countries. They could trade with each other but not with non-communist countries.