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The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
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In February 1947, Britain announced it had run out of money to help Greece. Why did this make American President Truman worried?
In the months following World War II, Britain sends money and troops to Greece to help the government there fight a civil war against the Greek Communist Party. But in February 1947, the British Government announces it has run out of money. Without continued aid, the entire Mediterranean region could quickly fall under communist rule... American president, Truman, is worried. Communism poses a serious threat to freedom and democracy — two things America is passionate about protecting.
Truman needs to stop communism spreading further than it already has in Eastern Europe. He goes before the U.S. Congress and requests aid for Greece and Turkey. I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting outside pressures. Truman’s address sends a clear message: The United States will do whatever is necessary to stop the expansion of the Soviet Union’s communist influence.
The President’s stance becomes known as the ‘Truman Doctrine’. Congress approves 400 million dollars in aid. It is, many historians say, the starting point of over forty years of fierce tension between the United States and the Soviet Union — the start of the Cold War. Shortly after Truman’s address, he sends Secretary of State, George Marshall, to tour Europe and see how it is coping since the end of World War II. Marshall finds buildings destroyed, people jobless and homeless, families on the brink of starvation.
And he senses a growing social unrest. The capitalist economies of Europe are desperately struggling. If nothing is done, people might turn to communism to try to solve society’s problems. On Marshall’s return, he proposes a solution — a massive program of aid called the European Recovery Program or, simply, The Marshall Plan. Helping impoverished Europeans is one of the motives behind Marshall’s initiative.
Marshall also knows that, without any money, European countries can’t buy the goods that America is producing in greater and greater quantities. By boosting European economies, the Marshall Plan will provide America with buyers for its exports. And perhaps most importantly, the Marshall Plan, just like the Truman Doctrine, will help contain the spread of communism. How better to make capitalism appealing than to pass out money in a war-torn country? News of the Marshall Plan is eagerly received by many European countries.
The Soviet Union, however, is wary of America’s intentions, and forbids satellite states from receiving the aid. Before the Marshall Plan can roll out, it must be approved by Congress. The plan will be expensive, more than 15 billion dollars. While Congress debates the plan, the communist party in Czechoslovakia overthrows the country’s democratically elected government. This alarms Americans.
It convinces them of the need for urgent action to stop communism sweeping through Europe. Congress approves funding for the Marshall Plan. American aid is soon on its way to Europe: construction equipment for France, money to rebuild car factories in Italy, nets for Norwegian fishermen, coal to fuel Danish industry... Food is distributed and homes and businesses are re-built. The Marshall Plan launches Western Europe on the road to recovery.
By the time funding ends in 1951, the economies of all the recipient countries are doing better than they were before World War II. Trade with Western Europe is boosting America’s own economy. And communism in Europe has been successfully contained. The refusal of satellite states to participate, however, means that tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union grow. The Cold War continues.