the USA's involvement in Europe - The USA's policy towards Britain and Europe

Question 1

what was the USA’s initial approach to Europe?

Answer 1

the USA’s initial approach to Europe was based on working towards the reconstruction of a democratic region, whose members would be committed to mutual cooperation on a wider international scale

Question 2

how did the Assistant Secretary of State Dean G.Acheson view the situation in Europe?

Answer 2

• In July 1945, Assistant Secretary of State Dean G.Acheson warned that the situation in Europe mirrored a wider international problem
• represented a threat to the stability of international democracy based on capitalism

Question 3

how did the situation in Europe become very serious?

Answer 3

It became an issue not only of the creation of democratic post-war states, but also the economic and social survival of the European states

Question 4

what did the Under-Secretary of State William L.Clayton conclude in May 1947?

Answer 4

• William L.Clayton concluded that Europe was steadily deteriorating as millions of people faced the prospect of starvation
• without a substantial increase in aid from the USA, Europe would experience social, economic and political disintegration on a regional scale

Question 5

what were influential US journalists and politicians beginning to argue in 1947?

Answer 5

In 1947, influential US journalists and politicians were beginning to argue that only through political and economic integration could Western Europe solve the complex problems it faced

Question 6

how would economic integration of Western Europe solve the US’ issues?

Answer 6

• It would create a large and potentially prosperous market, which would act as a barrier to prevent the further spread of communism and perhaps, in time, even pull the Eastern European states out of the Soviet bloc
• would lead to a stable and independent bloc of pro-American states
• would also build a political structure into which West Germany, or the whole of Germany, could be integrated and so contained
• also boost the US economy

Question 7

where did the USA’s route into Europe come through and why?

Answer 7

• the USA’s route into Europe came through its ‘special relationship’ with Britain
• Britain represented a politically stable state amid other less stable mainland European states
• Britain was the driving force in preserving this relationship
• The USA had to form a relationship with the Western powers and Britain was the most receptive to these advances

Question 8

how did Britain benefit from its ‘special relationship’ with the USA?

Answer 8

• For Britain, there was a need to preserve its own international status
• this could only be achieved with the USA’s support through its contribution to Britain’s security
• Britain wanted its relationship with the USA to be one of mutual support