2 - The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan: 1947 Flashcards
When was the Truman Doctrine?
March 1947
What was the Truman Doctrine?
A speech delivered to the US Congress in which he committed the USA to a policy of containment.
What were the three consequences of the Truman Doctrine?
1 - Support to Greece and Germany: took over from British to help Greek royalists and Turkish government fight communist rebels. $400 mil. in aid + civilians + military advisors
2 - Truman made hostile speech about the USSR: compared capitalism and communism to ‘good and evil’. He said that communism should not be allowed to grow (eg Stalin’s expansion into Eastern Europe)
3 - Announced Marshall Plan: USA would give $12.7 bil. to European countries to rebuild after the war. Britain - $3.3 mil West Germany - $1.4 mil
Impact of the Truman Doctrine on the Cold War.
1 - Support to Greece and Turkey: DAMAGE RELATIONS as USA now abandoned policy of ‘isolationism’. USSR see this as unfair interference in international relations.
2 - Truman’s hostile speech (hostile rhetoric): DAMAGE RELATIONS as it was clear that the USA do not trust the USSR. Soviets feel threatened by the USA.
3 - Announcing Marshall Plan: DAMAGE RELATIONS as USA committed to ‘policy of containment’ to stop spread of communism. USSR believe that USA is trying to take over with ‘dollar imperialism’.
When was Cominform?
September 1947
What was Cominform?
The Communist Information Bureau. It was set up by Stalin, and had 9 members: the communist party of the USSR, the communist parties of the satellite states, and the communist parties of France and Italy.
What did Cominform do?
It gave Stalin a way of directing and controlling the governments of the satellite states. They were encouraged to focus on trading with other Cominform members, and all contact with non-communist countries was discouraged. At the first meeting they unanimously voted to reject the Marshall Plan, meaning that no Eastern European countries could benefit from the financial aid.
When was Comecon set up?
January 1949
What was Comecon?
Stalin’s version of the Marshall Aid (the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance). At first, it organised trade agreements between members. After 1953, it tried to organise industrial planning across the satellite states. Each one had a Five Year Plan, nationalised industry, and collectivised agriculture. Trade with the USA and Western Europe was effectively banned.
What was the impact of Cominform and Comecon?
Tightened Stalin’s grip on the satellite states. Widened the divide between Eastern and Western Europe as the satellite states could only trade with each other. Further demonstrated to the West that Stalin was determined to control the satellite states.
Two consequences of the Truman Doctrine
- Support to Greece and Turkey: took over from Britain to help Greek royalists and Turkish government fight communist rebels. $400 mil in aid + civilians + military advisors
- Announces Marshall Plan: USA would give $12.7bn to European countries to rebuild after the war. Britain = $3.3 mil, West Germany = $1.4 mil
Impact of the Truman Doctrine on Cold War
- Support to Greece and Turkey:
DAMAGE RELATIONS: USA now abandoned policy of ‘isolationism’. USSR see this as unfair interference in international relations - Announcing Marshall Plan:
DAMAGE RELATIONS: USA committed to ‘policy of containment’ to stop spread of communism. USSR believe USA is trying to take over with ‘dollar imperialism’
2 consequences of the Marshall Plan
- Western Europe: US provided $13bn in Marshall Aid to help Western economies and industry recover after the war. Western Europe was now tied to the USA and the relationship strengthened. Britain received $3.3 million and West Germany received $1.4 million
- Eastern Europe: Stalin forbade Eastern European countries from accepting the Marshall Aid and instead formed Comecon (1949). This meant that Eastern Europe recovered at a much slower rate.
Impact of the Marshall Plan on (1) superpower relations and (2) Europe
(1) Stalin believed that the US was trying to dominate Europe and accused Truman of ‘dollar imperialism’.
(2) There was now an economic and political divide in Europe - one half was tied to the US, one half was dominated by the USSR
