Origins of the Cold War, c1945-1949: the USA's involvement in Europe - the Launch of the Marshall Plan

Question 1

Outline the main events in the launch of the
Marshall Plan

Answer 1

• May 1947

• Clayton returns from fact-finding tour of Europe
• Concludes that European economies need to be revived to prevent damage to US economy
• Kennan’s Policy Planning Staff (PPS) group states US should focus on rebuilding Europe rather than combatting communism

• 5 June 1947
- George Marshall reveals Marshall Plan aka European Recovery Program (ERP)

• September 1947
- Cominform is established

•1947-1952
• $13.5 billion to 16 countries in Europe
• Some money had to be spent on importing US goods and sharing economic information
• Stalin orders Czechoslovakia and Hungary to not accept Marshall aid

Question 2

Who is Clayton?

Answer 2

• Under-Secretary of State for Economic
Affairs

Question 3

When did Clayton return from his tour of
Europe?

Answer 3

• May 1947

Question 4

What did Clayton conclude after his tour in
Europe?

Answer 4

• Failure to revive European economies would damage the US economically
• Loss of markets for American goods and unemployment
• Emphasised economic importance of Europe to US

Question 5

When did Kennan’s Policy Planning Staff (PPS) group issue a statement on the state of Europe?

Answer 5

• May 1947

Question 6

What did the PPS group think of the state of
Europe?

Answer 6

• Economic, political and social structure of Europe more affected by WWII than communist activities
• US should focus on restoring Europe’s economic strength, rather than combating communism

Question 7

Who was George Marshall?

Answer 7

• US Secretary of State from 1947-1949

Question 8

When did George Marshall unveil the European Recovery Plan (ERP)
aka the Marshall Plan?

Answer 8

• 5 lune 1947

Question 9

How much money did the US provide as part of the Marshall Plan?
How many countries received aid?

Answer 9

•$13.5 billion
- 16 countries in Europe

Question 10

What conditions did countries have to meet
to receive aid under ERP?

Answer 10

•Some money had to be spent on importing goods from US
- Recipients required to share economic information with the US

Question 11

What did ERP or the Marshall Plan aim to do?

Answer 11

• Benefit US economy by reconstructing Europe’s economy
• Promote European unity
• Create stable European bloc to reinforce containment
• To prevent economic stagnation which could lead to election of communist regimes that could fall under influence of USSR

Question 12

Give an example that contributed to the US’ concern of political and economic stability in Europe

Answer 12

• In 1947, French Communist Party had 1.7 million members

Question 13

What did the USSR think of ERP or the
Marshall Plan?

Answer 13

• Dollar imperialism
• Anti-Soviet alliance
• Believed US influence would spread into Eastern Europe, which would undermine Soviet sphere of influence and security

Question 14

Which countries under partial communist control wanted Marshall aid?

Answer 14

•Czechoslovakia
- Hungary

Question 15

How did Stalin respond to Eastern European states wanting Marshall aid?

Answer 15

• Ordered them to not receive Marshall aid

Question 16

When was Cominform formed?

Answer 16

•September 1947

Question 17

What was Cominform?

Answer 17

• Communist Information Bureau
• United and coordinated role and actions of communist groups throughout Europe under the leadership of Moscow
• To make Communist Party across Europe uniform

Question 18

How did ERP or the Marshall Plan affect Cold
War tensions?

Answer 18

• Accelerated division of Europe
• ERP seen as anti-Soviet, US-led global alliance
• Undermined possibility of cooperation or co-existence between two superpowers