Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

Question 1

What is the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 1

The Truman Doctrine (1947) refers to the US policy towards communism after WW2. Truman outlined the policy in a speech to Congress:
- Communism posed a serious threat to the USA and the rest of the world
- the USA would support any country that was under threat from communism
- the focus must be on ‘containing communism’ (keeping it within countries where it was already established)

Truman’s speech aimed to make it clear to the USSR that its expansion into Europe had to end. It was also a response to the situation in Greece and Turkey, where it seemed likely that communism would take hold

Question 2

What were the aims of the Marshall Plan?

Answer 2

3 main aims:
- to aid economic recovery in Europe in order to stop people from turning to communism
- to support the containment of communism within Eastern Europe
- to create a market for American goods in order to build up the American economy

Question 3

How much money did the Marshall plan give out in total?

Answer 3

$13.15 billion

Question 4

To which countries was Marshall Aid offered?

Answer 4

Aid was offered to all countries in Europe, east and west. It was supplied in the form of money or resources (e.g. machinery for farm work). All resources had to be bought from American suppliers.

Question 5

What were the results of the Marshall plan?

Answer 5

• Marshall aid was vital for the recovery of Western Europe. It allowed economies to be rebuilt and the standards of living to rise
• the American economy also benefitted
• it demonstrated that the USA was committed to involvement in Europe for the long term
• communism became less popular in Western Europe
• the division of the East and the West became even more firmly established, as Stalin forbade countries behind the iron curtain from accepting aid.