Unit 1.2 - The Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan; Cominform and Comecon Flashcards
When and where did Truman deliver the Truman Doctrine?
MARCH 1947 (speech delivered to the U.S. Congress)
What event partially led to Truman delivering the Truman Doctrine?
When the British could no longer provide military support to the Greek government against communist guerrillas, Truman decided it was time to take action himself. Ultimately, this also led to the Greek civil war.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
The speech initially consisted of an announcement that the U.S. would be giving an economic aid package to Greece and Turkey. They sent c. $400 million and American civilian and military personnel to the region.
Moreover, the doctrine claimed that communism’s growth and spread should be prevented (which came to be known as the U.S’s containment policy).
The Truman Doctrine led to the Marshall Plan.
The Marshall Plan
USA was prepared to send troops and economic aid to countries a) trying to resist communism at present and b) war-torn countries who are in need of support and could potentially seek help from the communist East. These donations/aid is referred to as MARSHALL AID.
How did the Marshall Plan succeed/was put into action?
Between 1948-52, the USA gave $12.7 billion dollars of Marshall Aid, in addition to $13 billion already given by the USA before the Marshall Plan went into action.
Which countries qualified for the Marshall Plan?
UK, France, West Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Greece etc.
What did the Soviets (Stalin) call the Marshall Plan?
“Dollar Imperialism” - claimed that the US was using money as a gateway to spreading their empire and that the Marshall Plan was simply a form of bribery to grow capitalism and America’s power.
Consequences of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan:
Any lingering belief that the Grand Alliance still existed was gone - the USA made it clear that it is OPPOSITE to the Soviet Union.
Intense rivalry attempts to win diplomatic and political victories.
Stalin’s suspicions of the West were reinforced and he now had firm evidence that the USA was trying to crush communism.
The Marshall Plan successfully tied Western European countries into supporting the USA.
When was Cominform set up and what was it?
1947 - spread information about communism - Cominform was formed to organise the propagation of communist interests and repel the expansion of anti-communism.
Which countries were members of Cominform?
Communist party of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia.
+ The French and Italian communist parties were specifically tasked by Cominform with the obstruction of the implementation of the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine in Western Europe.
When was Comecon set up and what was it?
1949 - trade and credit agreements between member countries and economic aid from the Soviet Union - was put in place to discourage them from joining capitalism.
Comecon and Cominform was action taken in response to…
The Marshall Plan and US’s attempts to bring down communism.
Tensions…
increased.
