Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan Flashcards
What happened to Greece in 1944?
British troops freed Greece from Nazi control and restored monarchy. Britain helped King to fight civil war against communists who were trying to take over country. In 1946 elections were held and the parties who supported monarchy were successful. Communists however did not accept this and fought using guerrilla tactics. Greek communists were being helped by communists from Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia. In 1947 Britain could no longer continue to support Greece so they appealed to USA for help & funding which they provided.
Why did Truman decide to develop the Truman Doctrine at this point (1947)?
Truman developed it because he realised America had the power and money to help countries like Greece fighting a civil war against communism. Counties like Britain could no longer support Greece because of their on financial crisis because of WW2. Truman realised he could help countries who wanted to prevent & get rid of communism.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
A set of ideas laid down by Truman to help support countries against communism influence. The main aim of it was ‘containment’ and to not allow it to spread further by providing finance for threatened countries. He called this the ‘policy of containment’
What countries benefited from the Truman Doctrine?
Greece and Turkey.
Why did Turkey need support from the Truman Doctrine?
- Turkey was surrounded by communist countries who wanted to take over to get easy access to Africa to spread communist there.
- Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone of communist countries around Russia from attacks like the one Hitler lead though Poland.
- Turkey and Russia share a border so allows easy access to Russia.
- If Truman Doctrine just helped Greece eradicate communism and if Turkey turned communist then Greece would be completely surrounded by communist countries and then would probs able turn communist.
Results of the Truman Doctrine were:
- By 1949 the communist threat to Greece was stopped.
- Turkey was able to stop turning communist.
- It show3d the USA was not going to isolate itself and was willing to support countries in Europe.
- It was clear Truman was dedicated to stopping communism spreading across the world.
What was the Marshal Plan?
This was a ERP (European Recovery Program) to give Europe $17 billion to work against hunger, poverty, desperation & chaos to help the working economy in the world. It was set up to help countries damaged by war.
Why did USA agree to give Greece the resources to fight communism?
He wanted to prove to further spread of communism. He was worried if Greece fell to communism then other countries would to. -Domino effect.
Why did Truman and General Marshall set up the Marshal plan?
They believed the poorer a country was, the more likely its was to be targeted by communism. Marshall plan offered aid to countries in return for their investment in American good and industry. (Coal, wood, etc)
What year was the marshal plan created?
In 1947 General Marshall announced the USA would lend money and aid to any countries at threat of communism.
What did Stalin do/set up as a result of the ‘Truman Doctrine’?
Stalin set up Cominform in September 1947 which was an information sharing link between communist countries and their parties. Communist in many western countries tried to undermine the Marshall Plan but they had little success.
What did Staling set up in January of 1949?
Having failed to destroy the Marshall Plan the USSR created its own economic bloc of countries in Eastern Europe called COMECON. This was a trading organisation for communist countries but was not anywhere near as successful as the Marshall Plan.
Effects of the Marshall Plan by 1953?
By 1953 the USA had provided $17 billion in aid to 16 countries.
What contrived got aid from the Marshall Plan?
Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Britain, Denmark, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, France, West Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey.
Why did Britain get the most money from the Marshal Plan?
Because they did the most fighting in WW2 and were very close allies with American.
Communist countries did not take help from the Marshal Plan because Stalin did not want American influence even though America offered it to communist countries.
