USA Involvement in Europe

Question 1

Policy Towards Britain and Europe

Answer 1

• Initially US approach based on intention to work towards reconstruction of democratic region who committed to mutual cooperation
• Dean Acheson warned situation in Europe mirrored wider international problem July 1945

Question 2

USA Policy towards Britain and Europe

Answer 2

• Initially US approach based on reconstruction of a democratic region, mutual cooperation and cooperation on wider scale
  -By 1947 US planning not only based on strategic planning but promoting unity

Question 2

Dean Acheson View on US Policy

Answer 2

• Situation in Europe mirrored wider international situation (represented threat to democracy based on capitalism)
• Europe railway and power systems had collapsed and financial system standstill
• Chaos in foundation of structured and ordered society
• Reinforced by secretary of state William Clayton in May 1947

Question 3

Launch of Marshall Plan

Answer 3

• William Clayton returned and concluded Europe needed economically reviving or it will also damage the US through loss of markets for American goods and therefore unemployment
• May 1947 George Kennan’s Policy Planning Staff (PPS) stated communism isn’t a basic problem and real issue was the effect of WW2 economic, political and social structure
• 5 June 1947 George Marshall unveiled European Recovery Program (ERP)

Question 4

Money Given through Marshall Plan

Answer 4

• Between 1947-52 provided 13.5 billion to 16 countries in money and goods
  
  • UK 3,300 Million
  • France 1,700
  • W Germany 1,300
  • Greece 600
  • Belgium 500
  • Norway 300
  • Ireland 100
  • Sweden 100
  • Yugoslavia 50
  • Turkey 200
  • Denmark 300
  • Austria 700
  • Netherlands 1,000
  • Italy 1,500

Question 5

Condition of the Aid

Answer 5

• Had to be spent on US goods
• Share economic information with US
• Stable European Bloc would create Truman’s idea of containment

Question 6

What The Plan Lead To

Answer 6

• American to see Europe as a single market
• Led to creation of European Coal and Steel community and existence of European Economic committee from 1957
• Reverse the influence of communism
• French Communist Party had 1.7 million members in 1947

Question 7

How the Soviets Saw the Marshall Plan

Answer 7

• American economic imperialism
• US influence may spread into Eastern Europe damaging sphere of influence and security
• Czechoslovakia and Hungary not yet communist and showing interest in aid
• It was a way of undermining the Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe

Question 8

Paris Peace Conference 1947

Answer 8

• Major diplomatic event after World War II, focused on signing peace treaties with the smaller Axis powers that had fought alongside Nazi Germany.

Question 9

US attitudes to Germany and Berlin

Answer 9

• British and American zones merged into Bizonia
• Marshall plan suggested reconstructing Germany as a strong economic power
• June 1948 suggested Germany should have its own constituent assembly
• Most policy makers rejected reunified Germany:
  
  • Too powerful
  • Might align itself with the USSR
  • American influence undermined as Germany develops