The Importance of the Truman Doctrine + Marshall Plan

Question 1

What was the Truman Doctorine (1947)?

Answer 1

After a civil war in Greece in 1947, and the Long Telegram, Truman decided on a new foreign policy on the USSR. He made a speech to congress on the idea of containing communism from spreading any further around the world. The speech was made to scare congress into giving him the money he needs to provide economic aid to countries threatened by communism in order to keep them capitalist.

Question 2

How much was sent to Turkey and Greece with the Truman Doctorine?

Answer 2

Truman announced he would be sending $400million in financial aid to the region to stop the spread of Communism in Greece and Turkey.

Question 3

What was the Marshall Plan (1948)?

Answer 3

The Marshall Plan was an economic plan named George Marshall, the American Secretary of State, which suggested giving aid to Europe. More than $15 billion was given to help rebuild Europe.

Question 4

What was the importance of the Marshall Plan for USA/USSR relations?

Answer 4

1. Europe became firmly divided between East and West. Stalin prevented Eastern European countries such as Czechoslovakia and Poland from accepting the aid
2. It added to the suspicion Stalin had of the USA being “imperialist”. He thought the Marshall Plan was done for selfish reasons, to dominate Europe and to boost the USA’s economy.
3. Stalin felt under pressure to do something “drastic” to re-balance his power in Europe. He wanted to secure the USSR’s position as best as he could and he looked to Berlin and its long-term future as the best way of achieving that aim.

Question 5

What was the importance of the Marshall Plan for International Relations (the wider world)?

Answer 5

1. By 1953, the USA had provided $17 billion of aid to rebuild economies and raise standards of living.
2. The USSR responded by setting up Cominform. This was an information Bureau that aimed to coordinate Communist Parties throughout Europe. Eastern European countries lost independence and Stalin wanted to ensure that Eastern Europe followed exactly what the USSR wanted them to.
3. The USSR set-up Comecon. This was founded in 1949. It was supposed to be the means by which the USSR could financially support the economies of Eastern Europe, but in reality it was a way of making sure they could control those countries’ economies.