Financial aid Flashcards
When was the Truman doctrine announced?
March 1947.
How much money was given, and to which countries, under the Truman doctrine?
USA gave $400bn to Greece + Turkey.
During which years was the Marshall Plan carried out?
1948-52.
How much money was given to European countries under the Marshall Plan?
USA donated $12.7bn, as well as $13bn previously given.
What was the purpose of the USA’s financial aid?
The purpose was to contain the expansion of communism, which Churchill said in his 1946 speech was spreading across europe like an “iron curtain”.
gaining loyalty from the West through providing aid. This prevented these countries from accepting Soviet influence and turning to communism.
Why didn’t the USA offer financial aid to the USSR and its satellite states?
The whole purpose of the aid was to contain the spread of communism. The USA therefore did not want to support and strengthen communist countries, or support communism in any way.
What was the importance of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan?
1) Led to C + C, which helped the USSR gain more control over its satellite states.
2) Raised tensions + suspicions high between superpowers- increased the USSR’s determination to secure influence of its own.
3) Strengthened divide between East + West Europe.
4) Led to the creation of NATO + Warsaw Pact.
Why was the TD and MP so necessary for the USA?
Communism seemed attractive to poor people in European countries with war-shattered economies.
Why was a $400m aid package given to Greece and Turkey, under the Truman doctrine, rather than other countries? And why did the USA have to do it?
Civil War and communist uprisings were occurring in Greece and Turkey. The USA had hoped Britain would rebuild the shattered economies, but it couldn’t even aid the Greek government against communist guerrillas any more. The USA had to step in quickly.
When did the USSR create Cominform in response to the Truman doctrine?
September 1947.
What was the purpose of Cominform?
1) Overall, to contain US influence.
2) Ensured satellite states followed Soviet policy.
3) Discouraged contact with non-communist countries; encouraged trade within the organisation.
When did the USSR introduce Comecon in response to the USA’s Marshall Plan?
1949.
What was the purpose of Comecon? How was this done?
1) Overall, to further contain US influence.
2) Provided economic aid and introduced communist principles.
3) Trade with the West was firmly discouraged.
4) Stalin had control of his satellite states’ economies.
How was comecon different to the USA’s financial aid?
Whereas the USA’s aid rebuilt its recipients’ economies, countries under Comecon lost more money, through taxing and regulations, than they gained from the aid itself. The USA was feeding the West, and the USSR was feeding off the East.
How did Comecon’s activity develop?
Comecon’s initial main activity was organising trade between member states.
After 1963, the USSR used Comecon to organise industrial planning. Each satellite state having a Five Year Plan, nationalised industry and collectivised agriculture
