Chapter 3: US's involvement in Europe

Question 1

What was US involvement like 1919-41?

Answer 1

-Isolationist
- Didn’t want to be involved after WW1 –> needed to rebuild especially economy and after the depression

Question 2

What was US involvement 1941-5?

Answer 2

• Joined Grand Alliance
• Didn’t want long term economic / military involvement
• Joined war due to Pear Harbour (1941) to protect themselves and allies

Question 3

What was US involvement like 1945-6?

Answer 3

• Provide short term aid to prevent mass starvation
• Need to help Europe survive for allies, trade and help against communism

Question 4

What happened in US involvement 1947-8?

Answer 4

• US more involved due to ‘special relationship’ with Britain
• Clayton, Kennan + Marshall promote investing in Europe –> containment, restore economic strength, keep trade.
• Agree on Marshall aid

Question 5

NATO
- When was it formed?
- Who were members?
- What was it?

Answer 5

• 1949
• GB, USA, Canada, Benelux, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Italy, France

Question 6

Marshall plan
- When was it formed?
- What was its official name?
- What did he specify in the speech?

Answer 6

• June 1947 = unveiled
• Officially = European Recovery Program
• Said the plan was not about ideology, any country or doctrine –> instead about combating hunger, poverty etc for stability and peace

Question 7

What aid did the Marshall plan give?

Answer 7

$13.5 billion to 16 countries over 5 years

Question 8

What were the conditions for receiving Marshall aid?

Answer 8

• Some must be spent on US goods
• Must share economic information

Question 9

Why was the US concerned about European politics?

Answer 9

French communist party had increased to 1.7 million members in 1947

Question 10

What was the Soviet response to Marshall aid? (3x)

Answer 10

• Stalin walked out of Paris Peace Conference (July 1947)
• Cominform (1947)
• Comecon (1949)

Question 11

What was comecon?

Answer 11

• Controlled by USSR
• Coordinated economies of communist countries
• Ensured Stalinist state owned economies were imposed
• Gave economic control

Question 12

Czechoslovakian crisis
- When was it?
- What happened?
- Consequences?

Answer 12

• 1948
• Leader (Gottwald) + govt unanimously agreed to Marshall aid - told by Stalin to reject it - followed orders
• As they had to be forced into loyalty Stalin forces a coup
• Their symbolic leader died shortly after (accident?) –> symbolised the end of a free Czechoslovakia