3) The USA's involvement in Europe Flashcards
US policy towards Europe following WWII
-simply to work towards the reconstruction of a democratic region who would be committed to mutual cooperation
-envisioned no long term political or economic commitments in Europe OR to use Europe as a springboard to develop the US as a global power itself
-warning from Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, in July 1945 and Under-Secretary of State William Clayton in May 1947, that Europe was faced chaos in the foundations of a structured and ordered society, without US intervention Europe could experience social, economic and political disintegration on a regional scale
How did the US begin to change its relationship with Europe
-a ‘special relationship’ with Britain
-US strategic planning was based on restoring the economy of Europe while promoting unity among pro-US states, by 1947 the US realised this was only possible in the West
-route into Europe via Britain
-the UK needed US support to remain of international importance/security and the US needed to UK’s role and influence in Europe to introduce its policies
-the left party in Britain was less threatening that other countries
Marshall Plan
-Announced June 1947, introduced in 1948
-a plan to assist European economic recovery, part of the policy of containment, offered to the nations of Europe but Soviets forced many to reject the offer which immediately painted them as the antagonist
Reasons for the Marshall Plan
-stop communism, increase US trade, humanitarian (estimated 65 million people were displaced by WWII in Europe)
-Congress only agreed after the 1948 coup in Czechoslovakia, showing how communism was a kay factor in the Marshall plan
Bretton woods system
a US international monetary exchange system that was based on the US dollar, set up post WWII, helped the US further their economic arm into Europe
‘dollar imperialism’
dollar imperialism
helping Europe so that countries would
have to trade with the US.
how much money was sent over due to the Marshall plan
$13 billion, $8 more than expected
When did the Soviets reject help from the Marshall plan
July 1947
US view of Germany post WWII
saw the recovery of Germany as key in stabilising Europe and providing a market for American goods- motivator to create a western German state
London Conference
Feb 1948
Stalin not invited, situation in Germany was discussed and the idea of creating west German state
Brussels agreement
March 1948
forerunner to NATO
signed by Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg
mutual defence
Final satellite states set up
1948- Soviet sponsored regimes in place in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary
When does Tito withdraw from the Soviet alliance
June 1948
