The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was the giant American aid program to help Europe rebuild and recover from World War II. Aid was to be given by rebuilding a war-devastated region, removing/greatly reducing trade barriers, modernizing industry, and overall making Europe prosperous once again. Beginning in April 1948, the program lasted for four years.
One impact the Marshall Plan had upon the Cold War was that it increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States because the Soviets rejected it. They didn't accept the offer because they would have to allow free elections, which is something that isn't a part of communism. The second impact the Marshall Plan had was that it was successful in restoring the European economies to an even better state than they were before World War II. To find more out about why the Marshall Plan was needed, how it aided Europe, and the plan's results, follow the link below. The website breaks the policy down into distinct sections, making this policy completely understandable. George C. Marshall Foundation: The Marshall Plan If you enjoy learning through visiting museums, click the link below. The website presents plenty of detailed aspects of the Marshall Plan in bite-sized chunks, categorizing each aspect as an "exhibit." Each piece of information is easy to digest. Think of it as a museum of words for the Marshall Plan. For European Recovery: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Marshall Plan |